Search Results

Learn to Earn Dayton is excited to share the positive results achieved through the second round of the Community Investment Fund (CIF). Guided by a review panel of Northwest Dayton residents, Learn to Earn Dayton invested $637,015 in eight local organizations dedicated to improving education, community well-being, and economic mobility for Northwest Dayton children and families. In addition to funding, Learn to Earn Dayton provided technical assistance and professional development to these organizations, supporting their capacity building and long-term sustainability. These organizations submitted impact reports at the end of 2024, and we are pleased to share this report summarizing the positive outcomes achieved.

Learn to Earn Dayton released its 2023-24 annual report , showcasing innovative cross-sector partnerships and initiatives that encourage academic achievement, two-generational family support and economic mobility. Every year, Learn to Earn Dayton is called on to report critical cradle-to-career milestone data for all Montgomery County school districts -- emphasizing pandemic recovery, year-over-year progress, and gap-closing counts which quantify how many more students must reach milestones to close achievement gaps and strengthen our future workforce. As part of this year's annual report, Learn to Earn Dayton has introduced the newly released Statewide Data Dashboard , where visitors can more deeply interact with student outcomes data to understand current realities for communities all across Ohio. CEO Stacy Schweikhart say, "What you will see in the data demands action. Together, we can prioritize efforts to close achievement gaps. We can drive outcomes if we address chronic absenteeism, expand access to quality early learning, strengthen early literacy skills, broaden career exploration opportunities, and invest in and value our educators." Learn to Earn Dayton will release a new strategic plan in Summer 2025, further solidifying our commitment to lead data analysis, foster key cross-sector partnerships, establish impactful proof points, and advocate for effective policy. We will call on our entire community to join us as we implement our strategic, investable plan. Achieving success for all students and building a thriving workforce for our region depends on our unwavering collective commitment to these shared priorities.

Learn to Earn Dayton is currently hiring for a manager position to support strategic initiatives. This position is part of the team working to increase economic mobility and reduce disparities in student outcomes. Position Summary The Manager of Strategic Initiatives is responsible for facilitating collective impact networks with cross-sector partners to implement strategies that result in improved student outcomes. The Manager will collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful advancement of initiatives that involve community engagement, outreach and communication. The Manager of Strategic Initiatives will work closely with partners; collaborate with community residents and leaders on capacity-building efforts; and engage nonprofits in collective impact efforts. The Manager will develop and implement innovative and collaborative strategies to increase economic and social mobility and reduce disparities in student outcomes in Montgomery County. Apply to jobs@learntoearndayton.org . Learn to Earn Dayton Vision: All learners and their families in our region can thrive – regardless of race, gender, or zip code At Learn to Earn Dayton, our cradle-to-career, place-based partnerships use a systems-level mindset to transform economic and social environments and improve all residents' life prospects. These partnerships take a whole family approach to build well-being by intentionally and simultaneously working with both children and the adults in their lives. We work to align opportunities that equip families to pursue their goals and thrive.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) recently released the 2024 results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation's Report Card. Ohio's performance, along with that of other states, provides valuable insights into student achievement. You can explore the detailed results for Ohio, including comparisons with other states and across different student groups, at the official Nation's Report Card website . These reports offer a snapshot of how students are performing in key subjects like mathematics and reading. They serve as a valuable tool for educators, policymakers, and communities to understand trends in student achievement and identify areas for improvement. The data from the 2024 assessment confirms what many have observed: the ongoing need for focused efforts to close achievement gaps. While the report provides valuable information on overall performance, it also highlights disparities that persist between different student populations. Ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have access to a high-quality education and the support they need to succeed is at the heart of Learn to Earn Dayton.

Learn to Earn Dayton is thrilled to announce that we have received support from AES Ohio Foundation to continue the work of the Access to Counsel pilot program. Access to Counsel provides legal representation and wrap-around services for up to 125 families in Northwest Dayton over the period of one year - having launched in November 2024. The program has been designed leveraging the national expertise of Stout, and is being implemented by local legal aid organization, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. (ABLE). Support for the program has also been provided by Blue Meridian Partners and the Dayton Legal Heritage Foundation of The Dayton Foundation, the Wright-Patt Credit Union Sunshine Fund. Access to Counsel will meet the varied needs of tenants, providing both legal representation and social work, education, and empowerment. While the underlying goal is eviction prevention, the outcome could look different depending on the tenant’s needs. A key aspect of this pilot is the data tracking and comprehensive evaluation, as the team works to determine how to scale to program to a larger geography and track if eviction prevention now may lead to greater economic mobility. “Housing is a clear imperative and one that was lifted up by Northwest Dayton residents in the Power of Place Plan,” said Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart. “It is the greatest predictor of students' chronic absenteeism from school. Learn to Earn Dayton is excited to work in partnership with ABLE and our community partners to help address housing instability in Northwest Dayton which threatens the safety of the most vulnerable populations.” Eviction rates are proven to significantly impact family economic mobility, neighborhood stability, and student success. It is especially detrimental to students, as housing instability is the greatest predictor of students' chronic absenteeism from school; in 2023, 63% of students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent from school. Even with these negative ramifications well recognized, tenants in Montgomery County have no right to legal counsel when facing eviction. Any tenants facing eviction living in Northwest Dayton (zip codes 45405 and 45406) with a household income below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, pregnant or have children living in the home are encouraged to apply directly or through a referral agency for ABLE’s services through the Legal Aid Line intake line at 1-888-534-1432 or www.legalaidline.org; or visit ABLE’s Dayton office at 130 West Second Street, Ste. 700, Dayton, Ohio 45402.

Learn to Earn Dayton is thrilled to announce Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage is now a sponsor of the Every Day in School Matters attendance campaign! This partnership reinforces our commitment to ensuring every child in our community has the opportunity to succeed, both in school and beyond. Ohio 529 CollegeAdvantage believes that starting early and being consistent are key to achieving long-term goals, whether it's saving for college or excelling in school. Just as consistent saving habits can lead to significant college savings, regular school attendance is crucial for academic success. Showing up to school every day provides students with valuable learning opportunities and builds essential skills like discipline, focus, and a strong work ethic. These skills are not only vital for academic achievement but also for future success in college and beyond. Read more about Every Day in School Matters and connect with Learn to Earn Dayton on how to join the efforts.

Dr. Cindy Dewey recently joined the Learn to Earn Dayton team as Senior Manager of Strategic Initiatives. Cindy provides critical leadership for a range of strategic initiatives focused on improving economic and social mobility in focused geographies throughout Montgomery County through collective action, capacity building, and advocacy. She is responsible for helping to lead the Montgomery County Two-Generation Collaborate, oversee its strategic plan, identify opportunities to build and scale the HUB network and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to advance improvement of outcomes for students and families. A Dayton area native, Cindy brings more than three decades of educational experience to her role at Learn to Earn including classroom teacher, instructional coach, university professor, and leadership at district and state levels. Prior to joining the team in 2025, Cindy led the Office of School and District Improvement at the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. She earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Wright State University and her PhD from the Ohio State University. Jada Wamsley joined the Learn to Earn Dayton team in January 2025 as Strategic Initiatives Coordinator. Jada is responsible for engaging stakeholders to facilitate program networks and collaborative partnerships. Jada supports the Learn to Earn Dayton team’s innovative strategies to increase academic, economic, and social mobility and reduce disparities in student outcomes in Montgomery County. She is from Huber Heights, Ohio and is a University of Dayton Alumni. Jada earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with minors in History, Sociology, and Political Science from UD in May of 2023. Jada also graduated from UD in December of 2024 with a Masters of Public Administration degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit and Community Leadership. Previously, Jada has served as an intern and then Program Manager of the High School Pathways program at Preschool Promise, a Graduate Assistant for Educational Equity Programs at the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community, and Grant Writing and Development Intern at Learn to Earn Dayton.

$1 million grant from The BlackRock Foundation will expand career pathway program from Montgomery County to eight school districts across Ohio, including Columbus City Schools. Learn to Earn Dayton’s Pathways for Accelerated College and Career Experience (PACCE) helps address the state’s workforce needs by preparing more students to earn degrees and certifications for in-demand, high-wage, and high-growth careers. Learn more about how one of our partner schools is engaging middle schoolers in career awareness, as an early part of career navigation in this article from the Columbus Dispatch . Today, The BlackRock Foundation announced a $1 million philanthropic commitment to Learn to Earn Dayton, a regional educational partnership focused on advancing student outcomes and driving economic mobility for students in Ohio. The funding will expand access to Learn to Earn Dayton’s PACCE program to eight school districts, providing middle and high school students with an in-school career navigator to support career pathway opportunities. The initiative will help students gain a better understanding of their own career aptitude and interests, improve access to college credit through dual enrollment courses, and engage with high-quality work-based learning experiences. The expanded program will serve districts across urban, suburban, and rural communities in southwest and central Ohio: Brookville Local Schools, Columbus City Schools, Jefferson Township Local Schools, Kettering City Schools, Miamisburg City Schools, Trotwood-Madison City Schools, Valley View Local Schools, and Wayne Local Schools. A chart in a 3D lab shows students their earning potential based on their education level. "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,” said Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart. “We've been pleased with the initial local success, and we're excited to scale the framework with more districts across the state.” At a time when Ohio’s economy is growing – with industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and computer science offering high-paying jobs – postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates have decreased, creating a demand for credentialed workers. According to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information, 75% of job growth in Ohio will be in occupations requiring at least a postsecondary non-degree credential, and 58% of growth will be in occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students participate in field trip to Kettering Health, exploring career pathways in healthcare. To address this growing gap, Learn to Earn Dayton’s PACCE program reaches students who haven’t opted for traditional trade school or clear postsecondary paths. With the support of The BlackRock Foundation’s grant, an expanded team of career navigators will help guide more students to participate in Ohio’s statewide dual enrollment program, College Credit Plus, and assist with the transition from high school to postsecondary training or education, with a particular focus on the high-growth industries in the state. By equipping students with more education and skills, they will be better positioned for long-term financial success. A recent BlackRock, Inc. of Ohio registered voters found that more than one-fifth (21%) of respondents do not have any readily available savings. “Our mission at The BlackRock Foundation is to help more Americans earn, save and invest – earlier, more often and for their futures,” said Claire Chamberlain, President of The BlackRock Foundation. “Supporting the next generation of Ohioans to access the economic opportunity in their home state will not only support financial security for individuals and families but will pave the way for a stronger future for Ohio, we are thrilled to be a part of that.” ### About The BlackRock Foundation Created in February 2020, The BlackRock Foundation focuses on creating economic security and mobility for underserved communities by helping families earn, save and invest for their financial futures. Since 2019, BlackRock has invested $35M in philanthropic efforts to champion economic mobility by helping people earn more, impacting more than 120,000 people around the world. Over that same time period, BlackRock’s philanthropic program contributed $31M and created BlackRock’s Emergency Savings Initiative focused on helping people build up short-term savings, reaching an estimated 10 million Americans.   About BlackRock BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock About Learn to Earn Dayton Learn to Earn Dayton is the regional cradle-to-career intermediary organization, leveraging data, policy, and partnerships to improve student outcomes along the educational continuum with the goal of increasing the number of students who earn a college degree or marketable credential. Learn to Earn Dayton serves the community as a convener, collaborator, innovator, and incubator, centering youth voices and driving for solutions that can improve our local communities. More information at learntoearndayton.org.

The critical language to establish regional partnerships, originally introduced as HB 312 by Rep. White and Rep. Young, was included in the final version of SB 208, signed today by Governor DeWine. Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart was invited to attend the bill signing, alongside Policy Director Tom Lasley and Montgomery County ESC Superintendent Shannon Cox. We look forward to working with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce , Ohio's Educational Service Centers and other organizations similar to Learn to Earn Dayton to form a statewide network focused on engaging community partners to improve academic milestones for all Ohio students.

Wrapping up a year of good work, on December 13, neighbors, friends, and program partners from the Northwest Dayton Community Investment Fund (CIF) gathered for an evening of reflection and celebration. Here is a spotlight on three of our grant recipients. Abundant Life: Abundant Life Christ Centered Ministries launched an afterschool program in partnership with Belle Haven Elementary to serve Northwest Dayton students ages 4-12 with personalized academic support, engaging out-of-school time enrichment activities and team building. In addition to providing the academic aspects of the program, CIF funds provided safe play equipment and healthy food for students. The Summer Camp program blended academic, social, health, and creative aspects -- plus enriching and inspiring field trips. Family engagement and additional supports for caregivers were critical aspects of the summer and afterschool programs. Dayton Equity Center: With a vision to build coalitions that restore communities, the CIF grant empowered the Dayton Equity Center (DEC) to increase their capacity by welcoming new staff to expand their food and workforce programs. DEC launched a monthly culturally appropriate food delivery program for resettled persons. They served 1600 people (350 families) over the year, and each month, they delivered ~70 pounds of food for distribution. At the same time, DEC leveraged CIF grant funding to expand the team to include a Workforce Director, social support coach, community resource organizer, employment specialist. Their personalized support leverages a wide network for referrals, support, and corporate placement, and it is showing results: in 2024, they've seen a 40% increase in graduates over the past year. Grace Urban Development: With many programs, from food security to education, and winter clothing distribution to workforce to community engagement, Grace Urban Development has served in multiple capacities in Northwest Dayton. Funding from the CIF contributed to many outcomes . Their key workforce program is Dayton Cooks, which offers 10-weeks of commercial kitchen training for adults. As part of their training, the aspiring cooks create 560-750 meals a day that go out to area nonprofits, educational groups. Grace Urban Development used some of the CIF funding to hire an outside accounting firm to ensure best fiduciary practices for future growth and sustainability, which will also free the team to focus on the mission and the work they do best.

Wrapping up a year of good work, neighbors, friends, and program partners from the Northwest Dayton Community Investment Fund (CIF) gathered for an evening of reflection and celebration. The party was hosted in a fully-decked hall on the ground floor of Grace United Methodist where Pastor Steve Putka offered words of gratitude before we shared an amazing meal prepared and served by the team at Dayton Cooks. A feature of the festive atmosphere was a slide show that highlighted the impactful work of the CIF grant recipients. Donerik Black started the formal program -- welcoming attendees and thanking them for all the valuable, meaningful, and exciting work over the past year. Erica Fields reflected on the origins of the CIF -- and the important precedent it has set in prioritizing the voices of residents for grant-making. Learn to Earn Dayton CEO, Stacy Schweikhart shared appreciation for the many community leaders -- volunteers, donors, and active residents -- who made this work possible -- and looked to the future by sharing how proximate grant-making is gaining momentum across the nation. The highlight of the evening was hearing directly from staff and volunteers from the nonprofit grant recipients. These community leaders shared stories, data, and pictures to highlight the meaningful connections, challenges, and successes experienced through the important programming that was made possible through the CIF. There were powerful presentations featuring the work of Abundant Life, Equity Center, Grace Urban Development , Hatch Architects, On Purpose Academy, Spectrum New Beginnings, Valens Solutions, and Youth House. In addition to sharing how they benefited from the grant itself, grantees highlighted the value of the CIF cohort. Organizations have expanded their capacity in meaningful ways -- the professional development learning sessions have provided tools and resources for ongoing sustainability. Perhaps most importantly, they have created a community of dedicated leaders who can call on one another and support one another's mission. Moving toward the end of the evening, Donerik Black introduced special guest speaker Sharon Taste. An original member of the Northwest Dayton Partnership Steering Committee, Sharon is the Branch Manager of the Dayton Metro Library Northwest Branch, which has been a critical partner in the work. CIF nonprofit partners have based many of their programs at the Northwest Branch, and Sharon has done amazing work to be a true program partner not only the nonprofits and all children and families who live in the community. Sharon celebrated the many nonprofits and shared inspirational words to encourage the work going forward. Thank you to the residents who served on the grant review committee, taking seriously their responsibility to consider what is most needed to elevate opportunity within Northwest Dayton. And a special thank you to the generous donors who made the Community Investment Fund possible through their belief in putting the power of philanthropy in the hands of the community.

Wrapping up a year of good work, on December 13, neighbors, friends, and program partners from the Northwest Dayton Community Investment Fund (CIF) gathered for an evening of reflection and celebration. Here is a spotlight on two of our grant recipients. Hatch Architects: Recognizing that racial and ethnic minorities are incredibly underrepresented in the architectural profession, Hatch Architects focuses on increasing hands-on experiences to students of color and female students across Dayton. The CIF grant helped the team expand their programming, with a focus on shifting the experience from design-only to a design/build program. An example of the successful expansion is their newly launched 2-week long design/build summer camp for teens, hosted at the Northwest Branch Library. Students learned about design concepts, created their own solutions for issues within the library space, and worked with professional carpenters to build, paint, and install. Students overwhelming responded positively to the event -- unanimously stating they would recommend the experience to friends! On Purpose Academy: The team at On Purpose Academy originally intended CIF funding to expand access to mental and behavioral care -- they found they were able to do so much more. Leveraging their CIF grant to secure additional funding, they were able to hire a Clinical Director to oversee mental and behavioral health services and partners with The Wellness and Resilience Center for specialized services. They conducted CANS assessments for 30 preschoolers and parents received critical one-on-one support to ensure the high quality of support provided in the preschool can be reinforced at home. While the behavioral health work was the starting point of the work, the conversations helped the team to understand that the stress-inducing elements around housing, healthcare, and childcare, and in May they hired three Community Health Workers to address these challenges. Looking forward, they are expanding services, including a registered behavioral technician to support neuro-divergent students, introduction of home visits to provide comprehensive care, and enhanced interventions at school and home.