One of GIA’s major supporters is making a significant investment in the Inland Empire region.
This meeting took place on Sept. 14. Watch the meeting recording here – https://youtu.be/vLOb65FfKds
Author: Growing Inland Achievement
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GIA Special Announcement on Sept. 14
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$18 million awarded to Inland Empire K-16 Collaborative
UC Riverside, the Lead Education Agency for the Inland Empire K-16 Education Collaborative, recently announced that the Inland Empire region will receive $18 million to address equity gaps and improve education-to-career pipelines.
“The Regional K-16 collaborative program, administered by the Department of General Services, Office of Public School Construction, and Foundation for California Community Colleges, is intended to build on or create collaboration among the University of California system, the California State University system, community colleges, K-12 school districts, and workforce partners so that students have clear career pathways that begin in elementary school,” according to to the UCR announcement. “Once the grant funds are received, a steering committee of regional partners will ensure funds are equitably disbursed across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including in remote areas.”
“We want to thank all of the Inland Empire partners who have been working diligently on the application since early this year,” said Dr. Carlos Ayala, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “This grant aligns directly with our shared vision to increase equitable educational attainment in the region and will accelerate network efforts to improve education-to-career pipelines for our students.”
GIA maintains a webpage with Inland Empire K-16 Collaborative Grant information and updates, available at: https://gia.echofactory.dev/k-16-education-collaborative/
For additional information, please contact Ann Marie Sakrekoff at annmarie@gia.echofactory.dev.
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Education Insight: Supporting Student Mental Health
About This Episode
Season 2. Episode 8.
The last few years have been tumultuous for everyone. From lockdowns, drought, protests, shootings, bullies, a global pandemic, and politics. But no one has been hit harder by these issues than our kids. They have become the #1 group to commit suicide or a mass shooting, and as the news reports this frequent story, there are always calls for more mental health assistance to help them. Today we are looking at how well our Inland Southern California Kids are doing, with two experts who are on campuses, leading major efforts to help our kids stay mentally healthy, happy, and productive.
Featured Guests
Dr. Lexi Backstrom
Administrator, Student Behavioral Health and Support
Dr. Lexi Backstrom is the Student Behavioral Health and Support Administrator for the Riverside County Office of Education. She oversees behavioral health services for Alternative Education and the CAREspace, part of the Superintendent’s Mental Health Initiative. She brings over 10 years of experience developing programs and supporting students’ behavioral and mental health needs in nonpublic schools, residential treatment centers, K-12 school districts, and alternative education. Her degrees, credentials, and licenses include Ed.D. in Educational Psychology and Applied Behavior Analysis, Ed.S. in School Psychology, MA in Counseling, MBA, Clear Administrative Services Credential, PPS in School Psychology, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor.
Jason Tate
Wellness Center Intervention Specialist
Jason Tate was born and raised in Arizona where he is the oldest of three and grew up a nature lover, academic, and athlete of six different sports. After attending Northern Arizona University on an academic scholarship and receiving his B.S in Biology and Secondary Education, Jason moved to Palm Desert, CA where he worked as a manager of Leeds & Son Fine Jewelers for nearly three years. In 2004, Jason joined the field of education as a biology teacher and varsity volleyball coach. Jason served as science department chair for nine years, coached for seven years, and created four UC/CSU-approved science courses never seen before in education. Jason also created the nation’s first and only functional medicine pre-med academy focused around three pillars of wellness; movement, nutrition, and mental health. While building the HANS Academy, Jason earned a Functional Medicine Health Coaching Certificate and extensive training in Advanced Mind-Body Medicine as well as a CTE Health Education Certificate. Over the years, Jason has appeared on several media outlets including more than 30 live podcasts from his own show called “Tate Talks”, a handful of TV appearances, several dozen speaking engagements throughout Southern California, and most notably a TEDx Talk in October of 2021. Jason recently accepted the position of Wellness Center Intervention Specialist at the historic Coachella Valley High School where he serves the entire campus, staff, and students, as a wellness specialist in addition to providing wellness training and education throughout the entire CV Unified School District. Jason’s wife, Laura, is a well-known pilates instructor in the Desert and their 14-year-old daughter is a freshman in high school. Jason enjoys traveling internationally, hiking, live music, and auto racing, and is still very active playing tennis, basketball, volleyball, golf, and weightlifting.
Interview Highlights
1:45 – Lexi tells us about CAREspace and why it’s important for kids to have a safe space to discuss mental health challenges.
2:48 – Lexi describes what kinds of problems kids are dealing with right now
3:34 – Lexi explains how CARESpace helps kids to deal with their struggles
8:02 – Lexi shares what kind of services CARESpace offers students
13:46 – Lexi explains what makes CARESpace so unique
19:16 – Lexi reflects on the number one thing we need to be doing more aggressively if we want to build happier kids
22:19 – Jason gives insight into who is struggling more right now — The students or the staff members
26:48 – Jason describes the importance of helping a child who is not growing socially or is beginning to isolate
28:24 – Jason elaborates on the greatest challenge mental health professionals are facing right now
34:18 – Jason discusses some of the ways to detect a child or student might be experiencing mental distress
37:09 – Jason reflects on the most successful programs that he sees currently working in regard to improving the well-being of our students.
40:31 – Jason shares how teachers can help with the mental health of students
43:47 – Special Music Feature: Cal State San Bernardino Symphonic Band. By composer Omar Thomas, featuring Maya Orendain – principal chair on piccolo and flute.
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.
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Education Insight: How Community-Based Organizations are Supporting Student Success
About This Episode
Season 2. Episode 7.
We’ve all heard the saying “it takes a village to raise a child”. Well, two Inland community-based programs heard that and said “I think that’s our cue”. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Inland Empire and Orange County and the Promise Scholars program are both finding success in helping kids do better in school and begin working for a successful education, career, and life. In this episode of Education Insight, we look at these two unique programs and why it has become so important to them to help kids do better in school and get excited about the future.
Featured Guests
Jennifer O’Farrell
Executive Director at Big Brother Big Sisters
Jennifer is an inspirational and entrepreneur leader in the social impact industry. For over 15 years she has spearheaded new programs or agencies, dedicating her life to pursuing equity for youth and families.
She proudly led the first Anti-Human Trafficking multidisciplinary task force for Riverside County and created the first comprehensive case management and advocacy system for victims and survivors of trafficking. Currently, she is the Executive Director of the region’s first Big Brothers Big Sisters serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Her focus is to create generational change by tackling some of the region’s hardest issues of poverty and trauma through one-to-one mentoring.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist University, is a certified Sexual Assault Counselor and Advocate, Case Manager for Trafficking Victims, and has a Philanthropy Certificate from the School of Business at La Sierra University. As the Anti-Human Trafficking Director, she secured state and federal grants and increased individual giving revenue to the cause. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, she has doubled the agency’s revenue giving more youth access of a mentor.
Locally, Jennifer served as founding member of The Pick Group, President of the YWCA, board member to the Riverside Community Health Foundation, Parkview Community Hospital Foundation, Riverside Public Utilities, and currently is a board member of San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Making Hope Happen Foundation, and CBU’s Advisory for the College of Behavioral Sciences.
Her accomplishments include being a TedX Riverside Speaker, a 2010 graduate of Riverside Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class, 2012 Attorney General’s Award of Citizen Appreciation, 2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award from California Baptist University, 2013 Woman of the Year from the Riverside County Commission on Women, 2014 Soroptimist International Ruby Award recipient and Soroptomist International Golden West Region Award Winner, 2014 NAACP Community Service Freedom Award Recipient, 2014 HOPE Collaborative Advocate of the Year Award Recipient, and 2018 Spirit of the Entrepreneur Awardee.
Jennifer, as a wife, mom, and daughter loves to have fun. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, friends, traveling, hiking, running, and reading.
Dr. Felix Melendez
Executive Director at Promise Scholars
Promise Scholars, a Southern CA 501c3 serving students in the Ontario-Montclair School District
Dr. Felix Melendez brings over three decades of experience to the Executive Director position. His career includes two years as principal at Serrano Middle School. Prior to serving in OMSD, Dr. Melendez was an English teacher, Assistant Principal, and Principal in nearby Chino Valley and Corona-Norco School Districts.
“Dr. Melendez understands the upbringing of many OMSD students, not only as a Latino but also as a first-generation college student,” said Albert Maldonado, President/Chair of the Promise Scholars 501c3. “His interests, the interests of the Promise Scholars Board, and the interests of OMSD as a whole are aligned quite well.”
Dr. Melendez earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He completed a Masters’s in Educational Administration at Azusa Pacific University and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with an Emphasis on Teaching and Learning from APU as well.
Dr. Melendez is the youngest of seven siblings, all of whom attended college and have 3 Associates degrees, 4 Bachelor’s degrees, and 3 Master’s degrees among them. The power of education was stressed by his parents and the hunger to learn was instilled in him at an early age. Countless teachers and coaches guided his educational journey but none had more impact than his parents, Marcos and Leila, who learned English while reading over their children’s shoulders and never threw out an “old book” because a new idea might be hiding in there.
Interview Highlights
2:20 – Jennifer shares what and who inspired the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program.
3:17 – Jennifer describes the types of mentor programs BBBS offers.
4:42 – Jennifer explains why it is important to have mentorship at a young age.
7:55 – Jennifer gives insight into what criteria are implemented when matching a child to a mentor.
13:15 – Jennifer shares how mentorships ultimately affect a child’s accomplishments in school and in day-to-day life.
18:46 – Jennifer gives advice to kids and families to ensure they are on track in their academics and success.
22:49 – Felix gives insight into the work being done at Promise Scholars.
25:13 – Felix describes the impact this program has had on the students.
29:14 – Felix elaborates on why talking about college at a young age is so important.
32:12 – Felix discusses how this program has helped increase college and career success.
36:29 – Felix reflects on how they provide support to students where they’re actually transitioning into college.
43:00 – Felix shares the future of Promise Scholars.
45:21 – Special Feature: Juan Del Real
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.
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Education Insight: Emerging Technologies and Innovation in Our Local Schools
About This Episode
Season 2. Episode 6.
Technology-focused industries are popping up all over the Inland Region, and that begs the question, are students learning the skills they need for highly technical jobs that are right here in our own backyard? From grade schools to universities the response is notable. In the next Education Insight, we explore immersive media, virtual and augmentative reality, artificial intelligence, 3D modeling, and animatronics. We meet some people that are bringing all of that into local elementary schools and universities to make our kids truly competitive.
Featured Guests
Sarah Alfonso Emerson
Director of Creative Learning for Garner Holt Education Through Imagination.
Kevin McCarty was elected to the California State Assembly in 2014 to represent the 7th Assembly District, which includes Sacramento, West Sacramento and parts of unincorporated Sacramento County.
McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which oversees the largest component of California’s multi-billion dollar budget. As Chair, McCarty made historic investments in public education including expanding access to preschool for low and middle income families, providing greater career technical education programs, and increasing student enrollment at our public colleges and universities.
Other legislative priorities for Assemblymember McCarty include addressing housing affordability, fighting climate change, championing criminal justice reform, curbing gun violence, tackling the opioid crisis and advocating for the middle class.
McCarty began his public service career as a Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commissioner and served on the Sacramento City Council from 2004 to 2014. As a Councilmember, he created innovative youth programs and wrote common-sense gun laws, tackled sub-standard rental housing, and crafted clean air policies. He created Sacramento’s Little Saigon district, the City’s Whistleblower Hotline program, and the Independent Auditor department.
A lifelong Sacramentan, McCarty went to local public schools, attended American River College, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from CSU Long Beach and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration from CSU Sacramento.
McCarty and his wife live in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Sacramento with their twin daughters.
Like, follow and connect with Assemblymember McCarty on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @AsmKevinMcCarty
James Trotter
Assistant Director, Academic Technologies & Innovation.
Karen Scott is the Executive Director of the Children and Families Commission – First 5 San Bernardino, a funding organization of services for children prenatal through age 5, by investing revenue received from Prop 10, a tobacco tax initiative in California.
Ms. Scott’s education and background is in Public Administration and Administration of Justice and she has worked in the realm of Human Services for San Bernardino County since 1977. Karen has served as Executive Director of First 5 San Bernardino for 14 years leading the organization’s efforts to promote, support and enhance the health and early development of children, prenatal through age five through coordinated and comprehensive systems of care that strengthen children, families and communities, ensuring children are safe, healthy and ready to enter and succeed in school.
Karen is married to James Scott and has 4 adult children and 4 grandchildren.
Interview Highlights
5:19 – James shares why he believes it’s so important for students to be more immersed in learning technology right now.
13:09 – James describes the relationship today between learning and technology.
15:03 – James goes into detail about immersive technology and putting students into situations.
19:16 – James explains that the department of Academic Technologies & Innovation serves all departments on campus.
21:48 – James shares if he feels his department is in tune with the coming technology needs of the Inland Empire.
26:43 – Sarah gives insight into what inspired the Education Through Imagination program.
29:48 – Sarah elaborates on what the program does at various schools and districts.
33:43 – Sarah describes the custom-designed classroom that they call the Animakers space.
36:05 – Sarah discusses skillsets these students gain from this program.
37:23 – Sarah reflects on how important she believes technology education is right now and some of the benefits that come with it.
39:39 – Sarah shares what technology learning opportunities our local kids are getting that she’s most excited about.
47:54 – Special Feature: Journey Parrot
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.