Accelerating Impact: Launching Our 2026 Rapid Talk‑to‑Action Cycle Across All Four Collaborative Action Networks

In 2026, Eastside Pathways is entering a new phase of collective action—one grounded in clarity, accountability, and meaningful momentum. After 14-months of container‑building, visioning, and relationship development, all four of our Collaborative Action Networks (CANs) are shifting into a Talk‑to‑Action sprint designed to move ideas into implementation with greater speed and sharper alignment.

This shift isn’t accidental. It is the result of listening deeply to our partners, our families, and our community. The message has been consistent: the need is urgent, the barriers are real, and incremental movement is not enough.

That is why each CAN is adopting a rapid cycle that matches the urgency families are experiencing right now—and aligns with the commitments outlined in our 2026 CAN partner invitation.

Why This Shift Matters

Each network—Early Learning, Well‑Being & Mental Health, High School & Beyond, and Racial Equity—has built a strong foundation. We’ve clarified shared problems, explored systems barriers, and strengthened trust across sectors. But in 2026, our work requires more than shared understanding.

It requires shared movement.

Our Talk‑to‑Action sprint brings that movement to the forefront by:

1. Prioritizing Implementation Over Ideation

We’re moving from thinking about solutions to testing them. Instead of asking, “What could we do?” we’re asking, “What will we do next month, and what will we learn from it?”

2. Committing to Structured Cycles of Action

Each CAN will ground its work in the Ages & Stages sessions—a five‑part series that gives partners predictable time to examine data, make decisions, test strategies, and share results.

3. Ensuring Every Partner Has a Role in the Change

As outlined in the partner agreement, each organization is designating a CAN representative with the authority and alignment to make decisions that move the work forward.

4. Creating Visible, Measurable Wins That Build Momentum

By using shared tools, reporting progress consistently, and aligning to common performance measures for the 2026–2027 school year, our networks will see progress faster—and strengthen accountability across the partnership.

What This Looks Like in Practice

The Talk‑to‑Action sprint centers on a clear set of expectations for CAN partners—expectations designed to keep our work connected, coordinated, and genuinely collaborative.

Partners Commit To:

- - Attend the five Ages & Stages Sessions across the 2026 calendar
  - Share progress at the October All‑Partner Meeting
  - Report data and updates to fuel learning and iteration
  - Follow through on action commitments between sessions
  - Use common tools that keep our networks aligned

This ensures that action doesn’t happen in silos—every partner contributes to a coordinated strategy that builds across the year.

Eastside Pathways Commits To:

- - Facilitate all CAN gatherings and provide structured guidance
  - Bring outcome‑specific data that grounds every decision
  - Support partners through cross‑sector councils—Leadership, Data, Racial Equity, Youth, and Parent‑Caregiver
  - Help define focus populations, impact statements, and shared measures
  - Keep the work moving toward implementation and evaluation

Together, these commitments turn talk into coordinated action—and coordinated action into shared impact.

Our 2026 Arc: From Vision to Action

Each CAN will move through a sequence of milestones that includes:

Ages & Stages Sessions 1–3:
Data reflection, focus population alignment, and early action testing.
Ages & Stages Session 4 (Executive Pitch):
Mid‑year alignment, relationship‑building, and cross‑network learning.
All‑Partner Meeting:
Public progress sharing and systemwide alignment toward 2027 outcomes.
Ages & Stages Session 5:
Final reflection, performance measure adoption, and planning for scale.

This rhythm ensures that every strategy decision leads to real‑world implementation—and every implementation leads to measurable learning.

The Promise of This New Cycle

When we move quickly together—without sacrificing clarity, equity, or the voices of those most impacted—we create change at the pace our community deserves.

Across all four CANs, partners will experience:

- - Faster strategy adoption
  - Clearer and more actionable data
  - Stronger cross‑sector alignment
  - More responsive and adaptive solutions
  - A sense of shared ownership that drives long‑term systems change

This is not simply a new process—it is a new posture.

A posture of responsiveness.
A posture of courage.
A posture of action.

Where We Go From Here

As partners confirm their 2026 CAN representatives and step into this new cycle, we are preparing for our most aligned and action‑oriented year yet.

This is our moment to turn strategy into impact—together.

Ages & Stages: Talk to Action