Growing Inland Achievement

Author: Growing Inland Achievement

  • Education Insight: Advising for Equity: How Strong Networks Help Students Succeed

    Education Insight: Advising for Equity: How Strong Networks Help Students Succeed

    About This Episode

    Season 6. Episode 6.

    Dr. F. Janelle Hannah Jefferson, Director of Network Services and Development for the Advising Success Network at NASPA, joins Education Insight for a powerful conversation about how effective, equity-centered advising can transform student outcomes.

    In her national role, Dr. Jefferson leads efforts to build strong networks among advising professionals, advance equity in student success, and promote innovative practices that help colleges and universities better support all students. She brings a wealth of experience to the conversation, including over 17 years at Jackson State University, where she shaped programs, taught courses, and led initiatives that guided countless students through their college journeys.

    Dr. Jefferson shares how academic advising can support the whole student—not just with course selection, but also through life challenges, mental health struggles, and a need for belonging. She discusses how campuses are adopting tools like AI and data-driven strategies to help students navigate critical decisions, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining authentic human connection at the center of advising.

    This episode sheds light on why advising is one of the most powerful yet underrecognized levers for advancing equity, improving student retention, and ensuring that every learner has a fair chance to succeed.

    Featured Guest

    Dr. F. Janelle Hannah Jefferson
    Director of Network Services and Development, NASPA | Advising Success Network

    Watch the Episode

    Interview Highlights

    3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.

    7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.

    8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.

    9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE. 

    13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.

    20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.

    21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.

    23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.

    25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues. 

    32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond. 

    36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.

  • Inland Empire Organizations Kickoff 2025-2026 Cash for College Season

    Inland Empire Organizations Kickoff 2025-2026 Cash for College Season

    With the 2025–26 financial aid season officially underway, regional partners are uniting to ensure every Inland Empire student has access to the support they need.

    On October 8, 2025, Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) joined partners from across the Inland Empire to officially kick off the 2025–26 Cash for College season. The regional launch event, held at KVCR Public Media in San Bernardino, brought together education and community leaders committed to helping more students access financial aid for college and career training.

    Dr. Ashish Vaidya, GIA’s President and CEO, was among the speakers who offered remarks during the press conference, emphasizing that completing financial aid is a critical step toward realizing the Inland Empire’s shared goal of increased educational attainment.

    A coordinated effort for an ambitious region

    The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in California—and the nation.

    • 4.7 million residents across more than 27,000 square miles
    • 56 school districts, 12 community colleges, 6 universities, and 1 tribal college
    • Nearly 1 million students and a median age of 36, younger than both state and national averages

    Increasing educational attainment is vital to the region’s future. GIA and its partners share a goal of raising the Inland Empire’s postsecondary attainment rate to 70 percent (from the current 31 percent), which would increase household incomes, add nearly $99,000 per graduate annually to the Gross Regional Product (GRP), and strengthen homeownership, civic engagement, and community well-being.

    Why financial aid completion matters

    Completing financial aid applications is one of the strongest predictors of college enrollment. According to NCAN, nationally, 92 percent of high school seniors who complete the FAFSA enroll in college by the fall, compared with 51 percent who do not. Each completed application represents a student who can afford to take the next step toward a degree or credential—and a community that benefits from their success.

    GIA’s role in regional coordination

    As the Inland Empire’s designated Cash for College Regional Coordinating Organization (RCO), Growing Inland Achievement plays a central role in connecting and supporting the network of schools, colleges, and community organizations that make financial aid completion possible across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

    GIA’s role is not only to convene partners, but to build the systems, tools, and shared strategies that make this regional effort effective and sustainable. Working closely with the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) and numerous local education and community partners, GIA ensures that families can access consistent, high-quality support wherever they reside in the region.

    Throughout the year, GIA:

    • Coordinates hundreds of Cash for College workshops that provide in-person and virtual assistance for FAFSA and CADAA completion.
    • Hosts live virtual office hours several times each week, giving students, families, and counselors real-time access to financial aid experts.
    • Provides training, data insights, and communications support to help schools and partner organizations plan, promote, and evaluate their events.
    • Maintains and manages IEcashforcollege.org—the region’s centralized digital hub for financial aid information and resources.

    A new and improved IEcashforcollege.org

    To align with the kickoff of the 2025–26 Cash for College season, GIA intentionally relaunched IEcashforcollege.org today—a refreshed, data-informed platform designed to make it easier for Inland Empire students and families to access financial aid help when and where they need it.

    The site has been completely updated to reflect what students, families, and educators told us they needed most: simplicity, clarity, and local connection. Built for mobile use and fully bilingual, the platform helps users move seamlessly from awareness to action.

    New and enhanced features include:

    • A faster, mobile-friendly workshop finder that allows users to locate in-person or virtual events by date, county, or school.
    • English and Spanish navigation and resources, ensuring inclusive access for families across the region.
    • Live virtual office hours hosted by financial aid experts, providing real-time help for students, families, and educators.
    • Step-by-step FAFSA and CADAA guides with checklists and quick links to official state and federal resources.
    • A partner and educator portal where schools, colleges, and community organizations can list workshops, access outreach materials, and download toolkits to promote events.
    • Integrated communications tools that make it easier for partners to share verified information and key deadlines.

    The relaunch of IEcashforcollege.org marks an important milestone in GIA’s role as the Inland Empire’s Cash for College Regional Coordinating Organization—offering a single, trusted, and regionally branded resource to help students complete their financial aid applications and take the next step toward college and career success.

    Moving forward together

    This coordinated campaign reflects the region’s shared commitment to access and opportunity. GIA celebrates the collaborative leadership of partners across the Inland Empire and remains dedicated to providing the data, coordination, and infrastructure that help students move from aspiration to enrollment.

    Together, we are expanding access to financial aid, supporting college-going across the region, and advancing a more equitable and prosperous future for Inland Empire students and families.

     

     

  • Education Insight: Growing the Next Generation of Teachers in Barstow

    Education Insight: Growing the Next Generation of Teachers in Barstow

    About This Episode

    Season 6. Episode 5.

    Across the country, school districts are grappling with the challenge of teacher shortages—and Barstow is no exception. But instead of waiting for solutions to come from outside, Barstow Community College and Barstow Unified School District are taking matters into their own hands with an innovative approach: the Grow Your Own Teacher program.

    In this episode of Education Insight, we talk with Carrie O’Neil, Director of the Teachers Pathways Project, and Dr. Jennifer Rodden, Dean of Instruction for Career Technical Education at Barstow Community College. Together, they share how this forward-thinking program is designed to build a sustainable pipeline of educators directly from the community.

    Through local partnerships, targeted financial assistance, and real-world classroom training, the program empowers aspiring teachers—whether they are paraprofessionals already working in schools or recent high school graduates—to begin their journey toward becoming credentialed educators. By creating clear pathways and removing barriers, the initiative not only strengthens the teacher workforce but also ensures that local students are taught by professionals who deeply understand their community.

    Featured Guest

    Dr. Jeff Oldfield
    Executive Director of Innovation and Competitive Advantage, Riverside County Office of Education

    Watch the Episode

    Interview Highlights

    3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.

    7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.

    8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.

    9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE. 

    13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.

    20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.

    21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.

    23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.

    25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues. 

    32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond. 

    36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.

  • Education Insight: From Sobriety to Higher Education

    Education Insight: From Sobriety to Higher Education

    About This Episode

    Season 6. Episode 4.

    In this episode of Education Insight, we sit down with Shelley Mattazaro, Executive Director of the Veterans’ Alcohol Rehabilitation Program (VARP). For more than forty years, VARP has been a lifeline in San Bernardino, offering recovery housing and support to thousands of individuals seeking to rebuild their lives. Its mission has always centered on healing, hope, and providing a stable foundation for people to reclaim their futures.

    Now, under Shelley’s leadership, VARP is entering a new chapter—partnering with San Bernardino Valley College’s Rising Scholars Program. This collaboration is more than just a bridge to education; it’s a chance for individuals in recovery to walk onto a college campus, enroll in classes, and begin to see themselves as students with real opportunities ahead.

    Shelley shares her own journey into this work, as well as the legacy of VARP’s recovery houses and the countless lives touched through the program. She also highlights the groundbreaking potential of the Rising Scholars partnership, which not only opens doors to higher education but also creates a powerful message: that recovery is not just about overcoming the past, but about envisioning and building a brighter future.

    This conversation shines a light on the transformative power of education and community support, and how together they can create second chances for those who need them most.

    Featured Guest

    Dr. Jeff Oldfield
    Executive Director of Innovation and Competitive Advantage, Riverside County Office of Education

    Watch the Episode

    Interview Highlights

    3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.

    7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.

    8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.

    9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE. 

    13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.

    20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.

    21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.

    23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.

    25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues. 

    32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond. 

    36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.

  • Education Insight: Voices Behind Bars: How Chaffey College Is Teaching Journalism at the California Institution for Men

    Education Insight: Voices Behind Bars: How Chaffey College Is Teaching Journalism at the California Institution for Men

    About This Episode

    Season 6. Episode 3.

    This episode of Education Insight takes listeners inside the California Institution for Men, where Chaffey College is redefining what access to education can look like. Through a groundbreaking journalism program, incarcerated students are gaining the tools to share their own voices and experiences with the world.

    Professor Robert Ian Jones, who leads the initiative, explains how a grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation has created a unique partnership between incarcerated students and Chaffey journalism majors on campus. The program not only builds skills in reporting and storytelling but also bridges communities that rarely get the chance to connect.

    We also hear from Lionel Getton, a third-year student journalist, who shares his perspective on mentoring within the program and why empowering people to tell their own stories has the potential to transform lives.

    By breaking down barriers to education and amplifying voices from inside prison walls, this initiative is helping to redefine both journalism and justice in the Inland Empire.

    Featured Guest

    Dr. Jeff Oldfield
    Executive Director of Innovation and Competitive Advantage, Riverside County Office of Education

    Watch the Episode

    Interview Highlights

    3:57 – Adrienne describes dual enrollment and its benefits.

    7:15 – Adrienne speaks to how recent California mandates and initiatives may have influenced the growth of these new programs.

    8:34 – Adrienne explains what research shows about the impact of dual enrollment on a student’s academic achievements or even their future success.

    9:24 – Adrienne shares examples of dual enrollment activities that are taking place in our region and what is happening in the IE. 

    13:11 – Adrienne talks about strategies in place to make sure that equal opportunities are available for all students.

    20:18 – Jorge explains how dual enrollment aligns with his role at Riverside County Unified School District.

    21:28 – Jorge shares his experiences and thoughts on the current dual enrollment programs that are being offered at Riverside Unified School District.

    23:32 – Jorge gives insight into how dual enrollment makes students career ready.

    25:58 – Jorge describes what challenges students typically face in dual enrollment programs and how he addresses those issues. 

    32:43 – Jorge shares what he would like to see be the future of the dual enrollment program in his district and beyond. 

    36:31 – Special Feature: Avijeet Randhawa, 8th-Grader, Auburndale Intermediate School in the Corona Norco Unified School District.

    View our podcast page for more stories like this: https://gia.echofactory.dev/gia-podcasts/

    Education Insight tells the story of education in the Inland Empire through the diverse voices of those in and around the regional education community. The show is produced by Growing Inland Achievement, a collective impact organization in the Inland Empire with a mission to increase economic prosperity in the region by increasing educational attainment. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, monthly shows explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success.