INLAND EMPIRE, CA – Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), a nonprofit dedicated to improving educational and economic success in the Inland Empire, is gearing up for its 7th annual Toward a Shared Vision Summit. The event will take place at the Riverside Convention Center on October 8-9, 2024, bringing together local leaders to discuss and address regional educational challenges.
This year’s summit, themed “Collective Action, Shared Success,” will highlight the power of collaboration across education, government, nonprofit, and business sectors to drive lasting change. Approximately 300 leaders from the Inland Empire’s 56 K-12 school districts, 12 community colleges, public and private universities, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses are expected to attend. Together, they will work to address the region’s most critical educational and economic challenges, seeking innovative solutions through collective efforts.
“The 2024 Toward a Shared Vision Summit is a unique opportunity for passionate leaders and innovators to come together and create real, lasting change,” said Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of GIA. “The partnerships and ideas that will emerge have the potential to drive transformative improvements in education and opportunity throughout the Inland Empire.”
Attendees will participate in workshops, discussions, and breakout sessions covering a range of topics, including student enrollment strategies, access to financial resources, support for underrepresented communities, and pathways to higher education success.
The summit will kick off on October 8, 2024, with the Toward a Shared Vision Awards at the Riverside Convention Center, launching two days of focus on regional educational challenges and opportunities.
Among the featured speakers are Dr. Sonya Christian, Chancellor of California Community Colleges, and Tony Thurmond, California State Superintendent of Public Instruction. They will participate in a special Fireside Chat following the awards ceremony on October 8, sharing their insights on advancing educational success for all students.
This year’s award 2024 Toward a Shared Vision honorees represent a range of collaborative and impactful efforts to address key educational challenges in the region. The awards highlight individuals and organizations driving equity-focused initiatives and fostering innovation in their communities.
The 2024 award categories and honorees include:
- Excellence in Regional Transformation: BLU Educational Foundation
- Equity-Focused Excellence: Rialto Project Impact, Rialto Unified School District
- Student-Centered Excellence: Riverside County Office of Education
- Excellence in Regional Collaboration: Inland Empire College Corps Consortium
- Excellence in Innovation: Randall Lewis
Regular registration for the October 9 portion of the summit is $175 and tickets for the Toward a Shared Vision Awards and Fireside Chat on October 8 are $50 per person. General registration for October 9 includes access to keynote speeches, breakout sessions, meals, and parking. Those interested in attending the awards and panel discussion on October 8 must purchase a separate entry.
Proceeds from the event will support GIA’s student scholarship fund.
For more details and to register for the event, visit www.gia.towardasharedvision.org.
About Growing Inland Achievement
Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan statistical area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a regional cross-sector network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners, collectively working to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s shared vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be widely recognized for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.