What are CANs?
Collaborative Action Network
Our 3 Collaborative Action Networks are composed of partners who have content expertise, knowledge as well as influence in the community or have an understanding on how to leverage their resources to move the work forward. These partners often times offer a direct service to schools, students and families. Together, as a team, we hold each other accountable to develop and reach our indicated goals.
Current Collaborative Action Network Areas
The most important step of all is the first step. Although, choosing where to start can be a difficult task due to the fact that there is room for improvement in so many areas. Our 3 Collaborative Action Networks are able to analyze the barriers to create solutions and strengthen outcomes within the Waterbury community. As our partnership expands, more priority areas will be added to create effective collaborative action networks.
Early Childhood CAN
Co-Chair: Dionne Johnson (Wellmore)
Co-Chair: Abbie Calo (Naugatuck Valley Community College)
Early Care & Education CAN is focused on centering parents and children from 0-8 years old by providing educational and community resources/support for the parents to understand and be intentionally involved in their child’s development that aligns with the BTS mission & vision to ‘Engage Empower & Inform’ Waterbury’s children, youth and families in school, career, and life.
ECE Objectives
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Improve BTS impact through Sparkler Parent Ambassadors that can give recommendations on current and upcoming Initiatives
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Increase the presence of parents voices at relevant CAN Meetings
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Expand community outreach about our ECE initiative through our partners and that can share our vision across the city
Positive Youth Development CAN
Co-Chair: Ana Valentin (Girls Scouts of Connecticut)
Co-Chair: Karen Mello (United Way of Greater Waterbury)
The Positive Youth Development CAN brings together Waterbury youth providers such as Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls club, and the YMCA to improve and promote the developmental assets, motivate academic outcomes, and improve high school graduation rates. Our collective goal is to increase culturally responsive programming and improve the holistic development of Waterbury youth.
PYD Objectives
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To increase the developmental assets of youth
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To increase youth participation in the decision-making process
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To improve on the ABC’s (absenteeism, behavior, and course completion)
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To increase graduation rates across race lines
Career Pathways CAN
Co-Chairs: Tomas Olivo (RIBA Aspira)
Co-Chair: Allison Blancato (St.Mary’s Hospital – Trinity Health)
The College & Career Pathways Collaborative Action Network (CCP CAN) created a goal with 17 core partners including Waterbury Public Schools and all four local colleges/universities in the city to continue building upon existing efforts to improve post-secondary and career opportunities for students and families. The Career Pathways CAN support financial literacy of high school students, workforce development, and college readiness support.
Family Engagement CAN
Co-Chair: Maybeth Morales-Davis
Co-Chair: Arlanda Brantley
Co-Chair: Latoya Ireland
Family engagement is a shared responsibility in which schools, community agencies, and other organizations are committed to reaching out to engage parents/caregivers in meaningful ways. The FE CAN is committed to creating a community hub that is driven by parents, caregivers, and community partners with the intent to provide parents/caregivers with concrete tools and clear culturally critical pathways to resources that can best support their children, families, and their communities.
Let Youth Lead
Let Youth Lead (LYL) is a BTS Youth Advisory Think Tank focused on centering young people’s lived experiences and expertise to generate new ideas that push forward the BTS mission & vision to ‘Engage Empower & Inform’ Waterbury’s children, youth and families in school, career, and life. Currently, LYL is composed of four members who are committed to one, two-year term: Melanie Adames (Chairperson), Channel Gonzalez (Marketing Chair), Irene Once (Secretary), and Shinaayo Olabisi (PYD Youth Liaison). If you are interested in joining, please submit an online application.
LYL Objectives
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Improve BTS impact through youth-informed critique & recommendations on current and upcoming Initiatives
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Increase the presence of youth voice at relevant CAN Meetings
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Expand community outreach to more youth across the city
Equity Matterz Think Tank
Co-Chair: Jacquee Porter (Save Girls on F.Y.E.R)
Co-Chair: Chemay Morales James (My Reflection Matters)
There are large gaps between the academic achievements of White students and Black and Brown students. This is unacceptable. BTS strives for equitable outcomes for ALL Waterbury children and youth. Equity Matterz TT strategizes, discusses, and analyzes data, practices, and (potential) interventions.
LYL Meet the Crew
What are CAN's?
How We Work
Bridge to Success utilizes a system to adequately access collective impact through a grass-root, data driven approach to convene out 90+ partners into Collaborative Action Networks (CANs). Where we focus on improving outcomes and indicators, leveraging existing resources and striving to engage, empower and inform the Waterbury community.
Shared Community Vision
Engage. Empower. Inform. — Since 2010, Bridge to Success (BTS) was established as Connecticut’s first Cradle to Career youth initiative. Creating shared accountability through the use of our Collaborative Action Networks (CANs) , a community vision for education was identified. The vision strategically outlines our four primary focus areas that include the competencies, experiences, and benchmarks we agree all children should have access to.