Growing Inland Achievement

Category: 10th Anniversary

  • GIA Advances $10M Initiative to Support Inland Empire Student Success

    GIA Advances $10M Initiative to Support Inland Empire Student Success

    20 Local Postsecondary Institutions Partner in Higher Endeavor Initiative Backed by Gates Foundation

    Inland Empire, CA—Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) announced a significant milestone in its efforts to increase educational and economic success in the Inland Empire: Twenty postsecondary institutions serving the Inland Empire have signed on to participate in a multi-year “Higher Endeavor” initiative aimed at improving student success across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

    Funded by a $9.6 million grant from the Gates Foundation and bolstered by support from ECMC Foundation, the initiative represents more than $10 million in investment toward postsecondary transformation at scale. GIA is one of six organizations selected nationally to serve in an intermediary capacity, supporting institutions through technical assistance, research, and systems-change strategies.

    With MOUs now signed by 20 local institutions, including public, private, and community colleges, GIA has secured full regional participation in the Higher Endeavor initiative. While other intermediaries in the national effort support institutions across multiple geographies, GIA’s focus is uniquely place-based. Serving the Inland Empire—home to more than 4.7 million residents and the 12th largest metro area in the nation—this milestone reflects an extraordinary level of regional alignment and commitment to improving postsecondary outcomes at scale.

    “This moment underscores the significance of regional collaboration in the Inland Empire,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “Our colleges and universities are stepping forward together, not just to improve outcomes on their campuses, but to align efforts and share solutions that move the region forward. This is what cross-sector leadership looks like.”

    Participating Institutions:

    • Barstow College
    • California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
    • California State University, Fullerton
    • California State University, San Bernardino
    • California State University, San Marcos
    • College of the Desert
    • Copper Mountain College
    • Crafton Hills College
    • Loma Linda University
    • Moreno Valley College
    • Mt. San Jacinto College
    • Norco College
    • Palo Verde College
    • Riverside City College
    • San Bernardino Valley College
    • University of California, Riverside
    • University of La Verne
    • University of Redlands
    • Victor Valley College
    • Woodbury University

    While a few campuses are located outside the Inland Empire’s geographic boundaries, each serves a substantial number of Inland Empire students and plays a critical role in the region’s educational ecosystem. Their inclusion reflects a shared commitment to increasing opportunity and access for Inland Empire learners.

    Supporting Institutions Through Tailored, Regional Solutions

    Through Higher Endeavor, GIA provides a core set of support to each institution, including:

    • Regional Summits and Workshops focused on shared learning and collaboration
    • Ongoing Professional Development and Coaching tailored to institutional needs
    • Peer Learning Cohorts known as Action Network Teams (ANTs), enabling cross-campus knowledge sharing
    • Customized Technical Assistance, including resource development and data analysis

    The initiative also supports the expanded use of data for decision-making. It helps institutions design strategies to address barriers to student success..

    Tied to a Broader Vision for the Region

    Higher Endeavor directly supports GIA’s new 2030 Strategic Plan, which aims to increase the percentage of working-age adults in the Inland Empire with a postsecondary degree or credential of value from 32% to 70%. This goal aligns with California’s statewide Blueprint for Higher Education and reflects the region’s shared interest in advancing equitable economic mobility.

    “Educational attainment is both a moral and economic imperative,” said Diana Z. Rodriguez, Chancellor of San Bernardino Community College District and GIA Board Chair. “This work not only strengthens our campuses, but also our workforce, our communities, and the region’s future.”

    GIA serves as a coordinating hub for cross-sector collaboration, data-informed strategy, and public-private investment. The Higher Endeavor initiative’s success to date highlights the region’s growing capacity to implement large-scale investments focused on equity-centered educational transformation.

    For more information on Growing Inland Achievement and the Higher Endeavor initiative, visit www.inlandempiregia.org.

    About Growing Inland Achievement
    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—home to more than 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA connects education, government, nonprofit, and business partners around a shared commitment to improving educational attainment and economic mobility. Through its CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—GIA supports coordinated, data-informed efforts that strengthen outcomes from cradle to career.

    Media Contact:
    Jake Poore
    Director of Communication
    Growing Inland Achievement
    jake@gia.echofactory.dev

     

  • Inland Empire Unites Around Bold New Strategic Plan to Increase Postsecondary Attainment and Economic Opportunity

    Inland Empire Unites Around Bold New Strategic Plan to Increase Postsecondary Attainment and Economic Opportunity

    GIA’s New Strategic Plan Charts Course to 70% Postsecondary Attainment in the Inland Empire

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has officially launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, a regionally developed blueprint aimed at transforming education and workforce outcomes across San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Anchored in a shared goal to increase the Inland Empire’s postsecondary attainment rate to 70%, the plan reflects the collective voices of hundreds of regional leaders, educators, and community members who participated in a year-long planning process.

    The plan is grounded in a formal Board resolution endorsing a regional goal of 70% postsecondary attainment among working-age adults, which is aligned with the State of California’s higher education and workforce objectives. It outlines a clear path toward this goal by targeting improvements across five critical cradle-to-career milestones: (1) early literacy and middle school math proficiency, (2) high school readiness through A-G completion and dual enrollment, (3) postsecondary enrollment and transfer, (4) postsecondary completion, and (5) successful transition to employment with a livable wage. GIA will support regional partners in advancing these outcomes through its CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—and by implementing a collective impact framework that drives coordinated, data-informed action across sectors.

    “This is more than a plan. It’s a regional commitment to our students, families, and future workforce,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “We are calling on every sector—education, business, philanthropy, and government—to join in advancing this vision. When more Inland Empire residents earn credentials of value, we strengthen families, drive economic growth, and position the region as a national model for equitable opportunity.”

    Strategic Vision Grounded in Regional Voices

    The 2025–2030 Strategic Plan was built through deep listening and broad engagement. GIA facilitated dozens of focus groups, one-on-one interviews, and stakeholder surveys over the past year to ensure the plan reflected regional priorities. The final product aligns with key state initiatives including the California Blueprint for Higher Education, the Vision 2030 roadmap for community colleges, and regional P-16 efforts.

    Regional stakeholders coalesced around a shared understanding: long-term progress toward goal attainment depends on improving student outcomes at every stage of the educational journey. The plan elevates five interconnected cradle-to-career milestones and ties them to goals, annual benchmarks, and shared metrics—creating a structure for accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.

    A Plan That Belongs to the Region

    “This plan reflects the aspirations of our entire region, not just one organization,” said Dr. Diana Z. Rodriguez, GIA Board Chair and Chancellor of the San Bernardino Community College District. “The 70% attainment goal is bold but achievable—if we work together. Every school, college, nonprofit, and employer has a role to play.”

    GIA’s role moving forward will be to support partners in turning strategy into action. Through the CAIR strategy, GIA will strengthen regional coordination, advocate for policies that remove systemic barriers, invest in initiatives with potential for broad impact, and deliver timely research to inform decisions and track progress.

    “Whether you’re a school counselor, business leader, or elected official, this plan offers a roadmap for how we can work together to expand opportunity,” added Paul Granillo, GIA Board Member and President & CEO of Inland Empire Economic Partnership. “It’s an invitation to contribute to the future of our region.”

    Get Involved

    To view the full plan and explore ways to engage, visit:
    🔗 https://bit.ly/giastrategicplan2030

    GIA welcomes opportunities to present a strategic plan overview at community meetings, business roundtables, or public forums. To schedule a presentation, contact Viri Saldana-Borden at viri@gia.echofactory.dev.

    Community members are also encouraged to:

    • Sign up for GIA’s email updates to stay connected on progress, events, and opportunities
    • Save the date for GIA’s 2025 Toward a Shared Vision Summit, GIA’s annual regional convening on October 28-29, 2025, at the Riverside Convention Center.

    About Growing Inland Achievement
    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—home to more than 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA connects education, government, nonprofit, and business partners around a shared commitment to improving educational attainment and economic mobility. Through its CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—GIA supports coordinated, data-informed efforts that strengthen outcomes from cradle to career.

    Media Contact:
    Jake Poore
    Director of Communication
    Growing Inland Achievement
    jake@gia.echofactory.dev

  • 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.