News

OUR UNIQUE CHALLENGE
Uniting Efforts for
Youth & Families

Youth in Poughkeepsie face some of the lowest rates of economic mobility in the nation. Breaking this cycle demands sustained, coordinated action—not isolated programs or short-term fixes.

Guided by our North Star to annually connect more than 5,000 young people and families to transformative opportunities, we actively create, strengthen, and coordinate cradle-to-career supports across the systems and institutions that shape children's lives.

Poughkeepsie is collectively building pathways to socioeconomic mobility—so that every child and family thrives.

More about our North Star

Investing in Youth & Driving Collective Action

The Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet is providing a blueprint for how small cities can tackle big challenges and create systemic change for its young people.

As the city’s cradle-to-career backbone, we are building a civic infrastructure that reaches youth the furthest from opportunity and connects a continuum of youth supports within and outside of school.

The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet Leadership Council, co-chaired by the Mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie and Superintendent of Schools, provides the structure and leadership to unite executives, community leaders, families, and youth to transform good ideas into lasting impact.

MEET OUR LEARDSHIP COUNCIL

How Do We Do It?

The key mission drivers behind the work

Elevating Community Voices

Building the civic infrastructure that enables local families and youth to share their priorities, goals, and challenges is at the heart of our work. We are creating new frameworks for community members to be involved in issue-specific initiatives.

Aligning Efforts Across Sectors

Bringing together government, business, philanthropy, higher education, nonprofits, grassroots organizations, schools, families, and youth to work toward shared goals.

Setting Goals & Measuring Impact

Creating a citywide data dashboard that demonstrates our joint accountability and tracks progress on our collective efforts towards transformative outcomes.

Securing Funding & Resources

Exploring strategic public-private financing strategies that pilot innovative programs, build system capcity, and unlock sustainable funding to address root causes of inequity.

Together, we’re creating a model for how communities can work together to ensure that no child’s future is limited by race, income, or circumstance.

DISCOVER HOW OUR STRATEGY IMPACTS YOUTH

Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet Selected for National Initiative to Strengthen Positive Youth Opportunities

The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet has been selected for a new Wallace Foundation initiative that will provide funding to help seven communities across the country reach their economic mobility goals by expanding enrichment and career-focused opportunities for young people. Poughkeepsie is expected to receive funding of approximately $5 million - $ 6 million to improve interest-driven career exploration opportunities for youth outside the school day.

Oct 9

Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet Launches Redesigned Website

October 8, 2025 - The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet unveiled its newly redesigned website, offering the community an enhanced digital...

Oct 7

Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet Shares Model at National StriveTogether Convening

The Poughkeepsie Children's Cabinet Executive Director Jill Roche Gomez joined education and community leaders from across the country at the 2025 StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network Convening to share how local government partnerships are creating sustainable change for children and families.

Sep 25