1. What is Achieve Quad Cities?
Achieve Quad Cities is a broad regional alliance with the goal of increasing graduation rates. We’re going to accomplish this by providing mentoring relationships and increasing career awareness and exploration opportunities for at-risk students.
2. What are the goals of Achieve Quad Cities?
- Youth have a support system that communicates high expectations.
- Youth have plans for their futures that motivate them to engage in school.
- Youth experience meaningful exposures to career options in our community.
- Youth will be equipped for successful employment.
3. How does Achieve Quad Cities differentiate from other programs that are doing similar work?
Achieve Quad Cities brings all of the partners to the table – from schools to businesses and other nonprofits – and coordinates their efforts. We ensure that everyone is maximizing their impact on the dropout rates and ensuring services are not being duplicated. By bringing the partners together, we can better assess resources needed and make targeted asks to the community.
4. Who is funding Achieve Quad Cities?
The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend and United Way of the Quad Cities Area contributed the initial funding. A team of grant writers from United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters locate, identify and apply for other grants the alliance is eligible for. In addition, local organizations are contributing their time and resources to make this a success, including the school districts, iJAG, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Junior Achievement.
|
5. Who governs or oversees the activities of Achieve Quad Cities?
A Leadership Cabinet has been formed to review the direction and progress of Achieve Quad Cities. The group will meet four times a year and their specific functions include, but are not limited to, strategic guidance and direction, conflict resolution, and executive-level oversight. Representatives on the Council will serve as volunteer liaisons to their respective organizations.
Click here to view a listing of Cabinet members.
6. How does Achieve Quad Cities differentiate from the work already being done in area school systems?
Achieve Quad Cities has been developed to compliment and enhance the work that is already being done within the schools systems. Achieve Quad Cities provides a systemic approach to career exploration and experiences by combining resources and eliminating duplication. Because of the diverse group of partners participating in the program, Achieve Quad Cities can provide the support that both schools and business need – employable workers and a dynamic workforce.
7. Why would area school districts participate in Achieve Quad Cities? What is their benefit?
Each school district has initiatives and programs in place to address the issue of high school graduation rates. Achieve Quad Cities is designed to increase access that schools have to the business community and in return, engage the business community in better understanding the needs of our school systems. Achieve Quad Cities allows schools systems to easily access career exploration experiences that will ultimately lead to career planning and better equip young adults to enter the workforce and pursue secondary degrees and training certificates.
|