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Learn to Earn Dayton Receives $3.6 Million Investment from StriveTogether Funding Will Fuel Work to Improve Economic Mobility for Youth in Dayton Dayton, Ohio — Learn to Earn Dayton has received a $3.6 million investment from StriveTogether to increase the number of young people on the path to economic mobility by 2030. As a member of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, Learn to Earn Dayton is part of a national movement to help every child succeed in school and in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. Learn to Earn Dayton is one of only six communities across the nation to receive the four-year “Transform Impact” investment. “StriveTogether's investment in Learn to Earn Dayton reflects our shared commitment to improve cradle-to-career outcomes in Montgomery County,” said Bridget Jancarz, vice president of network impact at StriveTogether. “Learn to Earn Dayton has an impactful history of transforming systems to improve the lives of young people and is poised to scale that impact. By empowering local communities with data, policy and convening capacity, Learn to Earn Dayton is helping to create a sustainable impact to put more young people on a path to economic mobility.” Learn to Earn Dayton works to increase the region’s intellectual capital and reduce disparities in educational outcomes through collective impact collaboration and strategic leveraging of data and policy. Learn to Earn Dayton and its partners are working to improve outcomes at each of the milestones that lead to economic mobility: kindergarten readiness, early grade reading, middle grade math, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, postsecondary completion and employment. Economic mobility in the United States is declining. According to Opportunity Insights, only half of children grow up to earn more than their parents — and for young people experiencing poverty and young people of color, these outcomes are often worse. The work funded by this StriveTogether investment in Learn to Earn Dayton will focus on advancing outcomes for early grade literacy, middle grade math competency, and postsecondary enrollment across Montgomery County. In addition to these three priority areas, Learn to Earn Dayton will continue to work with Preschool Promise to improve kindergarten readiness. “Learn to Earn Dayton has been a proud member of the StriveTogether national network, leveraging their Theory of Action (™) since our inception,” said Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart. “Last year, Learn to Earn Dayton received StriveTogether’s ‘Systems Transformation’ designation – a recognition of our success dramatically improving student outcomes, particularly in targeted areas of Montgomery County. This new investment will allow us to build momentum toward an investable plan that will provide an outline of the strategies and resources we need to put all Montgomery County students on the path to economic mobility through educational success.” Learn to Earn Dayton’s vision for this investment is bold: to put at least 5,500 more young people in Montgomery County on a path to economic mobility by 2030. In early 2025, we will release an investable plan that will be a catalyst for new partnerships and new shared resourcing for the strategic priorities in the plan. “It is time to align investments in young people around the evidence-based strategies that we know are effective at putting them on a path to economic mobility,” said Schweikhart. “It will take our entire community, from philanthropy to corporate foundations to government agencies and generous individuals, to give all of our young people access to the individualized support and opportunities they deserve.” Learn more about the work of Learn to Earn Dayton at learntoearndayton.org. ### 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. Learn to Earn Dayton serves the community as a convener, collaborator, innovator, and incubator, centering youth voices and driving for solutions to improve our local communities. About StriveTogether StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: to help every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. The Cradle to Career Network impacts the lives of 14 million youth – including more than 8 million children of color and 5 million children experiencing poverty. Learn more at StriveTogether.org.

At the Board of Trustees meeting on August 9, Learn to Earn Dayton welcomed several new board members. Lauretta Williams, Community Advocate Julie Liss-Katz, Dayton Business Committee Alisha Murray, Daybreak Dayton Myla Cardona-Jones, Brunner Literacy Center Dr. Morakinyo Kuti, Central State University Jenny Michael, Caresource (ret.) The board also named Kristina Kean, Melissa Tolle, Kippy Ungerleider, John Haley, Dale Brunner and Shannon Cox to the executive committee. We want to thank Kippy Ungerleider for her years of leadership as Board Chair! Kristina Kean will now serve as Board Chair beginning Fiscal Year 2025.

Our latest Community Investment Fund (CIF) quarterly meeting was a highlight, thanks to our exceptional guest speaker, Yvette Kelly-Fields. As the Regional Director of Development at Miami University, Yvette brought a wealth of knowledge and practical advice to the table, offering invaluable insights on navigating the complex world of fundraising. She tackled several critical areas, including overcoming the fear of rejection, managing expectations when fundraising goals fall short, and handling the pressures of meeting supporter and stakeholder expectations. For our CIF recipients— small local nonprofits —Yvette's advice was particularly relevant. One of the standout messages from Yvette's talk was the importance of building a robust donor pipeline. She emphasized that cultivating relationships with donors and leveraging your board members as advocates are crucial steps in creating successful fundraising connections. Yvette’s guidance on these key strategies provided a fresh perspective and practical tools for our CIF recipients, empowering them to approach fundraising with renewed confidence and clarity. Her expertise not only inspired but also equipped these organizations with the strategies they need to turn their fundraising goals into reality.

While there is rarely widespread agreement on what’s best for student success, policy makers, educators, and families have all shared that high-impact tutoring is a critical tool that produces large learning gains, particularly for students who have fallen behind. According to NEA Today, “high-impact tutoring is 20 times more effective than standard tutoring models for math instruction and 15 times more effective for reading. Studies demonstrate that the practice increases students’ learning by an additional three to 15 months across grade levels.” Students in Montgomery County deserve the opportunity to benefit from these best practices. With this in mind, Learn to Earn Dayton (L2ED) is pleased to announce its recent selection in a High Impact Tutoring (HIT) Design Sprint hosted by Results for America (RFA), the National Student Support Accelerator, the Annenberg Institute, and EdResearch for Action. L2ED submitted the application on behalf of a regional Montgomery County team; partners include the Montgomery County Education Service Center, the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community’s Educational Equity Programs, Dayton Public Schools, and Omega Community Development Corporation. The Montgomery County team was 1 of 14 teams selected from across the nation to participate in the opportunity. Stacy Schweikhart, CEO of L2ED shared, “Montgomery County students deserve every opportunity to succeed. We’re thrilled to work with this regional team of innovative leaders to develop an action plan that will help interested districts scale up their high-impact tutoring programs.” Throughout the seven-week design sprint currently underway, the team is working collaboratively to create an action plan and high-impact tutoring model that blends the best practices from evidence-based HIT programs and the local context, capacity, and need within Montgomery County. Together, they are exploring design features, funding sources, evaluation methods, and best practices. At the end of the design sprint, the team will have an action plan that includes: a ready-to-implement high-impact tutoring model that reflects the local need, an evidence-based budget for district/partner implementation, with potential funding sources identified, a data-collection and evaluation plan, to define and prioritize evidence for continuous quality improvement, and a concrete timeline with next steps for operationalization.

The Learn to Earn Dayton book study of Ruthless Equity by Ken Williams concluded with an in-person session this week. Participants spent time reflecting on the profound insights and transformative discussions shared over the past weeks. The in-person discussions allowed for a rich exchange of ideas and experiences. This journey has not only deepened their understanding of equity in education but also strengthened their commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable environments for all students. Key Takeaways Some key takeaways from the book study of Ruthless Equity by Ken Williams include the following: Williams' concept of "ruthless equity" challenged participants to look beyond surface-level changes and address systemic issues perpetuating inequality, emphasizing that achieving equity requires dedication, courage, and confronting uncomfortable truths. A central theme was maintaining high expectations for all students, with Williams underscoring the need for educators to believe in every student's potential and provide necessary support, and discussions highlighting the real-life implications of this principle. The importance of building a culture of accountability was another key point, with practical ways to create such a culture, set clear expectations, monitor progress, and provide constructive feedback being discussed. Lastly, Williams' encouragement for educators to be change agents, advocating for practices that promote equity, resonated with participants, who shared personal stories of resistance and resilience, inspiring each other to embrace change and push for continuous improvement. Moving Forward Moving forward, participants plan to apply the lessons learned from Ruthless Equity in daily practices. Equity work is ongoing, so it’s important to keep the dialogue open, sharing successes and challenges as participants strive to create more equitable learning environments. Educators can embrace the practical strategies discussed in the book—whether it's setting ambitious goals, confronting biases head-on, or fostering accountability. The book study of Ruthless Equity by Ken Williams has been an impactful experience, equipping participants with the knowledge and motivation to champion equity in education. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this enriching experience!

Learn to Earn Dayton was selected to join the Children’s Funding Project State Child and Youth Fiscal Mapping Partnership on behalf of Ohio. The Ohio fiscal map will document and analyze the various sources of funding that support programs and services for youth in the state. This work, including a Children's Funding Coordinator funded by StriveTogether, helps to track progress and recognize achievement gaps in our region's cradle-to-career goals. In addition to the partnership, Learn to Earn Dayton has been selected to receive an investment from StriveTogether to work with Children’s Funding Project to recruit, hire, and train a children’s funding coordinator in our community. As part of this investment the children’s funding coordinator will receive access to the full range of coaching and professional development support offered by Children’s Funding Project as they work in service of our communities’ cradle-to-career goals.

Congratulations to DaRon Holmes II for being drafted as the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft!  His hard work and dedication have truly paid off. We want to highlight DaRon's commitment to education and community through his role as a spokesperson for the Every Day in School Matters attendance campaign with Learn to Earn Dayton. His impact off the court is just as inspiring as his skills on it. Keep shining bright, DaRon!

Learn to Earn Dayton is currently hosting a book study featuring Ruthless Equity by Ken Williams. The Dayton community has been engaging in a thought-provoking exploration of crucial topics such as belonging, professional learning communities (PLCs), diversity, inclusion, complacency, and dismantling inequitable practices within school settings. This four-session study, inspired by the work of Ken Williams, who visited in May, saw an enthusiastic participation from local educators, aiming to foster a more inclusive and equitable educational environment. Ken Williams' visit left a lasting impression on the participants, inspiring them to engage deeply with the book's themes. The ongoing discussions reflect a commitment to fostering an educational environment that prioritizes equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement. As the study progresses, participants look forward to translating these insights into actionable plans that will benefit their schools and communities. The first session, held on June 4th via Zoom, set a strong foundation for the study with participants from the Dayton community. Learn to Earn Dayton’s Manager of K-12 Initiatives, Wesley Biles II, guided the discussion through the first three chapters of the book. The conversation began with looking at the difference between diversity and belonging, emphasizing that diversity does not ensure a sense of belonging. Participants brainstormed practical strategies to create a school climate where every student feels authentically included. Looking Ahead: Future Sessions The book study promises to build on the insights gained in the first session with three more planned: Session 2: Scheduled for June 18th via Zoom, will cover chapters 4-6. Session 3: Set for July 9th via Zoom, focusing on chapters 7-8. Session 4: The final session will be held in person at the Montgomery County Educational Service Center (MCESC) on July 23rd. This session will cover Chapter 9 and include an activity summarizing the book. Interested in joining future sessions of the book study? Please email wesley.biles2@learntoearndayton.org.

The Learn to Earn Dayton office is bustling with three new faces joining us for the summer! During their time with us, they will be working on projects within the organization, attending meetings with partner organizations, and learning about the work of Learn to Earn Dayton. Andie Lang has recently joined the Learn to Earn team as a Summer Intern. Originally from Akron, Ohio, she is an incoming senior at the University of Dayton majoring in pre-medicine with minors in business administration and medicine and society. Through the university, she is a TA, microbiology research assistant, women’s captain for the club waterski team, and the social chair for the women in research club. She is also a member of AED, the pre-health honors society on campus, and in a 3 year chorted program, Dayton Civic Scholars, through the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. After graduation, she is planning on getting her master’s degree in health administration and then going to optometry school. Lindsey Person, from Cincinnati, Ohio, is a senior at the University of Dayton, majoring in biology and minoring in psychology. At the University of Dayton, Lindsey is the Community Outreach Assistant for Campus Ministries’ Center for Social Concern and plans the SERVICE Saturday program. She also is president of UD's 4 Paws for Ability club, a member of the co-ed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and works as a psychology research assistant. She has always been very interested in the behind the scenes of nonprofits, so she hopes to learn more from her Learn to Earn summer internship. After graduation, she plans to get her masters in Speech Language Pathology and work as a school Speech Language Pathologist. Because of her interest in nonprofits, she also may pursue a career in nonprofits. Jada Wamsley serves as the Development and Grant Writing Intern. Jada is from Huber Heights, Ohio and is passionate about the role of the nonprofit sector in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. This summer, Jada desires to expand her knowledge of the nonprofit sector in Dayton, specifically, in what ways Learn to Earn serves as a backbone organization. She hopes to strengthen her grant writing, grant management/reporting, and donor relationship-building skills so she can better serve the Dayton community. Jada will graduate in December 2024 from the University of Dayton with a Masters of Public Administration degree and a Certificate in Nonprofit and Community Leadership. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education degree with minors in History, Sociology, and Political Science from UD in May of 2023. Previously, Jada has served as the intern and Manager of the High School Pathways program at Preschool Promise. Currently, Jada also serves as the Graduate Assistant for Educational Equity Programs at the Fitz Center for Leadership in Community. Jada dreams to serve in a project management or development role at a Dayton nonprofit after her graduation in December. Welcome to the team!

Kindergarten and First Grade students from Trotwood-Madison gave a Mighty Year-End Performance, celebrating a year of learning and growth. The Mighty Kindergarteners performed "ABC I Love Me" and the Mighty First Graders performed "I Promise." The Mighty Rams classrooms are special demonstration classrooms, in partnership between Learn to Earn Dayton and Trotwood-Madison, to provide family engagement activities and reading supports that have been proven to significantly support student academic achievement. With support from the Iddings Foundation, Learn to Earn Dayton partnered with the Trotwood-Madison City School District to pilot a transition-to-first grade classroom at their Early Learning Center, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.

Earlier this week, Learn to Earn Dayton had the opportunity to host a Housing Rights and Resources Panel in partnership with the Dayton Human Relations Council. Issues raised in this dialogue underscore the importance of safe, secure, affordable and fair housing. Thank you to the housing advocates and legal service providers who presented, reminding us that housing is a right, not a commodity. The Housing Rights and Resources Panel was held in support of the Power of Place Plan, A Resident Vision for Northwest Dayton, which highlights four priority areas identified by residents as crucial for a healthy, vibrant, and thriving neighborhood.

The City of Dayton, with Dayton Public Schools, announced today a partnership with local nonprofit Learn to Earn Dayton to facilitate the first-ever vision for the future of Dayton co-created entirely by and for young people. This initiative marks a significant step forward in promoting youth engagement, elevating youth voice, empowering our future leaders, and shaping a better tomorrow for our city. The Youth Vision for Dayton is a collaborative effort to foster an inclusive and participatory environment where young people will have a prominent role in shaping the priorities, strategies and action steps featured in the plan. By involving students directly in the decision making process, we aspire to create policies and programs that truly reflect their needs and aspirations, and center the power and leadership of making their vision a reality directly with our young leaders. The effort to draft and formalize a plan centering youth voice sustains the momentum from the Mayor’s Teen Youth Summit. On September 13, 2023, Mayor Jeffrey J. Mims, Jr. announced the initiative at the second annual Summit, encouraging students to use their voice in setting priorities for their own academic and career path and shaping the future of their city. Mayor Mims expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “Dayton’s youth may only be 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future. Their perspectives and ideas are invaluable, and this partnership reflects our commitment to actively involve them in shaping the policies and programs that affect their lives." Learn to Earn Dayton will facilitate the year-long process and generate a public plan that centers youth voice. Surveys, focus groups, work sessions, and interviews will be conducted to determine a vision for the future, the priority topics to be addressed, and specific strategies to drive Dayton toward the future – all determined by teens. The final plan, with long-term goals and short-term opportunities, will be published on both the City of Dayton and Learn to Earn Dayton websites. “The priority topics and areas of discussion will all be driven by the youth, as they share their needs, expectations, and aspirations over the course of the year-long process,” said Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart. “Learn to Earn Dayton, the City of Dayton, and Dayton Public Schools all reaffirm our dedication to elevating and amplifying youth voice and leadership.” For more information about the Youth Voice for Dayton and upcoming events, please contact Erica Fields, Director of Place-Based Strategies at Erica.Fields@LearntoEarnDayton.org.