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Last week, Learn to Earn Dayton invited student and adult participants from the Student Vision for Dayton work groups to come together and review the My Voice. My City. My Future. draft plan, to ensure it appropriately aligns with the shared vision and reflects the voices of the youth who participated. A final draft of the My City, My Voice, My Future master plan is scheduled for presentation at the Mayor's Youth Summit in September 2025. During the third year of the initiative, Learn to Earn will partner with the City of Dayton to develop implementation strategies and recommendations to ensure the plan's long-term sustainability and establish a framework for its ongoing advancement.

The Community Investment Fund (CIF) cohort recently had the privilege of hearing from Nick Hrkman, the editor of the Ideas and Voices page for the Dayton Daily News, Journal News, and Springfield News Sun, and co-founder of The Journalism Lab. Hrkman, a true champion of local narratives, shared essential strategies for small organizations aiming to capture the attention of major media and effectively share their stories. Hrkman illuminated key practices for nonprofits seeking media coverage: Broadening the narrative: Connect local challenges to national trends for wider resonance. Showcasing success: Highlight effective solutions already making a difference in the community. Inspiring action: Include a clear call to action that encourages reader engagement. Centering human experiences: Bring issues to life through the personal stories of those directly affected. Beyond traditional avenues like opinion pieces and news releases, Hrkman emphasized the growing significance of citizen journalism. He lauded the efforts of local students and residents who, equipped with training from organizations such as The Journalism Lab or the Eichelberger Center for Community Voices, have gone on to build their own storytelling platforms or even achieve publication in national outlets. This underscores the diverse and powerful ways stories can be told and heard today. Community Investment Fund Organizations and Learn to Earn Dayton staff members A core tenet of Hrkman's message was the critical role of media in a healthy democracy. He challenged every CIF participant – and indeed, everyone committed to community service – to actively leverage available tools to amplify their organization's story. This dedication to empowering communities through media access is a key reason Hrkman was honored as a Charles F. Kettering Foundation Democracy Fellow . The session concluded with a vibrant Q&A, where CIF participants posed insightful questions ranging from journalistic ethics and communication best practices to navigating the news cycle and legal considerations. Hrkman praised the profound work being done by these organizations, further encouraging them to share their compelling stories. More About the Community Investment Fund (CIF) The CIF, an initiative of Learn to Earn Dayton, backed by Blue Meridian Partners, The Dayton Foundation, and many generous supporters, embodies a powerful model of trust-based philanthropy. It's built on the belief that community residents are uniquely positioned to understand their own needs and identify the best solutions. Eight grassroots nonprofit organizations are part of the CIF Cohort, receiving crucial funding, specialized training, valuable networking opportunities, and dedicated support to enhance their capacity and ensure long-term sustainability. This comprehensive support also includes personalized one-on-one executive coaching and opportunities to work directly with communication professionals, further empowering them to share their vital work. This story was written with the support of AI.

Learn to Earn Dayton is thrilled to welcome Amara Payne as its Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellow, serving on the Strategic Initiatives Team. Amara brings a strong background in policy research, community advocacy, and culturally responsive education to her work. During the academic year, Amara serves as a 10th-grade English Language Arts Teacher and grade-level chair with Teach For America in Houston, Texas, where she empowers students through literacy, leadership, and service. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Amara is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she earned a B.A. in Latin American & Hemispheric Studies and Africana Studies. She is deeply committed to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and uplifting communities of color through education, advocacy, and policy transformation. Amara plans to attend law school in the near future and pursue a career as a civil rights attorney, focusing on education justice and criminal legal reform. This summer, Amara will collaborate with the Strategic Initiatives team and community partners to develop recommendations for advancing the mission of Learn to Earn's Access to Counsel program. Her work will involve crafting data-driven and research-backed strategies to ensure the program's scalability and long-term sustainability.

We believe every student deserves a clear path to a thriving future. That's why Learn to Earn Dayton is a proud partner with the Career-Connected Learning Coalition and in support of expanded career exploration . This initiative, highlighted in a recent Forbes article , will help students connect their learning to real-world opportunities and make informed decisions about their post-high school journey.

Adding to our summer staff, Caitlyn Russell has joined Learn to Earn Dayton as the Communications & Development intern. Caitlyn is a junior at the University of Dayton, majoring in communication with a public relations concentration, and a minor in journalism. She is from Beavercreek, and graduated from Beavercreek High School, where she was editor of the school newspaper. Caitlyn will be supporting Learn to Earn Dayton initiatives through storytelling, database management, and content creation.

The Learn to Earn Dayton welcoming a few new faces this summer. First to join us is Lakshmi Sneha. Lakshmi Sneha is a Master of Public Health student at Wright State University with a background in dentistry. She's passionate about promoting health equity and addressing the social determinants of health, especially in oral health and mental well-being. At Wright State, she serves as the Student Training and Outreach Coordinator with Counseling and Wellness Services, leading campus-wide wellness initiatives like Mental Health First Aid training. She's also the Vice President of the Graduate and Honors Student Advisory Board, supporting the graduate student community. Her research interests include HIV care management, child health disparities, and periodontal disease, utilizing national datasets. This summer, she's interning with Learn to Earn Dayton, to support an eviction data initiative.

As the school year comes to a close, Learn to Earn Dayton reflected on the expansion of the Pathways for Accelerated College and Career Experiences (PACCE) pilot program to serve Ohio's students.  On May 20, Learn to Earn Dayton convened a team of dedicated educators and career navigators from the PACCE communities across Ohio to reflect on the successes and challenges in 2024-2025, and to align programming and strengthen opportunities for students in the coming years. The half-day session included exploration of the many resources and tools available for students to explore their potential career paths, focus on areas of interest, and prepare for future success. The team discussed the unique assets within the districts they serve, and they found opportunities to leverage shared regional offerings in the coming year for the benefit of all students.  PACCE was designed with a multi-industry team of engaged community, K-12, postsecondary, and workforce partners from across the region, guided by best national practices and insights of the AccelerateED cohort. The first stage of the pilot launched in 2023-2024 at Kettering City School District, with an investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2024, The BlackRock Foundation invested in the effort to bring PACCE programming to more students across Ohio, supporting Career Navigators in eight rural, suburban, and urban districts. For 2025-2026, we are excited to have additional interest from districts seeking to better connect their students to career andn college experiences, and will be welcoming new Career Navigators to the PACCE work sessions.  Thank you to all the business partners, educators, counselors, investors, and administrators who are working in support of students!

At the Board of Trustees meeting on May 9, Learn to Earn Dayton welcomed several new board members. James Cosby, Executive Director, Bottom Line Lucious Plant, Senior Talent and Workforce Advisor, Employers’ Workforce Coalition Jessica Salem, Executive Director of the Center for Health Equity of Dayton Children's Hospital Joshua Stucky, retired Kettering City Schools teacher and Wright State University professor These accomplished individuals bring a wealth of diverse experience and a deep commitment to the mission of Learn to Earn Dayton – to transform systems through data, partnerships, and policy. Their expertise in areas such as education support, economic development, healthcare, and business leadership will be invaluable as the organization continues its work to improve outcomes for local students.

As the terms of several dedicated members of our Board of Trustees drew to a close, Learn to Earn Dayton took a moment at our recent meeting to recognize their invaluable contributions. Their dedicated service and thoughtful leadership have been instrumental to our work, and we offer them our deepest appreciation. Our thanks to Kippy Ungerleider, Art Harlan, Nate Brandstater, and Dale Brunner.

Stronger Connections lead to Stronger Neighborhoods—we're proud to have been in Houston with community partners  Omega CDC  and  CityWide Development Corporation  for the  Purpose Built Communities  National Conference: Purpose Starts with Place™, exploring housing, education, wellness, and economic vitality strategies to strengthen our work in Northwest Dayton.

Rep. Andrea White recently shared legislative updates including House Bill 312 – Amended into Senate Bill 208 – Expanding Regional Education Partnerships to help Ohioans Achieve Post-High School Credentials. The update shares that "after a year of going through the legislative process, S.B. 208 includes provisions of H.B. 312 that expand successful Regional Education Partnerships throughout the State of Ohio. These Partnerships bring together educators, employers, nonprofits, and other community stakeholders to boost student outcomes from birth through career entry. Learning from and building on previous successes, including Montgomery County’s Learn to Earn Dayton, these Partnerships are driving measurable success across 20 Ohio counties – improving early learning access, career exploration, and workforce readiness through innovative local initiatives." “Continuing to expand and sustain Regional Education Partnerships throughout Ohio is a key strategy that works – and one we can use to continue to increase our citizens’ post-high school credential and degree attainment to 65% and beyond,” said White. “We are excited to be taking this pivotal next step and helping to secure the educational and economic success for our students, our communities and Ohio’s future.”

Learn to Earn Dayton (L2ED) is committed to fostering a robust ecosystem of support for students in our community, recognizing the vital role that out-of-school time (OST) programs play in their development. We're thrilled to share an update on the impactful work of our team member, Wesley O. Biles, II, Manager of K-12 Initiatives, who was an active participant at the recent Ohio Afterschool Network (OAN) Advocacy Day on April 1st. This important event, hosted in partnership with the Children's Hunger Alliance, brought together advocates from across Ohio to engage with state legislators and highlight the significant positive impact of afterschool and summer learning programs. The day provided a crucial platform to share personal stories and data demonstrating how these programs support academic achievement, create safe and enriching environments, and provide essential support for working families. Wesley served as a panelist for an important discussion focused on the critical importance of partnership  in creating successful OST programs, a cornerstone of L2ED's work. He was joined by longtime SASC partner and dedicated educator, Rev. Dormetria Robinson Thompson, who serves as the Out-of-School Time compliance Coordinator for Omega CDC. Drawing on his experience coordinating the local Summer + Afterschool Collaborative , Wesley shared valuable insights into how L2ED is building a strong network of engaged partners. This collaborative includes service providers, funders, and organizations offering enriching program opportunities, all working together to: Share best practices:  Facilitating the exchange of effective strategies and innovative approaches. Provide professional development:  Ensuring that OST professionals have access to high-quality training and resources. Offer technical assistance: Supporting partners to better access grant writing, reporting, and data Ensure engaging and diverse programming:  Offering a wide range of activities that cater to the varied interests and needs of young people. Create a positive space for social camaraderie and networking:  Building a supportive community among OST professionals. During the panel, Wesley specifically addressed the unique challenges faced by urban districts  in delivering high-quality out-of-school time programming. His contributions underscored the need for tailored solutions and collaborative efforts to address these specific needs effectively. Beyond the panel discussion, Wesley and fellow advocates actively engaged with their respective state representatives and senators and their aides. These meetings provided a vital opportunity to discuss key policy issues that are critical to the success of out-of-school programs, including transportation and funding . The L2ED team shared both the challenges faced by OST providers in our community and compelling success stories illustrating the positive outcomes for students who participate in these programs. The message was clear: strong communities need both great schools and great out-of-school programs.  These programs are essential for increasing students' social-emotional capacity, enhancing their problem-solving skills, and boosting academic achievement. Wesley highlighted how the SASC, leveraging the resources and tools provided by the Ohio Afterschool Network, is empowering local partners to help young people in Dayton grow into healthy and thriving adults. Wesley's participation in the OAN Advocacy Day, both as the coordinator of the local SASC and as the co-chair of the southwest hub for the Ohio Afterschool Network, demonstrates Learn to Earn Dayton's deep commitment to advocating for the needs of our students and the vital programs that support them. We are proud of Wesley's leadership and the impactful work of the Summer + Afterschool Collaborative in building a stronger future for the young people in our community. Visit the website to learn more about the work of Learn to Earn Dayton and our continued efforts to champion high-quality out-of-school time opportunities for all students.