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Learn to Earn Dayton is pleased to provide updates throughout the Community Investment Fund application process, including any date changes and answers to frequently asked questions. Bookmark this page or reach out to the team (Northwest@learntoearndayton.org) with any questions. September 6, 2023: One of the boxes on the application limited characters more than originally intended. We have updated to provide more space for an answer. Please use this application. August 28, 2023: With a focus on transparency and a commitment to fair, equitable, and consistent scoring of all applications, we're pleased to share the rubric that will be used by judges during the review process. August 22, 2023: Missed the Info Session? Review the video and read to learn about this year's eligibility requirements and how to draft a strong application. *** August 11, 2023: A budget form was missing from the previous application. Please be sure to use the application linked above. If you have any questions, reach us at northwest@learntoearndayton.org. *** August 1, 2023: The application is now available. Reach out to the team with any questions, and register for the info sessions. Deadline: September 15, 2023. *** July 28 Update: Information sessions are not required, but they will prove helpful to organizations considering application. You can ask staff questions about eligibility, project appropriateness, budget, or any other issues you are facing. Register for the upcoming information sessions: August 9, 9:30-10:30 a.m. August 10, 2-3 p.m. ***

Tom Archdeacon featured the new EVERY DAY campaign in the Dayton Daily News on Sunday, September 3, 2023. The story highlights the partnership between Dayton 6th and Learn to Earn Dayton, made possible with support from generous donors, to feature two top student athletes in a campaign to fight chronic absenteeism and encourage student attendance. Learn to Earn Dayton CEO, Stacy Schweikhart, shared with Archdeacon: “This is one of those things that happens in Dayton because of the spirit of collaboration here and the willingness to work together.” Read the story, and learn more at Learn to Earn or Dayton 6th. PDFs accessed through NewsBank.

Learn to Earn Dayton is thrilled to partner with Dayton 6th in our attendance campaign to stress that EVERY DAY in school matters. We want to feature one of our "heroes" of the campaign -- leveraging her platform to be a role model for students across the region. Meet: Destiny Bohanon Senior: University of Dayton Women’s Basketball Hometown: Huber Heights, Ohio High School: Wayne High School (Huber Heights SD) University of Dayton Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Member 2022-23 Women’s Basketball White Allen MVP During the 2022-23 season, Destiny led the team in scoring (12.4 points per game) and steals, appearing in 22 games, starting 19 Destiny shared why she's so excited about the opportunity to be involved in this campaign: "Not too long ago, I was a student at Wayne High School—dreaming of going to college and playing hoops. Now, I play for the Dayton Flyers Women’s team. This year, I’ll graduate with my Masters of Business Administration. I got here because I showed up to class. Every. Day. Because attendance matters. So whatever YOUR dream is—remember that it all starts… with showing up. Every Day in School Matters." “Destiny is one of the most reliable and consistent students in the classroom. She has learned to balance her time, lead in the classroom while engaging with her peers, and push those around her to be their best by modeling the way.“ - Beth Flach University of Dayton Director of Athletic Academic Support THANK YOU, Destiny, for your dedication to showing up EVERY DAY -- at school and for your team.

Learn to Earn Dayton is thrilled to partner with Dayton 6th in our attendance campaign to stress that EVERY DAY in school matters. We want to feature one of our "heroes" of the campaign -- leveraging his platform to be a role model for students across the region. DaRon Holmes II Junior: University of Dayton Men’s Basketball 2023 NBA Draft Combine Participant University of Dayton Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative (2023-24) Most Outstanding Player (2023 A-10 Championship) 1st Team All-A-10 & All-Defensive Team (2022-23) Led the A-10 in blocked shots (2022-23) 2022-23 Men’s Basketball White Allen MVP who led team in scoring (18.4 ppg), blocked shots (1.94), minutes played (34.2), and FG% (.590); first true sophomore in UD basketball history to reach 1,000 career points 2022-23 Chris Daniels Memorial Most Improved Player Award DaRon talked about the math behind the campaign. He shared that he's excited to participate because together -- parents, students, the whole community -- we can get our region's attendance numbers up and get more students to school. He said, "70% is a great shooting percentage, but if you’re talking about how many students regularly attend school … it’s not good enough. I know that success starts with showing up every day. Did you know – If a student misses just one day of school every two weeks – by the end of the year, they’ve missed a whole month of learning? Too many students in Montgomery County are missing school this often. Parents, Students—Let’s do better. Every Day in School Matters." “Working with DaRon is a joy because of his overall personality and attitude toward not only academics, but life in general. He comes to my office with a positive outlook and cares about continual growth as a person, including as a learner in the classroom. The feedback I am consistently given about DaRon is that people enjoy working with him whether that is his peers, faculty, or staff.“ - Beth Flach University of Dayton Director of Athletic Academic Support Every day on the court matters and every day in school matters. Thank you, DaRon, for being a role model in encouraging area students to show up -- EVERY DAY!

When our CEO, Stacy Wall Schweikhart, was interviewed by Dayton Daily News, about the momentum, challenges, and opportunities within our region, it shouldn't surprise you that collaboration was the core of her message. She shared, "The region is well-prepared to overcome any potential hurdles due to the authentic way partners here collaborate. When challenges arise in the Dayton region, communities, organizations and leaders band together, and that is arguably our greatest strength and what sets us apart from other communities in the state and across the nation." Stacy was interviewed not only because of her role leading Learn to Earn Dayton, the region's cradle-to-career backbone organizations, but also because she has a unique perspective on the challenges of the region as the co-author of the current Dayton Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). That CEDS deeply embedded equity and inclusiveness goals for the first time. When asked about that change, Stacy commented, “We know there are disparities in our region, and those disparities are not limited to one county or one city or one area or one industry... We are very committed to helping advance everyone in the region. And building a strong and resilient economy for all 13 counties and everybody who resides in those counties.” Read more and hear from all leaders interviewed about the future of the Dayton region: https://www.daytondailynews.com/local/unbelievable-and-positive-optimism-abounds-for-the-dayton-region-of-the-future/3KHUQIIQ6JFR5NGMRUPT3CYOPU/

On Tuesday, August 15, Learn to Earn Dayton convened the first meeting of the Summer + Afterschool Collaborative (SASC) for the 2023-2024 school year. A group of more than 40 educational professionals who support students during out-of-school time gathered to set their goals for student success for the coming year. We kicked off with a mindfulness moment hosted by Shamea Knight from Omega CDC (and our social emotional learning work group), followed by a fun and engaging ice breaker with laughs and valuable connections. We were especially excited to welcome nearly a dozen new professionals and community partners to join SASC, as the growth of the SASC means more young people are benefiting from best practices and support. Getting into the vision, a key aspect of the program was recapping the previous year's work group activities and setting "SMART" goals for the SASC for the coming year. Work groups -- including potential dedicated efforts toward improving issues around social emotional learning, family engagement, STEM, community partnerships, elevating youth voice, professional development, data, and 21st Century Schools -- are beginning to convene as the Collaborative is determining its goals and impact potential with its dedicated focus on creating quality out-of-school time across Montgomery County. The remainder of the meeting was full of valuable information from partners and resources, sharing tools and opportunities to enhance out-of-school program experiences. Thank you to: Nichelle Harris (consultant supporting Ohio Afterschool Network) provided exciting updates including: FREE professional development for out-of-school staff and capacity building for agencies launching through OAN. Classes will be online and offered monthly from October through March. Learn more. Details on "Lights on Afterschool," an effort to feature special events on October 26, 2023, to shine a light on the valuable impact of out-of-school programs, providing community leaders and elected officials with insights on the critical impact of afterschool. Workshops specific to afterschool programs who benefitted from ESSER funding were announced and shared. Michelle Ritchlin from the Ohio Afterschool Network introduced the work of the OAN as the statewide driver for out-of-school success and the many resources available, including the rollout of Moonshot Ohio. Sign up for the newsletter today to learn more! Kelly Geers from the Montgomery County Educational Service Center shared the results of a partnership with University of Dayton MPA Capstone program who provided deep research into existing afterschool programs and connections. Kelly Paull, the Childcare Licensing Supervisor from Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, shared a great opportunity for out-of-school partners to access sustainable funding through licensure. Dr. Tom Lasley shared the new requirements around Science of Reading for schools and how out-of-school partners can align with these best practices for student literacy. Tisha Lewis with Learning Circle provided an overview of the data management tool and how afterschool programs can demonstrate their outcomes and track their enrichments. The SASC is working to cover licensing costs for every member agency -- reach out to learn more! The full agenda of the kick-off wrapped up as the team shared the community report and strategic vision. The work of the Collaborative is led by the professionals who serve students everyday and enhanced by regular data reporting and the sharing of researched best practices. THANK YOU to the dozens of professionals who serve area children through the SASC. There is still opportunity to welcome additional members, if you represent an organization dedicated to supporting youth in out-of-school time, please be in touch with us to participate! Questions about the SASC and out to get involved? Email Wes today.

Join the Summer and Afterschool Collaborative (SASC) at the 2023-2024 Season Kickoff! When: Tuesday, August 15, 2023, from 9:30-11:45 a.m. Where: MCESC Regional Center, 4801 Springfield St., Dayton 45431 Back to school means back to afterschool! Learn to Earn Dayton's SASC is ready for the new season of high-quality engagement and out-of-school educational experiences that are critical to student success. The SASC is a collaborative of engaged partners from programs that provide out-of-school resources to students. Participants benefit from professional development, data sharing and technical assistance, and opportunities to network with fellow out-of-school educators. The kickoff welcomes representatives from ALL youth serving afterschool programs, interested in benefitting from the collaborative. Whether you've participated in the past or this would be your first year, you're invited to join the network and come learn how we work together to support the out-of-school education for our region's youth! RSVPs are required by filling out this survey. Learn more about the SASC and plan to join us for this year's kickoff.

It's National Intern Day! Here at Learn to Earn Dayton, we want to celebrate our intern Phillip Talley. Let's meet Phillip and understand more about what drew him to Learn to Earn Dayton and why he opted for an internship. What's your educational background and future plan? Originally from Dayton, I'm a psychology major at the University of Dayton, graduating in December 2023. Why did you seek out an internship? I sought an internship for summer 2023 because despite me being a rising senior, I have had zero internship experience while being in college. I also wanted to see what potential career fields were available for someone majoring in psychology. Lastly, I wanted to be a part of an internship/organization that was dedicated to helping people within the Dayton community. What has been the most surprising thing you've learned? The most surprising thing I’ve learned is that there is a significant amount of families within the West Dayton community that are either at, or extremely below, the poverty line. Any words of advise for other students? I would suggest that students seeking summer internships start doing their research as early as possible (usually midway through spring semester). That way, they can really do thorough background research and find something that interests them and pertains to their major. I also suggest to students that they choose an internship that will compliment their resume. Lastly, I would recommend they look for paid internships over the summer because most summer internships are full-time, thus causing many students to lose out on making money through actual jobs. Anything else you'd like to share? I think this internship will help me better understand in the future the hard work that goes on behind the scenes. Every person and their role are very important to keeping an organization running smoothly, and because I’ve been one of those “shadow workers,” I have a fonder appreciation and understanding for running a business. Good luck on all that's ahead of you, Phillip, from the L2ED team!

It's National Intern Day! Here at Learn to Earn Dayton, we want to celebrate our intern Morgan Bennett. Let's meet Morgan and understand more about what drew her to Learn to Earn Dayton and why she opted for an internship. What's your educational background and future plan? I'm a psychology major, with double minor in social work and disability studies. I'm attending the University of Dayton, with plans to graduate May 2024. From there, I'll go to grad school, eventually get my PhD in clinical psychology and open my own private practice. Why did you seek out an internship? I sought an internship because as a local I have seen the struggles that many community members face, and I wanted to better understand how I could help. What has been the most surprising thing you've learned? The most surprising thing I’ve learned at L2ED is that making lasting change is not easy. Having a good idea and good intentions is not enough, there is a lot of hard work and networking required to get anything done. Things may not progress at the speed you think it should, but if you keep at it your efforts will be worth it in the end. This internship has shown me that in the future when I am trying to help my clients, before I can do anything I must first truly listen to them and realize that I may never understand how it feels. Instead of believing I know what’s best for them, it is imperative that I work with them to find the best, workable solutions for their issues. Any words of advise for other students? To other students who might be considering a summer internship, I say go for it. If you can find one in your field, you will get so much relevant job experience. Even if the opportunity isn’t quite in your field, you should still try it because no matter what you WILL learn something that will help you grow into a better person and become more attractive to future employers and schools. Anything else you'd like to share? I’ve learned so much while interning here and am so grateful to have been given the opportunity. L2ED has some amazing projects in the works and even though I won’t be around when they come to fruition I still look forward to seeing them! From all of us at L2ED -- THANK YOU, Morgan, for joining the Learn to Earn Dayton team and bringing your thoughtful perspective, friendly approach, great work ethic, and valuable skills to the special projects you guided. We know you'll go far!

On July 5, 2023, Learn to Earn Dayton welcomed its newest team member, Erica Fields, as Director of Place Based Strategies. Erica will lead Learn to Earn Dayton’s initiatives in focus geographies that seek to increase economic mobility and reduce disparities in student outcomes. In this capacity, she will coordinate opportunities for innovative and collaborative solutions that meet the needs of students and families in Montgomery County, through partnerships, planning, policy advocacy, and data. Before joining the L2ED team, Fields served as the Executive Director of the Dayton Human Relations Council (HRC). There she led citywide programs to promote and improve understanding and policy that impact fair housing, civil rights, and access to opportunity. Before joining HRC, she held a variety of leadership roles in state and local government addressing a range of social, economic, and governance issues, including advocacy work to push statewide policies advancing youth career pathways, economic self-sufficiency programs for the community’s most vulnerable and underrepresented populations. Fields is a Dayton Business Journal 40 Under 40 Hall of Famer, BizWoman Power 50 Awardee, and was recently honored by the Miami Valley Fair Housing Center as the 2023 Community Professional for her work in promoting fair housing choice and fostering a secure and diverse community free of discrimination. She earned her BA and MPA degrees from the Wright State University. This work requires genuine commitment to authentic community engagement – that motivates me. ~Erica Fields, Director of Place Based Strategies Get to know Erica Fields: What is most exciting about the new position? "I believe strongly in opportunities to improve equity, inclusion and access to opportunity. I am most excited about working with our partners to make Montgomery County a place where all children are successful, regardless of where they grow up. It is incredibly rewarding to be a part of a movement that improves neighborhoods from the inside and works to eliminate systems that all too often exclude our most vulnerable." What do you think is our biggest challenge? "There is a lot of work to do. We are not here to change children and families; we are here to change systems. This requires significant time, resources and energy." How can you leverage your past experiences in this new role? "I am intimately knowledgeable of Dayton’s diverse communities, their challenges, and also their strengths. I have a passion for building equitable and inclusive neighborhoods through community activism, advocacy, and coalition building." Fields succeeds Nina Carter who now serves as Managing Partner, Place Based Portfolio with the William Julius Wilson Institute (WJWI) of the Harlem Children's Zone. Fields and Carter will continue to align efforts in bringing best practices in place-based solutions to the region. Recently, Fields attended a conference hosted by the WJWI and Harvard University as part of the L2ED/NWDP team (pictured).

The PACCE Program (Pathways for Accelerated College and Career Exploration) launches in Fall 2023, supported by a $500,000 Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation investment, to provide local high school students with the opportunity to earn an associate degree, at no cost, with only one year of schooling beyond high school graduation. HISTORY: The Ohio Team designed this program over the past year as part of Accelerate ED, a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation initiative. Learn to Earn Dayton, with Montgomery County Educational Service Center, won a competitive award to be one of twelve communities across the nation to participate. The coalition, including local school districts, community partners, higher education institutions, workforce leaders, and the Ohio Department of Education, came together to imagine an easily accessible system to help students across Ohio gain marketable credentials for career success. NOW: After a year of research and work to determine in-demand career fields, student aptitude, work study opportunities, and course alignment, Learn to Earn Dayton's PACCE program has been awarded an additional $500,000 from the Gates Foundation to test the model in local schools. The program will be piloted, beginning fall 2023, at Kettering City Schools and Dayton Public Schools. Both districts are hiring a Career Pathways Coordinator, funded through the grant and additional private funding, to provide students with the guidance and direction needed to ensure success. HOW: Students begin as early as middle school, considering their interests and aptitudes for future careers. In high school, students select their dedicated pathway (e.g., IT/CS, Healthcare, Education, etc.), and by following a highly-structured track, they have the opportunity to earn dual credit that will count toward a degree. As part of the program, work study, internships, and externships will help the student confirm their chosen path and gain valuable workplace experiences. By high school graduation, the student will have enough stackable credits to earn an associate degree with only one additional year of (fully funded) college. Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart says, "Our mission is to ensure more students across Montgomery County have equitable access to the degrees and certifications they need to get high-paying jobs. This program removes the barriers of cost and time, while also providing high school students with the additional support needed to reach their career goals through education." WHY: This program is unique from traditional dual credit practices because many students previously experienced what L2ED calls, "random acts of credit." A student may graduate high school with a dozen college credits that may not be relevant in advancing toward a chosen degree. PACCE's thoughtfully designed timeline includes interventions offered from middle school through high school, as well as wrap-around support and extra-curricular opportunities. With the Pathway thoughtfully planned, students are confident their classes count as required courses for an associate degree, already approved to transfer. Additionally, through the PACCE program, students are able to take advantage of scholarships and grant programs to attend a local college at no cost for the 13th year. As of summer 2023, the program is in early stages of implementation. Districts are working to hire coordinators, help teachers receive dual credit certification, and determine outreach plans to educate students and families about the opportunity. L2ED, MCESC, and local education agencies are working to confirm pathways and course availability. L2ED Founder and MCESC Policy Director Thomas Lasley says, “Building and creating our intellectual capital is absolutely essential. This will be one of the ways in which we’ll be able to build the intellectual capital that we need for our next generation jobs.”

DO STEM, the Dayton Regional STEM School, and the Dayton Regional STEM Center were highlighted by the Ohio Department of Education, in their STEM stories section, for their "precedent-setting collaboration" in our region and their inclusive design. Jessica Short, director of the Dayton Regional STEM Center and DO STEM, said she's excited to have hundreds of STEM curriculum lessons available for anyone in the world to use and access in their own classroom. Congratulations, team, on moving the Gem City to STEM City! Dayton, Ohio, known to many as Gem City, could well sport another moniker: STEM City. The label, STEM City, has been earned through a precedent-setting collaboration among dozens of partners who have worked together for years to serve learners while also addressing the STEM workforce needs of business and industry. Anchored by key organizations, including DO STEM, the Dayton Regional STEM Center and the Ohio STEM Learning Network. STEM initiatives in Dayton have been well coordinated, robust and collaborative. Read the full article online now. Learn more about DO STEM and how the collaboration came about in this video: