Growing Inland Achievement

Author: Growing Inland Achievement

  • Leveraging the StriveTogether Training Hub to Support Your Work

    Leveraging the StriveTogether Training Hub to Support Your Work

    With Growing Inland Achievement’s recent acceptance to StriveTogether, all GIA partners in the Inland Empire region are considered members of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network – a national movement of 71+ communities that are focused on improving outcomes for youth & families.

    As a Cradle to Career Network Member, you have access to the high-quality, on-demand training and resources available through the Training Hub. The Training Hub offers both on-demand and live, facilitator-led training across six core competency areas:

    • Focusing on Systems
    • Collaborating
    • Championing Equity
    • Leading Change
    • Using Data
    • Building Civic Infrastructure

    Ready to leverage the Training Hub in your work?

    Setting up your Training Hub account takes less than 3 minutes. Follow the instructions below or watch this short 2-minute video.

    Step 1: Go to the registration page: https://thetraininghub.strivetogether.org/learn

    When responding to the following two fields within the registration, select these responses:

    How are you connected to StriveTogether?

    Cradle to Career Network

    Organization/Employer
    Growing Inland Achievement

    Step 2: Start Your Learning

    The StriveTogether team has recommended the following courses to kickstart your learning. You can view all the available courses through the course catalog page.

    1. Fundamentals of Partnerships
    2. Leadership Through Person-Role-System Lens
    3. StriveTogether Overview

    Questions? Reach out to support@strivetogether.org at any time.

  • Inland Leaders and Organizations Honored with 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Awards

    Inland Leaders and Organizations Honored with 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Awards

    Each year, Toward a Shared Vision brings together educators, policymakers, business leaders, and community organizations from across the Inland Empire to address regional challenges and advance strategies for educational and economic success. As part of the summit, Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) recognizes individuals and organizations making measurable contributions to equity, student success, and systems change. 

    The 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Awards celebrate honorees whose work reflects GIA’s core values: Collaboration, Equity, Accountability, Innovation, and Transformation. These values guide GIA’s mission to align systems, close opportunity gaps, and expand access to postsecondary and career success across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. 

    “These awards honor leaders and organizations who embody GIA’s core values through their daily work and service,” said Dr. Ashish K. Vaidya, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “Each recipient is contributing to a future where all Inland Empire students have meaningful opportunities to succeed.” 

    2025 Toward a Shared Vision Award Honorees

    Excellence in Collaboration
    Marissa Lazo-Necco, Project Manager, SAP/PBIS & Parent Engagement, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
    Honored for her leadership in statewide community engagement, parent empowerment, and systems-level partnership across 42 school districts. 

    Excellence in Equity 
    Mariana Torres, Director of Equity and Access, Apple Valley Unified School District 
    Recognized for advancing targeted, data-informed strategies that close equity gaps and extend opportunity across districts and communities. 

    Excellence in Accountability 
    Inland Empire Regional K–16 Education Collaborative 
    Celebrated for using shared metrics, transparency, and strategic coordination to improve educational and workforce outcomes across the region. 

    Excellence in Innovation 
    Gateway College and Career Academy 
    A public charter high school on the Riverside City College campus that reimagines student-centered learning through dual enrollment, flexible models, and equity-driven design. 

    Excellence in Transformation 
    Zeb Welborn, President & CEO, Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce 
    Honored for his role in bridging education and workforce development, launching impactful programs that expand access to careers and entrepreneurship

    Leadership in Collective Impact
    Gordon Bourns, Chairman & CEO, Bourns, Inc.
    Recognized for his sustained leadership in education, philanthropy, and civic partnerships that expand STEM pathways and regional collaboration. 

    The awards will be presented during the 2025 Toward a Shared Vision summit, October 28–29, at the Riverside Convention Center. For more information and to register, visit towardasharedvision.org.

  • Growing Inland Achievement Receives $75,000 Grant from Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to Support K-12 Outcomes in the Inland Empire

    Growing Inland Achievement Receives $75,000 Grant from Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to Support K-12 Outcomes in the Inland Empire

    September 2025 — Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has received a $75,000 grant from Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to advance student success in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. The funding will support regional efforts to strengthen early academic milestones in elementary and middle school and expand access to dual enrollment opportunities in local high schools.

    This investment will enhance GIA’s capacity to convene regional K-12 leaders, provide technical assistance, and offer professional development aligned with the Inland Empire’s cradle-to-career priorities. These supports are designed to help school districts improve long-term educational outcomes and ensure more students are on track for postsecondary and workforce success.

    “Improving early academic achievement and increasing high school students’ access to college-level coursework are essential to our region’s future,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “We are grateful to

    Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation for their partnership and for recognizing the importance of collaborative, regional approaches to improving educational outcomes.”

    The funding aligns with GIA’s 2030 Strategic Plan and the Inland Empire’s Regional Call to Action; an ambitious goal for 70% of working-age adults in the region to earn a postsecondary degree or credential of value. Achieving this goal requires focused investment at all levels of the education pipeline.

    The grant is part of a broader effort by Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation to support organizations advancing community well-being, education, and economic mobility. GIA is honored to be among the recipients of this year’s funding cycle.

    As a regional coordinating organization for educational attainment, GIA will continue working closely with K-12 partners, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations to ensure that every student in the Inland Empire has the opportunity to thrive.

  • Education Insight: AI and the American Teacher

    Education Insight: AI and the American Teacher

    About This Episode

    Season 6. Episode 1.

    Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s already in our classrooms, shaping how students learn and how teachers teach. But with every new technology comes new questions. In this episode of Education Insight, Dr. Jeff Oldfield, Executive Director of Innovation and Competitive Advantage at the Riverside County Office of Education, shares his perspective on the opportunities and challenges that AI brings to K–12 education.

    Drawing on his experience as a former Education Leadership Executive at Apple, Dr. Oldfield discusses how AI tools can help address everyday classroom challenges, lighten the load for overworked teachers, and even close critical learning gaps. At the same time, he dives into pressing concerns around student privacy, data use, environmental impact, and the ethical role of tech companies in education.

    This wide-ranging conversation explores how teachers are responding to AI, whether schools truly understand the technology, and what it will take to ensure AI doesn’t make education more impersonal but instead creates smarter, safer, and more equitable learning environments. For parents, educators, and community members alike, this episode offers candid insights and thought-provoking questions about how AI is reshaping the future of education—and what we should be striving for as it continues to evolve.

    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 Named Locally Produced Program of the Year at Best of the West Media Awards

    Education Insight Named Locally Produced Program of the Year at Best of the West Media Awards

    Photo of Education Insight Host, Lacey Kendall, interviewing guest Mariana Macamay, Transfer Center Coordinator at Crafton Hills College.

    Growing Inland Achievement’s radio and podcast program, Education Insight, has been named Locally Produced Radio or Television Program of the Year in 2025 by the Best of the West Media Awards, sponsored by the American Advertising Federation Western Region.

    This is the second time the program has received this honor, following its first win in 2022. The award recognizes excellence in locally produced media and highlights the program’s continued impact in bringing forward education and community stories from across the Inland Empire.

    Hosted by Lacey Kendall and produced by Alyssa Silva (Multimedia Production Specialist) and Jake Poore (Executive Producer), Education Insight features in-depth conversations with educators, students, and leaders who are shaping the region’s educational landscape. Each episode focuses on timely issues ranging from college access and affordability to workforce alignment and local innovation.

    “This recognition reflects our team’s commitment to elevating authentic stories that matter to Inland communities,” said Lacey Kendall. “We’re grateful to our listeners, contributors, and partners who make this work possible.”

    The Best of the West Media Awards celebrate creative excellence in media and public service across 13 western states, with award categories spanning advertising, content development, and community engagement. Entries are judged within designated market sizes to ensure a level playing field across regions.

    Education Insight is part of GIA’s broader communications strategy to inform, connect, and engage stakeholders in advancing equitable educational outcomes. The program supports GIA’s CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—by highlighting voices and ideas that contribute to systems-level change.

    To learn more about the Best of the West Media Awards and winners, visit https://aafwesternregion.org/media-awards-home/

    To learn more about Education Insight or listen to recent episodes, visit inlandempiregia.org/education-insight