Growing Inland Achievement

Author: Jake Poore

  • GIA Recognized with Mosaic Award and Multiple Honors at 2025 Inland Empire American Advertising Awards

    GIA Recognized with Mosaic Award and Multiple Honors at 2025 Inland Empire American Advertising Awards

    Pictured left to right: Jake Poore, Director of Communication at GIA; Vanessa Boekenoogen, Assistant Director of Communication at GIA

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) received multiple accolades at the 2025 Inland Empire American Advertising Awards, held March 21 at the Life Arts Center in Riverside. The organization earned a total of ten ADDY Awards, including a Silver Award for IESuccess.org, several Bronze Awards across its podcast and campaign work, and the event’s only Mosaic Award for its Higher Endeavor campaign.

    Hosted annually by the Inland Empire chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the event recognizes outstanding advertising and media work from professionals and students throughout the region. This year’s competition marked a significant increase in entries, with participation levels reaching their highest since 2019.

    GIA’s most notable recognition came in the form of the Mosaic Award, awarded to a single entry that demonstrates a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The organization earned the award in the Public Service Online/Interactive Campaign category for its Higher Endeavor campaign, which focuses on supporting postsecondary transformation across Inland Empire institutions. The campaign is part of GIA’s work under the Gates Foundation-funded Higher Endeavor initiative.

    GIA also earned two Silver ADDY Awards:

    • Website – IESuccess.org, a regional college access and success platform offering guidance and support for students navigating the postsecondary process.

    • Podcast – Education Insight: Transforming Inmate Rehabilitation, an episode exploring the role of education in prison rehabilitation and reentry.

    Eight Bronze ADDY Awards were also presented to GIA for the following:

    The American Advertising Awards is the industry’s largest competition, with more than 25,000 entries submitted nationwide each year. Entries are judged locally before advancing to district and national levels. The number of awards granted in each category is determined by the judges, based on the overall quality of work.

    The Inland Empire chapter of AAF includes professionals and students across eastern Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, and Western Riverside County.

    GIA’s recognized content reflects its continued effort to communicate regionally relevant information in accessible formats. Its creative output supports the organization’s broader mission to increase postsecondary attainment and economic mobility in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

    For more information about the Inland Empire American Advertising Awards, visit inlandempireaaf.com.

  • PROPEL AI Symposium 2025

    PROPEL AI Symposium 2025

    Promoting Regional Opportunities for Prosperity and Educational Leadership with AI

    Join us for the 2025 PROPEL AI Symposium

    Connect with educators, industry leaders, and community partners to explore how artificial intelligence can revolutionize education and workforce development. Together, we’ll share insights, innovative strategies, and practical solutions to promote equitable educational attainment and economic mobility in the Inland Empire.

    The 2025 PROPEL AI Symposium will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM at the Santos Manuel Student Union North Conference Center at Cal State San Bernardino.

    Join us for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration to drive meaningful change in education and beyond. 

    About Growing Inland Achievement  

    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 Awarded $1,035,000 Grant from ECMC Foundation

    Growing Inland Achievement Awarded $1,035,000 Grant from ECMC Foundation

     

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has received a $1,035,000 grant from the ECMC Foundation to help colleges and universities in the region improve equitable access to and success in postsecondary education, particularly for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, and students from low-income backgrounds.

    The funding will boost efforts to close equity gaps and make a college education more accessible and achievable for students in the Inland Empire. GIA will work with local colleges and universities to review current systems and processes and identify areas for improvement.

    This award from the ECMC Foundation complements GIA’s ongoing work as one of six Transformation Intermediaries selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work on achieving postsecondary transformation at scale.

    “This grant will support our ongoing efforts to close equity gaps in higher education and ensure that race, ethnicity, and income are not predictors of postsecondary success,” said Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “We are grateful to the ECMC Foundation for their generous support, which will allow us to engage experts who can help our regional colleges and universities make meaningful, lasting changes.”

    The ECMC Foundation grant will help GIA support schools in improving systems, policies, and processes that positively impact students. The funding will be used to bring in regional and national experts to provide training, coaching, and ongoing support as colleges and universities make these changes. The goal is to create student-centered systems focusing on long-term improvements rather than short-term fixes.

    GIA works closely with local college leaders to identify barriers that contribute to inequities and gaps in student outcomes. This process involves assessing current practices and evaluating strategic plans to provide targeted support in key areas such as academic advising, digital learning, strategic finance, and institutional research. These efforts aim to create an environment where students, especially those from underserved communities, can succeed. As a regional K-16 collaborative, GIA supports these efforts and addresses the unique needs of institutions in the Inland Empire.

    “ECMC Foundation is pleased to partner with Growing Inland Achievement in its mission to improve educational and economic outcomes in the Inland Empire,” said Jacob Fraire, President of the ECMC Foundation. By supporting this initiative, we are investing in the potential of education systems to advance equitable policies and practices to better serve students.”

     

    About Growing Inland Achievement

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

     

    About ECMC Foundation

    ECMC Foundation is a national foundation whose North Star goal is to eliminate equity gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040 so that underserved learners have greater opportunities for social and economic mobility. The Foundation’s mission is to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. ECMC Foundation makes strategic grants and program-related investments to support both nonprofit and for-profit ventures, guided by a strategic framework that aims to advance systemic change by removing barriers to postsecondary completion, building the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems, and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting www.ecmcfoundation.org and our parent company, ECMC Group, by visiting www.ecmcgroup.org.”

  • GIA Relaunches Award-Winning Education Insight Radio Show and Podcast

    GIA Relaunches Award-Winning Education Insight Radio Show and Podcast

    Education Insight Production Team (pictured above, left to right): Tyler Veazey, Corona CA (Production Engineer); Lacey Kendall, Banning, CA (Host and Broadcast Consultant); Alyssa Silva, Coachella, CA (Assistant Producer); Jake Poore, Corona, CA (Executive Producer).

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) is excited to announce the relaunch of its award-winning radio show and podcast, Education Insight, in a new and improved format. Beginning August 22, 2024, Education Insight will air weekly on KVCR 91.9 FM, with an expanded broadcast schedule and format that promises to bring more insights, education topics, and opportunities for listeners to tune in.

    Expanded Broadcast Schedule

    The new format includes three weekly broadcast times on KVCR:

    • Thursdays at 2:00 PM and 6:30 PM
    • Saturdays at 4:00 PM

    In addition to KVCR, Education Insight will also be broadcast at various times throughout the week on three additional radio outlets:

    • KCAA Radio (1050 AM and 106.5 FM)
    • KQLH (92.5 FM)
    • KFXM (98.3 FM)

    GIA and KVCR have enjoyed a long-standing partnership in producing Education Insight. The show’s new format includes a 30-minute weekly episode, replacing the previous monthly schedule. This change reflects GIA and KVCR’s commitment to providing more frequent and in-depth coverage of critical education issues in the Inland Empire and beyond.

    Executive Director of KVCR, Connie Leyva emphasizes, “we are so excited to introduce the 30 minute weekly version of Education Insight to KVCR listeners. Knowledge is power, enjoy!”

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    Innovative Integration into Higher Education

    In a significant development, episodes of Education Insight have been integrated into the curriculum at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). The Liberal Studies program in the College of Arts & Letters now includes the show’s content as part of its curriculum for students aspiring to become educators. This collaboration aims to provide future teachers with a comprehensive understanding of key education issues, enhancing their knowledge of current challenges and innovations in the field.

    “CSUSB recognizes the value of bringing authentic, relevant, and meaningful information to our future educators,” said Dani Doueiri, Interim Coordinator of the Liberal Studies program at CSUSB. “Research shows that each teacher impacts thousands of students during their career, many of whom will stay in our region. Education Insight offers a unique and comprehensive resource to start their journey.”

    GIA’s Director of Communication, Jake Poore, added, “We are honored that Education Insight is being used to help prepare the next generation of educators. This collaboration reflects our commitment to enhancing education at all levels in our community.”

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    Additional Programming

    In addition to Education Insight, another GIA-produced program, The GIA Education Report, a 3.5-minute weekly news segment on current education topics, will also begin airing on KCAA Radio in September. This expansion highlights GIA’s ongoing efforts to inform the public on vital education issues affecting the Inland Empire and beyond.

    For more information and to listen to past episodes, visit the Education Insight website at https://gia.echofactory.dev/education-insight.

    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.

  • Empowering Success Through Math Education

    Empowering Success Through Math Education

    Mathematics significantly influences college and career outcomes, highlighting the essential role of math education in shaping student futures. Despite this importance, challenges like disparities in math confidence and educational quality persist as substantial barriers.

    A critical issue is math anxiety—a fear of math that can profoundly impact a student’s educational path and career prospects. This topic was explored in the program “Education Insight: From Fear to Fluency – Empowering Minds in Math Education,” where experts discussed math anxiety as a critical, often-overlooked obstacle with lasting effects.

    Additionally, the Math Narrative Project offers fresh insights into the emotional aspects of math learning. This initiative gathers perspectives from students, teachers, and parents to promote understanding and address the struggles associated with math education. The project advocates for narrative interventions that not only help students tackle math challenges but also equip educators and caregivers with effective support tools. The Math Narrative Project is hosting upcoming webinars for educators, parents, and policymakers, providing a platform to engage with these critical issues directly.

    At the policy level, California Assembly Bills 705 and 1705 are designed to streamline students’ progression in higher education by ensuring access to college-level math courses and providing necessary co-requisite support. These bills represent significant steps toward equitable education in math, though much work remains to bridge the gaps in K-12 math preparation and ensure all students are ready to succeed in college mathematics.

    By recognizing and addressing the emotional effects of math learning and aligning educational policies with best practices, we can enable more students to conquer their math fears and achieve success both in academia and in their future careers.