What if the promise that each generation will do better than the last is slipping away?

In this episode of The Stronger Podcast, Mike Montoya talks with Bill Crim, CEO of United Way of Salt Lake and Utah’s Promise, about economic mobility and what it really takes to align communities around cradle to career outcomes.

Bill shares how cross sector collaboration, policy advocacy, and collective impact partnerships can strengthen education outcomes and rebuild opportunity for kids and families. Instead of launching new programs, this work focuses on aligning existing resources and building shared accountability across schools, nonprofits, businesses, and government.

They explore Utah’s 100% Initiative, the role of backbone leadership in sustaining change, and why lasting progress depends on listening to families and working together over the long term.

Bill also reflects on his own path from engineering student to nonprofit leader and why he still believes communities can create a more just and opportunity filled future.
If you are an education leader, nonprofit executive, policy advocate, or someone who cares about the future of economic mobility in America, this episode offers both realism and hope.

Chapter:

00:48 🎙️ Want a Podcast Just Like This One? Check Out podcastsmatter.com

01:00 🙋‍♂️ Meet Bill Crim: United Way of Salt Lake & Utah’s Promise

03:39 📉 The Core Problem: Poverty, Stalled Mobility, and the ‘Promise’ to Families

07:37 🔄 Cross-Sector Alignment: How Collective Impact Works

17:41 🌟 Bill’s Origin Story: From Engineering to Policy Advocacy to United Way Leadership

24:42 📚 Find Support for Writing Your Impact-Driven Book at booksthatmatter.org

26:25 👉 Why Policy Advocacy Matters for Community Change

28:15 📈 United Way Today: Trust, 211, and Backbone Infrastructure

32:10 🎯 Cradle-to-Career Goals and the 100% Initiative

41:37 🧠 Building Backbone Leadership, Resilience, and Retention

46:02 🚀 If You Are a Leader or Changemaker Looking for Support, Check Out geniusdiscovery.org

48:47 ⚖️ Reflections on Justice, Hope, and Closing Takeaways

54:37 🎧 Find More Podcasts That Matter at podcaststhatmatter.org

Links:
Learn about Utah's Promise at https://utahspromise.org

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/bill-crim-aab1119

Connect with Bill: https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-way-of-salt-lake/posts/?feedView=all

Connect with Bill Crim on LinkedIn and explore the work of United Way of Salt Lake to see how community partnerships, shared accountability, and cradle-to-career alignment are helping rebuild opportunity for kids and families.

Learn more about cradle to career initiatives at https://www.strivetogether.org

Connect with Mike: www.linkedin.com/in/mmsc

Stronger Consulting: strongerconsulting.com

Publish a Book That Matters: booksthatmatter.org

Start a Podcast That Matters: podcastsmatter.com

Go from Expert to Thought Leader: geniusdiscovery.org

For more great podcasts like this one, visit https://podcaststhatmatter.org

Stay strong.