Growing Inland Achievement

Author: Growing Inland Achievement

  • Quick Survey – Big Impact! Share Your Thoughts.

    Quick Survey – Big Impact! Share Your Thoughts.

    GIA is refining its five-year strategic plan, and we need your input! Your feedback will help us set
    priorities and create an agenda that addresses the unique needs of the Inland Empire community.

    Why Participate?

    • Impactful: Your feedback will directly influence GIA’s future initiatives.
    • Quick and Easy: The survey takes only about 10 minutes.

    Take the Survey

    Click the button below or scan the QR code to launch the survey.

    Deadline Extended!

    Complete the survey by August 16th.

    Thank You!

    Your participation is vital in helping us build a better future for the Inland Empire.

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.

  • Working Together to Boost Regional Financial Aid Applications

    Working Together to Boost Regional Financial Aid Applications

    We recently shared Yajahira Young Tafolla’s story of overcoming challenges to complete her financial aid application. Her experience underscores the vital importance of supporting our students in navigating the financial aid process.

    GIA is calling on the entire Inland Empire community to make a final push to promote financial aid applications during the current application cycle. Here are some specific ways you can support these efforts:

    1. Use Our Outreach Toolkit: Utilize our promotional toolkit to spread the word to students and parents through your outreach channels. Promotional Toolkit Link
    2. Encourage Office Hours Attendance: Encourage students and parents to attend our free online office hours for questions and support with their applications. Sessions are open Monday – Friday from 3:30-7:30 PM PST. Participants may join at any time. Office Hours Link
    3. Utilize IESuccess.org: Direct families to the resources available at IESuccess.org for step-by-step guides and tools to complete their financial aid applications. Financial Aid Resources Link

    “We need your help to ensure every student in the Inland Empire has the opportunity to access the financial aid they need,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of GIA. “You can play a crucial role in increasing application submissions by promoting the opportunity to apply through your network.”

    Vanessa Boekenoogen, Assistant Director of Communication at GIA, emphasizes, “We want every student to have the opportunity to pursue higher education without financial barriers. We’re calling on everyone in our network to amplify their efforts over the next month to reach as many students and families as possible.”

    We appreciate your continued support and collaboration.

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.

  • Updates for GIA’s 2024 Toward a Shared Vision Summit

    Updates for GIA’s 2024 Toward a Shared Vision Summit

    We want to share two important updates for GIA’s 2024 Toward a Shared Vision Summit:

    1. Save the Date:
    • Dates: October 8-9, 2024
    • Location: Riverside Convention Center
    • Focus: Increasing Equitable Educational Attainment and Economic Success
    • Details: Registration info coming soon!
      Video Highlights from the 2023 Summit
    1. Nominate for the 2024 Toward a Shared Vision Awards

    Award Categories:

    • Transformation
    • Innovation
    • Student-centered
    • Equity-focused
    • Collaboration

    Learn more about last year’s winners here.

    Since 2015, GIA has been dedicated to improving education and economic success in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Learn more at InlandEmpireGIA.org.

    We look forward to your participation and nominations!

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.

  • GIA Launches IEsuccess.org: A New Resource for College Exploration and Success in the Inland Empire

    GIA Launches IEsuccess.org: A New Resource for College Exploration and Success in the Inland Empire

    GIA is excited to announce the launch of IEsuccess.org, a new website designed to support students, parents, and educators in the Inland Empire. This platform provides step-by-step guides for financial aid applications, a directory of Inland Empire colleges, and tips and tools for college success. While the current focus of content is primarily on high school students, additional information for other groups will be added over time.

    The development of IEsuccess.org was made possible through collaboration with numerous regional partners. Jake Poore, Director of Communication at GIA, acknowledges their contributions: “We appreciate the support from institutions and partners across the Inland Empire who have helped make this resource available.”

    Looking ahead, the website will expand to include live college counseling, job search resources, and information on apprenticeships and job training. Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO at GIA, explains the motivation behind the project: “Our research indicates that online searches are a primary method for students and families to make college decisions. The Inland Empire has many high-quality colleges and universities but lacked a comprehensive directory and support resource to inform and guide these decisions.”

    This initiative aligns with GIA’s goal of promoting educational equity and increasing the postsecondary educational attainment rate in the Inland Empire, a region currently among the lowest college attainment rate in the U.S. for areas with populations over one million. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of GIA, underscores the website’s potential impact: “This website will enable us to reach more students and families with information and resources, helping to close educational attainment gaps and support educational equity in our region.”

    Community members are encouraged to share information about IEsuccess.org through their channels. For those interested in contributing content or promoting the site, please contact Jake Poore at jake@gia.echofactory.dev.

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.

  • Growing Inland Achievement Accelerates Supports for Students and Families Amid Financial Aid Challenges

    Growing Inland Achievement Accelerates Supports for Students and Families Amid Financial Aid Challenges

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) supports local students and families in navigating college financial aid applications with online office hours, outreach campaigns, and a new resource website, IEsuccess.org.

    Yajahira Young Tafolla pictured filling out online financial aid forms at her home in Pomona, CA.

    Yajahira Young Tafolla, a 24-year-old from Pomona, CA, is the first in her family to attend college. Like many students, she relies on financial aid to fund her education. This year, however, she faced unique challenges in completing her financial aid application due to delays and complications with the online form. Yajahira received support and guidance by attending GIA’s online office hours and an in-person Cash for College workshop at California State University, San Bernardino, which helped her successfully navigate the financial aid process and submit her application.

    This year has been particularly challenging for students like Yajahira. The FAFSA Simplification Act, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, aimed to make federal student aid more accessible by streamlining the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and expanding Pell Grant eligibility. However, the rollout of the new form has been fraught with delays and technical issues. As of July 5, 2024, the Inland Empire has seen 4,752 fewer FAFSA submissions compared to the same time last year, representing a 12.1% decrease, according to NCAN’s FAFSA Tracker.

    In response to challenges and decreases in application numbers nationwide, the U.S. Department of Education launched a national effort to promote financial aid, encouraging students to apply for billions of available funds. Students interested in attending a California Community College have until September 3, 2024, to apply for funding to help cover their higher education costs for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    “The completion of financial aid applications is a critical leading indicator of college enrollment,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO of GIA. “As more students complete financial aid applications, we also see more students enrolling in postsecondary education. This is particularly important for the Inland Empire, where the community has established a vision of increasing equitable educational attainment to fuel local prosperity and regional economic success.”

    As the Cash4College (C4C) Regional Coordinating Organization for the Inland Empire, GIA supports hundreds of financial aid workshops annually, offers live support through free online office hours, and promotes awareness of financial assistance through communication outreach campaigns. A recent $234,840 award from the Educational Credit Management Corporation has enabled GIA to accelerate these efforts through August 31, 2024.

    “We’re currently hosting live office hours for support, running several digital campaigns, and publishing website resources in multiple languages to help inform Inland Empire students and families of financial aid opportunities,” said Jake Poore, GIA Director of Communications. “GIA recently launched IEsuccess.org, a website offering resources for college education exploration. This platform includes step-by-step guides for financial aid applications, a directory of Inland Empire colleges, and tips and tools for choosing and succeeding in college.”

    “When the community works together to provide the right resources and guidance for students, we can make a dramatic difference in their access to college,” Added Sakrekoff. “We are grateful for all our regional partners working collaboratively across sectors to support student success. Together, we can make a real difference for students like Yajahira in achieving their educational and career goals.”

    For more information about GIA, visit inlandempiregia.org
    For more information about Inland Empire college and financial aid resources, visit iesuccess.org

    About Growing Inland Achievement (GIA)
    Growing Inland Achievement is a regional K-16 collaborative organization focused on improving educational and economic outcomes in the Inland Empire. Through collaboration with various regional stakeholders, GIA aims to create a thriving community where all residents can access quality education and economic opportunities.