Growing Inland Achievement

Category: Updates

  • Growing Inland Achievement to Host Workshops on Critical Issues Affecting Students

    Growing Inland Achievement to Host Workshops on Critical Issues Affecting Students

    GIA is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant for $25K from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to support a new workshop series in partnership with the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and Riverside County Office of Education. The series titled Building Better from Disruption expands on last fall’s Teens, COVID, and Coping discussions among the region’s two County Superintendents and several school districts.   

    The pandemic has changed education dynamics, affecting students, parents, and educators in ways we had never imagined. National events over the past year have further highlighted the fact that racial inequities in education can no longer be ignored. As we move through the pandemic and into the next iteration of education, there are a multitude of issues that must be addressed.

    “The goal of this workshop series is to involve all 56 school districts in the region, bringing in experts on such subjects as Dual Enrollment; Learning Loss and Learning Gains during COVID; Equity Insights; and Student Assessments, among others,” said Dr. Carlos Ayala, President & CEO at GIA. “Our goal is that these workshops will lead to further discussions and research into selected topics with an actionable plan for systemwide change.” 

    GIA is grateful to the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation for their generous support of this workshop series and their work throughout the country to improve educational outcomes and foster a more equitable society.  

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  • GIA Becomes Independent 501c3 Organization

    GIA Becomes Independent 501c3 Organization

    GIA is pleased to report that we have received an official letter of tax-exempt status and have started operating as an independent 501c3 corporation as of January 1, 2021. When GIA was founded in 2015, the Inland Empire Economic Partnership agreed to serve as the fiscal sponsor. In early 2020, the GIA Board determined that it was time to set GIA up as an independent entity. In April, we incorporated in the State of California as Growing Inland Achievement Inc. and proceeded to apply for tax-exempt status.

    This approval recognizes the hard work of the GIA Board and staff over the past five years. It is an acknowledgment of our ability to provide services to our community successfully and to conduct business in a fiscally responsible manner. While this will shift internal operations, to our partners and the community, we will continue to look and feel the same, providing the same level of service and partnership we have for the past five years.

    “We wish to express profound appreciation to the Inland Empire Economic Partnership for serving as our fiscal sponsor over these past five years. IEEP staff has provided immeasurable support to our team as we have gone through this exciting growth process,” said GIA Chief Operating Officer, Ann Marie Sakrekoff.

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  • Emergency Grants Announced by Growing Inland Achievement

    Emergency Grants Announced by Growing Inland Achievement

    In a coordinated regional response to Inland Empire student needs, Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has distributed 14 grants to local programs and nonprofit organizations, totaling $255,000. The funds will be used to support students in the Inland Empire with technology, basic needs, and college transition.

    With support from the emergency funding, these organizations can continue to provide services to students in the community affected by the pandemic. “We want to thank all of those who applied and congratulate the award recipients who are empowering students to reach their educational goals during these challenging times,” said Growing Inland Achievement CEO Carlos Ayala.

    Grant recipients include:

    • BLU Educational Foundation – $30,000
    • OneFuture Coachella Valley – $30,000
    • California State University, San Bernardino Office of Pre-College Programs / San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools / San Bernardino Community College District – $30,000
    • Riverside County Office of Education – $25,000
    • Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars – $25,000
    • Great Harvest Community Center – $25,000
    • University of California, Riverside – $15,000
    • San Bernardino Valley College Foundation – $15,000
    • Norco College – $10,000
    • Jurupa Valley Unified School District – $10,000
    • Coachella Valley Unified School District – $10,000
    • Crafton Hills College – $10,000
    • California State University, San Bernardino Philanthropic Foundation – $10,000
    • Moreno Valley College UMOJA Program – $10,000

    Growing Inland Achievement is a regional collective impact organization aimed at increasing postsecondary credential attainment, adding more qualified people to the workforce, and contributing to a thriving economy. To contact GIA please email info@gia.echofactory.dev.

  • Growing Inland Achievement Regional Survey

    Growing Inland Achievement Regional Survey

    Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has reached its fifth year of operation and is now strategizing how to build capacity and scale our regional collective impact for the next five years. Although projects to help students amidst the COVID-19 pandemic require much of our attention today, we recognize the importance of planning for the future and how we can best serve the needs of our region.

    With oversight from our Board of Directors and funding provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are developing a comprehensive business plan in the coming months. Your thoughts, opinions, and ideas are critical to this process as we develop a road map for GIA’s future.

    Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out our survey and share it with your peers. If you have questions, please let us know at info@gia.echofactory.dev.