NSTogether

Connect * Collaborate * Contribute

Spring Issue 36 | MAY 2024

Welcome to NSTogether, our quarterly newsletter to keep you informed about the K-16 Collaborative work happening all over the North State region.

Leadership Learning Institute

In February, a two-day Leadership Learning Institute was held focusing on Results-Based Facilitation (RBF) at Shasta County Office of Education in Redding, CA. The training was codesigned and facilitated by North State Together, North Star Center for Rural Community Schools, and Partners for Rural Impact. Participants from North State Together’s regional cradle-to-career network, including our community school partners, engaged in this interactive session.

(Photo above: Becky Phelps leading an interactive session.)

The workshop aimed to help attendees learn how to establish measurable goals, build consensus, and create sustainable actions to attain desired results.

Over the course of the two-day workshop, participants were instructed on the dynamics that determine effective or ineffective meetings. They were guided on how to use the Results-Based Facilitation framework to strategize and execute more productive meetings. Additionally, attendees were empowered to craft their own blueprint for integrating RBF principles into their future meeting endeavors. They also learned practical skills to improve how they lead meetings, handle conflicts, and build trust and responsibility.

(Photo above: L to R - Jenn Snider, Shasta County Office of Ed; Amy Cavalleri, Reach Higher Shasta; and Dave Tanner. McConnell Foundation)

When participants responded with feedback, the most valuable part of the two-day Results Based Facilitation workshop was the opportunity for group collaboration and idea-sharing. They appreciated learning from colleagues and getting to know what others in the room already know, which will help them lead meetings more effectively. They found the session valuable for providing a model for structuring meetings and offering strategies for facilitating groups, including insights on conducting hybrid Zoom and in-person meetings. Overall, participants found the workshop applicable and beneficial for their professional development.

(Photo above: Leadership Learning Institute participants)

7th Annual NST Summit

On March 14, 2024, North State Together hosted its 7th Annual Regional Summit: From Learning Spaces to Workspaces at the beautiful Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge. This wonderful event gathered representatives from our network spanning 10 counties alongside partners from various sectors across the region. The day was dedicated to advancing economic mobility through resource sharing, coordinated efforts, fostering enduring cross-sector collaborations, and furthering the development of pathways leading to stable, high-paying employment opportunities.

165 attendees gathered at the Sheraton Redding Hotel for the North State Together Annual Summit.

Dr. Kevin O'Rorke, CEO of North State Together and Interim Superintendent/ President at Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Community College District, started the morning by presenting the evolution of North State Together, highlighting its expansion from five to ten counties. He discussed the formation of collective impact teams within these counties, with NST serving as the backbone organization and regional support framework. Kevin emphasized our commitment to supporting our 10 county networks, reiterating our operating premise that "no single organization, no matter how powerful or innovative, can tackle these challenges alone." Solving complex problems requires collaboration and no school system should do this alone. Therefore, it's essential that we work together as North State Together.

Investing in California's Future

Dr. O'Rorke was followed by Patrick Henning, Chief Deputy Treasurer from the State Treasurer's Office, who engaged in a fireside chat with Courtney Farrell from North State Planning and Development Collective. A portion of their discussion centered on the CalKIDS program, launched in 2022 by the State of California with the clear mission of making it easier for more children to save for their future education. Additionally, efforts by the State Treasurer's Office to boost claim rates in the region were highlighted.

Henning also spotlighted the California HOPE program, established from Assembly Bill 156 to address the racial wealth gap and intergenerational poverty, aiding vulnerable children statewide. With many California children losing primary caregivers due to COVID-19, the program provides essential financial support, including establishing trust accounts for eligible children affected by COVID-19 losses or prolonged stays in foster care. Studies show the tremendous impact of such investments on young people who have lost their primary caregiver and safety net, positively altering their outlook towards their future potential.

The California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program

(Photo above: Patrick Henning, Chief Deputy Treasurer, CA State Treasurer's Office and Courtney Farrell, North State Planning and Development Collective.)

Raise the Bar: Lead the World

Our next speaker, Julia Cunningham, Director of Rural Engagement for the US Department of Education, outlined the 2023 initiative, “Raise the Bar: Lead the World,” which is a call to action to transform education through the advancement of educational equity and excellence.

"One of the most beautiful assets of rural communities," she began, "is their ability to do cross-sector work with their communities. So why shouldn't we do that at the federal level as well to reach across agencies, to share resources, to communicate, to break down those barriers as much as possible? We are so much stronger together in connecting the dots from birth through 5, to internet connectivity, to student engagement, to the workforce, and many other passion points. Shared vision and alignment," she stressed, "are critical for making sure we are setting up communities for success."

Julia shared a story about her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Johnson, whom she was able to connect with after many years. She recounted a day in Mrs. Johnson's life, a whirlwind of meetings and drives spanning miles of countryside. Yet amidst the chaos, Mrs. Johnson exemplified the power of one person to touch multiple facets of a community, connect the dots, and work across sectors.

"Each of you is a Mrs. Johnson," Julia declared. "Doing this work every single day - you're making those drives, talking to those people, dealing with frustration and you're breaking down those barriers to make use of that readily available resource. The difference that one person can make is immeasurable, and the difference that this many people in this room, doing this every day, is infinite!

Ms. Cunningham mentioned resources that are available to our 10-county region, and how the Department of Education will support rural leaders to transform education in their “small but mighty” communities. Click the buttons below and see what is available.

(Photo above: Julia Cunningham, Director of Rural Engagement, US Dept. of Education)

Expanding Horizons: The Growth of Redding Tribal Health System

During his presentation, Glen Hayward, Executive Director of the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health System, introduced the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health Village, a ground breaking 70,000-square-foot outpatient clinic with a 90,000-square-foot wellness center, bringing health and wellness elements together under one roof.

This new project aims to provide all-around care for its members, encompassing a holistic approach covering medical, dental, psychological, physical, and social well-being. Designed with deep respect for the community's history and values, the facility sits along Clear Creek and incorporates natural materials, indoor-outdoor spaces, and cultural elements.

Moreover, Hayward also shared how the Redding Rancheria Tribal Health System has grown since it started in 1991. What began as a single clinic has turned into a comprehensive health system, boasting four campuses and serving over 22,000 patients! Click below to watch the video:

If you would like more information. please call 530-224-2700.

(Photo above: Glenn Hayward, Executive Director, Redding Rancheria Tribal Health)

Organized Voices for Rural Northern California Youth

Bode Gower, Founder and Chair of the Northern California Youth Policy Coalition (NCYPC) and a high school student from Ukiah, CA, shared his desire to get more young people involved in politics. Reflecting on his journey, Bode recounted how all this came about: "I was sitting in my room one Saturday night thinking about politics (as any high schooler would, right?) trying to figure out how I could get more involved in my community. How can I help our youth in Northern California, and how can I get us to a place where we can make sure our youth are heard and seen? And so I decided to create this youth policy coalition."

Bode's drive is fueled by the conviction that the decisions made today shape the future for generations to come. He found resonance in Nelson Mandela's words: "The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow" underscoring the importance of having youth at the table when big decisions are being made, which is why he started NCYPC.

Bode is passionate about advocating for rural youth across Northern California and North State Together is excited for a continued partnership to make sure youth voices are heard. If you would like to make sure that the voices of our Northern California youth are heard at a local, regional, and state level, you can help with their advocacy by clicking the button below to take action.

If you have any questions, please email infoncypc@gmail.com

(Photo above: Jamie Spielmann, Director of Planning & Development, and Bode Gower, Founder & Chair of Northern California Youth Policy Coalition)

The Rural RN Journey

As we concluded our morning session, Tanja Ramming, County Network Lead of Advancing Modoc, honored two students for exemplifying the remarkable tenacity required by rural individuals to overcome challenges in their medical career journey spanning over two decades; Cece Toaetolu and San Juanita Wagner are finally completing their nursing prerequisites this semester!

As we eagerly anticipate their enrollment in Lassen's nursing program this fall, their unwavering commitment serves as a beacon of inspiration to us all. The Modoc College Center, officially launched in September 2023, now supports 25 aspiring CNAs in their pursuit of prerequisite courses for becoming RNs. The aim is to streamline this process, ensuring it doesn't take another 20 years for aspiring nurses to achieve their goals. This represents the epitome of pathway work, demonstrating the transformative potential of accessible medical education.

(Photo above, L to R: CeCe Toaetolu and San Juanita Wagner with Tanja Ramming, County Lead of Advancing Modoc)

Launching Linked Learning: Preparing All Students for Success

During the afternoon session, Dr. Celia Castellanos, Pathways Lead, and Esther Soliman, Vice President of Pathways Implementation, of Linked Learning Alliance shared about the Linked Learning approach to high school education, and how it excites and engages students in meaningful and relevant learning. Participants were able to see how integrated college and career preparation reinforces each other, creating a much stronger equation with real benefits to students, communities, and economy.

(Photo above, L to R: Dr. Celia Castellanos, Pathways Lead, and Esther Soliman, Vice President of Pathways Implementation)

Exploring Regional & County-Based Pathways to Success

Our K-16 SCAILE Up (Shasta College Attainment and Innovation Lab for Equity - United Pathways) team, consisting of Dr. Kate Mahar, Associate VP of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives, Buffy Tanner, Director Of Innovation & Special Projects, and Damaris Stevens, Program Manager, has been working one on one with our county networks to get more personalized information to build out their regional pathway maps/frameworks which included highlighting four-year options that are affordable and accessible to students in our region who might face barriers to attending universities outside of the area.

SCAILE Up, which was established to oversee K-16 pathway work within SCAILE, shared interactive tools and resources designed to assist students and families in exploring educational pathways that lead to high-demand careers in the Health and Education sectors. In this afternoon session, they participated in the hands-on review of mock-ups, engaged in team activities, reflected on potential pathways, and collaborated to build localized strategies for success. Attendees were very excited to see the pathway maps that had been built and continue to add to the documents that were created to capture the county-based efforts. The proactive efforts of our SCAILE Up team are fostering inclusive regional pathways, sparking enthusiasm among participants to continually contribute and refine county-based initiatives.

County Networks: Please click below to request special permission to add more personalized information to your pathway work.

(Photo above, L to R: Dr. Kate Mahar, Associate VP of Innovation & Strategic Initiatives and Buffy Tanner, Director of Innovation & Special Projects)

A section for our county networks and partners to dive in and collect, analyze, and use data for their continuous improvement.

**NEW** Dynamic Dashboards on our Website!

North State Together has developed regional maps to assist our partners with visualizing their data geographically. Here are the current data sources used for these dashboards:

• California Department of Education

• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

• U.S. Census American Community Survey (ACS)

WEBINAR: Creating Useful Dashboards to Unlock the Power of Data

James Crandall, Regional Director - Data Strategies, gave a presentation on the regional maps he created using US Census data, CAASPP data, and A to G data at the Partners for Rural Impact Rural Summit last month.

If you missed it, he is doing an encore presentation for the North State region! In addition to the core content, this workshop will offer network opportunities for participants to connect with peers who share similar goals that will encourage knowledge sharing and potential partnerships, fostering a collective effort. Click the button to register today!

James Crandall presenting at the Partners for Rural Impact Cradle to Career Summit in Kentucky.

TOPIC: Using ACS Data to Create Useful Dashboards at the Neighborhood Level

DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 2024

TIME: 10 am - 11 am PDT

LOCATION: Zoom (Please register to receive the Zoom link)

• Would you like to be empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to make data-driven decisions within the context of your cradle-to-career collective impact and community school work?
• Would you like to gain a deeper understanding of how US Census American Community Survey (ACS) data can serve as a valuable resource for guiding initiatives?
• Would you like to learn how to access, interpret, and manipulate ACS data to derive neighborhood-level insights and explore various datasets within ACS, including demographic and socioeconomic info, to inform your community-based strategies?

This Zoom presentation, Using US Census ACS Data to Create Useful Dashboards at the Neighborhood Level, is tailored for a specific audience deeply engaged in Cradle to Career Collective Impact and community school initiatives. Our intended participants include professionals, data analysts, community organizers, educators, researchers, and policymakers who are committed to harnessing data-driven strategies to enhance the well-being and educational outcomes of children and youth.

This diverse audience shares a common interest in using data as a powerful tool for driving informed decision-making and effecting positive change at the neighborhood level. Please share this with anyone who might be interested in attending.  

Check out the Latest Post-Secondary Data on our Website

High School graduation serves as an important indicator of educational achievement and a crucial milestone towards pursuing higher education or a career with a sustainable income. Numerous studies consistently highlight improved job prospects and lifelong earnings for those who complete high school.

North State Together partners with the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center to provide post-secondary enrollment, persistence, retention, and completion data for our region.

The Post-Secondary Enrollment dashboard and the Post-Secondary Completion on our NST website have been recently refreshed with the latest regional data, now encompassing information on the graduating class of 2023. Check it out below.

Get the Current Update on the Race to Submit Dashboard

The Race to Submit encourages all California high schools and districts to view and track their FAFSA and CADAA completion number. The online tool helps measure the number of submitted and completed applications. This initiative aims to motivate California high schools and districts to increase application count by supporting their students with FAFSA and CADAA submission. 

North State Together provides these data for our region in an easy-to-use dashboard. Click the button below for regional Race to Submit data.

If you have any questions regarding any of the data dashboards above, please reach out to James Crandall, Director of Data Strategies - jcrandall@shastacollege.edu.

A component of the K16 Education Collaboratives program is for the awardees to commit to implementing at least four of the recommended Recovery with Equity strategies outlined in the "Recovery with Equity: A Roadmap for Higher Education After the Pandemic – February 2021 Report" by California For All.

As the K16 Education Collaborative lead for our region, North State Together held deep dive sessions on each of our region's four chosen recovery with equity strategies:

1. Supporting College Preparation and Early Credit
2. Retaining Students through Inclusive Supports
3. Implementing High-Tech, High Touch Advising
4. Cultivating Inclusive, Engaging, and Equity-Oriented Learning Environments

Andrew Fitzhugh, NST Program Coordinator, curated a compilation of the four initiatives focusing on analyzing the main takeaways and recommendations relevant to North State Together. Click the button to view the video:

If you have any questions, contact Andrew Fitzhugh, Program Coordinator - afitzhugh@shastacollege.edu.

Check This Out!

Spotlight on

Siskiyou County

Building Brighter Futures with CalKIDS

North State Together's county network, Cradle 2 Careers 4 Siskiyou, in partnership with SiskiyouWorks, is doing remarkable work in Siskiyou County, training individuals to assist families in claiming and registering their CalKIDS accounts. CalKIDS, a State of California initiative, automatically opens college savings accounts for newborns and eligible low-income public school children to help them save for higher education. Babies born in California after July 1, 2022, can receive up to $175, while eligible low-income public school students may qualify for up to $1,500. Despite automatic creation, families need guidance to claim and register these valuable accounts, a task Cradle 2 Careers 4 Siskiyou is actively facilitating.

County-wide, Siskiyou is facilitating outreach efforts and assisting families in signing up for CalKIDS. Their collaborative approach underscores the importance of community partnerships with First 5 Siskiyous, Siskiyou Community Resource Collaborative Family Resource Centers, and K-12 front offices, counselors, and principals. Last month, they trained 28 outreach personnel, including home visitors, front office staff, family resource professionals, and counselors. These efforts are crucial in ensuring that families in Siskiyou County are aware of and have access to this valuable opportunity for their children's future education.

Spotlight on

Sierra County

Sierra Strong, one of our newest county networks under North State Together, has the mission to provide opportunities for learners to be successful in their educational and career pathways by providing them with support and strong access to local educational and workforce industries.

Recently, Sierra Strong collaborated with Sierra County Adult Education to offer an EMT Basic course. This initiative saw the course integrated into Loyalton High School's class schedule. With two students enrolled, the program ran from January to April 2024. Completing the course renders them eligible to take the National Registry Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) exam, providing them with valuable skills and qualifications for their future endeavors in emergency medical services. Additionally, the course has been approved for dual enrollment through Feather River College which will further enhance its accessibility and value to students.

Check out Sierra Strong's cool logo designed by a Loyalton High School student!

Building Economic Advancement for Workers & Learners:

Exploring the RISE Network's Impact and Strategies

DATE: Wednesday, May 22. 2024

TIME: 11:00 pm - 12:00 pm PDT

For questions, contact Julia Delgado jdelgado@jff.org

Scholarships for State University or Community College Students: Up to $35,000 for Students Interested in Certified Wellness 

Enrollment closes on May 24, 2024

For more information, visit: https://cawellnesscoach.org/

Health Equity Academy - Leaders of Tomorrow's Health (HEALTH) Summer 2024 Program

Ready to unlock the doors to higher education for our students?

The US Department of Education is launching a multi-million-dollar program as part of the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to help school districts, state, nonprofits and other public and private organizations with efforts to boost Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion. 

The goal of the FAFSA Student Support Strategy is to increase the number of students who complete a 2024-25 FAFSA and enroll in college, particularly first-time students and North State Together is poised to advance this opportunity by leveraging regional support frameworks to enhance educational access and success in the North State.

The program will provide up to $50 million for grantees and will be implemented by the Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) to support organizations with demonstrated experience in expanding college access and enrollment. 

The funding will be prioritized for organizations currently working with schools and districts, and those that have deep ties with students and families which have the reach and capacity to help decrease barriers and increase FAFSA submissions. It will also facilitate FAFSA submission clinics, including through partnerships with schools and districts, and provide transportation support as needed. 

Click the button to access the application for funds:

2025 Rural Summit: From Cradle to Career

Mark your calendar! You won't want to miss Partners for Rural Impact's 2025 Rural Summit in Anchorage, Alaska.

CONNECT ** COLLABORATE ** CONTRIBUTE

OUR VISION

North State Together is a regional network of cross-sector partners who have come together to strengthen educational outcomes from cradle to career for ALL in far Northern California. 

OUR MISSION

To increase community vitality by increasing educational access and success in the North State through local solutions within a regional support framework.

OUR VALUES

We are community, data, equity, and relationship driven.