Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), on behalf of the Inland Empire’s cross-sector education and community partners, has joined the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, becoming part of a national network of place-based partners that work together to create a future where youth can thrive. This milestone reflects both the Inland Empire’s urgent need for coordinated cradle-to-career solutions and its growing capacity to deliver measurable, collective progress.
As a member, GIA joins a national learning community dedicated to improving outcomes from early learning through employment. The partnership aligns with GIA’s 2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on increasing educational attainment and economic mobility through cross-sector collaboration, advocacy, investment, and research.
“Becoming part of StriveTogether strengthens the work already happening in our region,” said Dr. Ashish Vaidya, President & CEO of GIA. “It connects us to a national framework rooted in evidence, equity, and collaboration; principles that already guide our efforts in the Inland Empire. We’re proud to contribute our local perspective to this broader movement and to deepen our focus on the outcomes that matter most for students and families.”
StriveTogether network membership comes at a pivotal time. GIA’s 2030 Strategic Plan sets a bold regional target: 70% of working-age adults in the Inland Empire will hold a postsecondary degree or credential of value. Achieving this goal will require shared ownership, aligned strategy, and a sustained focus on outcomes across the cradle-to-career continuum.
To qualify for membership, GIA met a rigorous set of criteria defined by the StriveTogether Theory of Action™—a nationally recognized framework that supports communities in building the civic infrastructure necessary for systems-level change. Through this process, GIA demonstrated its role as a trusted regional convener that uses data to drive improvement and promote equity.
“GIA’s cross-sector leadership and focus on measurable outcomes reflect the best of what the Cradle to Career Network stands for,” said Jennifer Blatz, president and CEO of StriveTogether. “We’re excited to learn from the successful local strategies in the Inland Empire and to contribute to this success as they join our national movement.”
By joining this national movement, the GIA network gains access to tools, coaching, and peer learning opportunities to strengthen local strategies while contributing insights from the Inland Empire to the broader field.
GIA serves as a regional hub for cradle-to-career success. Its network includes school districts, colleges and universities, community organizations, employers, and local government. Together, they focus on five key milestones across the education-to-employment journey:
- Early math and literacy
- Postsecondary readiness
- College enrollment and transfer
- Degree and credential completion
- Employment aligned with livable wages
These milestones are advanced through GIA’s CAIR strategy—Convene, Advocate, Invest, and Research—which supports coordinated, data-informed efforts across sectors.
As part of the StriveTogether network, GIA represents Inland Empire institutions and educators working collectively to improve outcomes for students and families. Membership not only expands access to national resources and shared learning; it also reinforces accountability for delivering results that matter to the region’s future.
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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.
About StriveTogether
StriveTogether is a national network of community partnerships that bring together neighbors, including youth and families, nonprofits, businesses, schools and more, to work toward a future where youth can thrive in their communities. Cradle to Career Network members change the way their communities work together by building connections, sharing resources and using data to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. Our work helps young people meet seven key life milestones so that they have the opportunities they need to reach their goals, and, ultimately, thrive. Learn more at StriveTogether.org.
