Growing Inland Achievement

Category: News

  • Education Insight Recognized as Locally Produced Radio Show of the Year

    Education Insight Recognized as Locally Produced Radio Show of the Year

    Inland Empire radio show and podcast, Education Insight, was recently announced as the winner of a Best of the West Media Award in the category of Locally Produced Show of the Year. The Best of the West Media Awards honors individuals and companies who exemplify excellence in service to their communities and the media industry.

    “The Best of the West Media Awards competition received entries from media markets across 10 western states,” said Paul Klein, Chairman of AAF Western Region in making the announcement. “I would like to congratulate all of the winners for their exemplary work and service to their local communities.”

    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).

    The Best of the West Media Awards honors individuals and companies demonstrating excellence in service to their communities and quality of media production within the markets they serve.  It is an annual competition sponsored by the Western Region of AAF, the advertising industry’s largest trade organization.

    “We are thrilled that Education Insight won the award for Locally Produced Show of the Year. I personally want to thank my friends at GIA and KVCR FM for their support of the production of our show and want to acknowledge all of the amazing guests we have featured on the program,” said Lacey Kendall, host of Education Insight. “Thank you for making us award-winning.”

    A complete list of Best of the West Media Award winners is listed below:

    Category Winner City/Region State
    Radio Broadcaster of the Year Stephens Media Group – Tri Cities 94.9 The Wolf Adam & Jen in the Morning Kennewick WA
    Newspaper of the Year San Francisco Bay Times San Francisco CA
    Outdoor Company of the Year Meadow Outdoor Advertising The Dalles OR
    Outdoor Company of the Year Volta Charging San Francisco CA
    Magazine of the Year Trend Magazine art+design+culture Santa Fe NM
    Website of the Year The Nevada Independent Las Vegas NV
    Blog-Podcast of the Year The Modern West Laramie WY
    Agency of the Year Wunderman Thompson Seattle Seattle WA
    Agency of the Year KPS3 Reno NV
    Media Agency of the Year Spectrum Reach Honolulu HI
    Governmental Media Outlet of the Year Nevada Department of Health and Human Services
    (in partnership with The Center for Application of Substance Abuse Technologies)    		 Carson City NV
    Locally Produced Show of the Year Education Insight Inland Empire CA
    Public Service Campaign or Event of the Year Mask On Move On Washoe County NV
    Best Coverage of a Local News Story of the Year The Denver Post Denver CO
    Media Professional of the Year Chris Sheetz Idaho Falls ID
    Media Talent of the Year James Patrick Gilbert AZ
    Agency Professional of the Year Jenny Greene Lahaina HI
    Best College Media Outlet of the Year The Santa Clara Santa Clara CA
    Best College Website-Blog-Podcast of the Year The Santa Clara Santa Clara CA
    Best Student Media Representative of the Year Carolyn Kuimelis Santa Clara CA
    Young Achiever Award Edgar Sierra Sparks NV

     

    About Education Insight

    Education Insight is a monthly radio show and podcast that 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 in partnership with 91.9 KVCR FM. Hosted by 30-year broadcast veteran Lacey Kendall, we explore topics ranging from education challenges and shortcomings to innovations and groundbreaking ideas that are driving student success. Learn more at https://gia.echofactory.dev/education-insight/. 

    About AAF Western Region

    The Western Region of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the nation’s oldest national advertising trade association, acts as the “Unifying Voice for Advertising” within the Western United States.  The Western Region comprises of five district operations supporting the states of Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Each district serves a vital role in representing the interests and concerns of local advertising communities to protect and promote the well-being of advertising. The Western Region accomplishes this through a unique, coordinated grassroots network of advertisers, agencies, media companies, local advertising clubs and college chapters. They also set the framework for well-known industry programs like the American Advertising (ADDY®) Awards and the National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC).

  • Bank of America Renews their Commitment to Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    Bank of America Renews their Commitment to Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    GIA is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation to support adults in the Inland Empire returning to school and obtaining a degree or credential. The Bank of America Foundation first partnered with GIA on this work in 2018 when they supported the formation of the Returning Adult Action Network Team (ANT). 

    “We know that twenty-five percent of adults in the IE have some college but no degree. An additional 26.9% have no postsecondary education,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO at GIA. “As these adults seek to support their families while living costs continue to increase, many realize the opportunity for education to open doors to career advancement and greater earnings. We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with Bank of America to help create opportunities for our adult population.”

    GIA and the Returning Adult ANT have identified resources and developed plans to support the unique needs of adult students. Bank of America grant funds will be utilized for outreach campaigns to adults with the intent to enroll in postsecondary education and one-on-one coaching to provide financial, logistical, social, and emotional support for adults starting or continuing their education.

    If you are interested in partnering with GIA on these efforts please contact Ida Hermosillo, Director of Network Engagement, at ida@gia.echofactory.dev.

  • Education Insight: Middle School-Where Planning your Future Begins

    Education Insight: Middle School-Where Planning your Future Begins

    About This Episode

    Season 2. Episode 4.

    An extraordinary number of television shows and movies focus on the struggles of kids in middle school. The struggle is real for kids at an awkward age where decisions are often poorly made. The brain of kids between ages 10-14 is growing at an amazing rate, and experts agree that is when they need to begin to think about a career and college, often despite their indifference. So how do parents and educators get middle schoolers thinking about the future? In today’s program, we find answers to the tough questions: How to talk to kids, how to successfully get them to begin preparing for college or a successful career, and when they just need to focus on being a kid. Our guests today work through that with kids and families every day, in the Inland Empire.

    Featured Guests

    Carol Tsushima

    Administrator for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

    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

    Randall Olson

    Family Engagement Specialist at San Bernardino City Unified School District

    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

    3:02 – Randy shares why he believes attention to education for middle schoolers is so important

    4:10 – Randy describes the greatest areas of need for middle school students when it comes to their family engagement and education

    7:30 – Randy discusses how a parent who has never gone to college can prepare their child for higher education

    9:50 – Randy briefly summarizes the top 5 findings that are important for us to understand as it pertains to the value of family engagement

    14:30 – Randy explains what parents should do to help their kids make a tangible plan for college

    18:14 – Randy gives advice to parents who would prefer to give their kids the college talk in high school as opposed to in middle school

    27:37 – Carol shares her opinion on the most important things a child must be learning or gaining during middle school

    28:55 – Carol describes the top 3 things that a middle school student needs to consider regarding moving from K-12 to college or a career

    32:29 – Carol explains what issues are easier to address in middle school as opposed to later on in high school

    37:54 – Carol gives insight into how students should go about creating a six-year plan

    39:50 – Carol discusses what a “growth mindset” is

    44:10 – Carol shares the courses that are most important for middle schoolers to hone in on during the crucial learning period of 7th and 8th grade

    45:39 – Special Feature Original Song: Love Theme by: Victoria Romano

    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.

  • TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

    TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

    As we celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week, we wanted to take a moment to share a few resources for supporting our current teacher workforce and working to build a pipeline of a well-prepared, highly qualified educators to enter the profession.

    Thank you to all of our teachers and everyone working to support student success in the Inland Empire. You are appreciated!

  • GIA TOGETHER – THE UCR FIERCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

    GIA TOGETHER – THE UCR FIERCE SCHOLARS PROGRAM

    In this podcast, Dr. Louie Rodriguez, Interim Dean and Professor, UCR School of Education, talks about their FIERCE Scholars Program and the impact he expects it to have on the teacher and educator workforce in the Inland Empire.

    Watch Video

    Audio Only