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Power in Partnership: Vireo Collaborative Action Networks Take Flight

CommunityChamberEconomic


505 West Third Street
Marion, Indiana 46952
Phone: 765-662-0065
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 8/04/25
 
                    Press Release             
 
Power in Partnership: Vireo Collaborative Action Networks Take Flight
Uniting residents, organizations, and leaders to co-create solutions
 and accelerate lasting positive change across the community.
                                                                                  
Grant County, IN — The Community Foundation of Grant County is proud to announce the official launch of Vireo, a Career to Cradle initiative with five Collaborative Action Networks (CANs). This is a bold, countywide initiative that brings together cross-sector partners to tackle the root causes of child poverty and drive sustainable change starting from Employment and working down the network to Kindergarten Readiness.
“Each of these networks represents the power of collaboration,” said Dawn Brown, President/CEO of the Community Foundation of Grant County, “bringing together passionate local leaders and organizations committed to improving outcomes for every child in Grant County.”
These Collaborative Action Networks are the pillars of a community-powered effort known as Vireo, focused on transforming systems through data-informed strategy, community engagement, and long-term collaboration. Five networks have been awarded funding and are now taking flight:
Employment CAN - Led by Greater Grant County
Recognizing the vital connection between stable employment and community well-being, this CAN seeks to build a stronger pipeline from education to employment. By fostering relationships between schools and local employers, the network will expand work-based learning opportunities, equip students with real-world career readiness, and align local talent with the evolving needs of industry. The initiative is grounded in sustainable collaboration and driven by the belief that meaningful employment transforms lives and reduces poverty.
Focus: Increase career readiness and local employment through work-based learning and school-to-career pathways.
Key Strategies:

  • Build and scale job shadowing, internships, and career exploration opportunities
  • Engage the Grant County Talent Coalition to align efforts across sectors
  • Support schools in fulfilling work-based learning mandates and creating local career pathways
  • Educate and involve employers in developing a future-ready workforce
  • Integrate the Director of Workforce Development to lead employer-school partnerships
Broadly, the role of Director of Workforce Development held by Shelby Schuh is to champion Grant County’s success by developing strategic partnerships that connect education, industry, and community resources. Initially, Schuh will focus on fostering meaningful connections between schools and employers—facilitating internships, job shadowing, and pathways that guide students toward fulfilling careers. With agility and responsiveness at the core, the role will evolve in alignment with community needs. Read more about the role here: www.GoGreaterGrant.org/Workforce.
"Workforce development is far more than job training—it's a strategic investment in people that drives economic growth, empowers local businesses, and opens doors to lasting opportunity,” said Schuh. “In my role, I’m collaborating with employers, educators, and community leaders to design systems that prepare students with the skills they need to succeed while helping businesses build sustainable talent pipelines. By taking a holistic, intentional, and systems-based approach, we’re laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient community that can thrive for generations."
Post-Secondary Enrollment & Completion CAN - Led by Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township
Acknowledging the long-term impact of higher education on earning potential and child poverty, this CAN aims to increase post-secondary enrollment and reduce dropout rates. With community partnerships and student-focused engagement, the network will develop strategies that address financial barriers, enhance readiness, and reshape community narratives around the value of higher education.
Focus: Increase enrollment in and completion of post-secondary education.
Key Strategies:
  • Track and reduce dropout rates in college and certification programs
  • Address barriers like cost, access, and inconsistent messaging
  • Collaborate with schools and colleges on dual credit, GPA tracking, and student support
  • Center the student voice to co-design solutions
“Post-secondary education is one of the most powerful tools we have to break the cycle of poverty,” said Ashley Shirley, Executive Director of Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township. “But we also recognize that college and career training can feel out of reach for many families. This network is about changing that—by removing barriers, building pathways, and sending a clear message to every student: you belong, and your future matters.”
High School Graduation CAN - Led by Project Leadership
With a mission to provide equitable access to post-secondary opportunities, Project Leadership will enhance career readiness for high school students by embedding career assessments, one-on-one coaching, and real-world work experiences into the school day. A new digital tool—Aeros—will help match students with local employers, creating hands-on learning that sets students on a path to success beyond graduation.
Focus: Ensure every high school student completes a workplace experience.
Key Strategies:
  • Customized career readiness curriculum for grades 6–12
  • Certified 1:1 career coaching
  • Launch of Aeros, a digital platform connecting students to local employers
  • Partnerships with schools and the Chamber to embed real-world experiences into the school day
“Graduation is not the finish line—it’s the launchpad,” said Tammy Pearson, President & CEO  of Project Leadership. “Through this network, we’re working to ensure every student not only earns a diploma but gains a clear vision of what comes next. By embedding career coaching and hands-on experience into their school journey, we’re helping students connect their passions to real opportunities right here in Grant County.”
Early Grade Reading CAN - Led by United Way of Grant County
The United Way is spearheading efforts to improve reading proficiency among children ages birth to 8, recognizing literacy as a key gateway to academic achievement, high school graduation, and economic mobility. This CAN will work with schools, libraries, health providers, and families to increase access to books, support early reading programs, and monitor third-grade literacy benchmarks across the county.
Focus: Improve reading proficiency in children birth to age 8.
Key Strategies:
  • Boost 3rd grade reading scores
  • Expand access to books and library cards
  • Integrate literacy supports across schools, clinics, and homes
  • Use Imagination Library and other tools to foster early literacy
To accelerate early literacy outcomes and deepen local collaboration, United Way of Grant County has welcomed Kayla Johnson as its new full-time Impact Coordinator. Johnson will lead youth literacy efforts across the county, coordinate events like Day of Action, manage impact tracking, and build strategic partnerships with schools, libraries, and nonprofits. The Impact Coordinator role reflects United Way’s belief that literacy is foundational to lifelong success—and that community transformation begins with strong relationships, shared data, and aligned action.
“Kayla has a heart for this community and a gift for building authentic, collaborative relationships,” said LeeAnna Smith, Executive Director of United Way of Grant County. “She brings experience, energy, and empathy to everything she does. Thanks to the support of the Community Foundation, we now have the capacity to take our impact work to the next level—and Kayla is the perfect person to lead that charge.”
Kindergarten Readiness CAN - Led by Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township
Understanding the lifelong impact of early learning, this CAN works to improve kindergarten readiness across Grant County by increasing access to high-quality childcare, early intervention services, and developmental supports. In collaboration with the Grant County Early Childhood Coalition and other local partners, the network will identify key readiness indicators, expand capacity for early care, and build community-wide awareness and alignment around what it means for children to start school ready to thrive.
Focus: Increase kindergarten readiness by improving early learning environments and developmental support systems.
Key Strategies:
  • Increase the usage of available programming and services critical for early development.
  • Expand high-quality childcare seat capacity to meet community demand
  • Promote awareness and access to early intervention services for children not meeting milestones
  • Use Kindergarten Readiness Indicators (KRI) to assess trends and guide local strategies
  • Engage families and partners through the GROW program and ECC Advisory Council to co-design solutions
“A child’s first five years are the foundation for a lifetime of learning,” said Ashley Shirley, Executive Director of Thriving Grant County, Thriving Mill Township. “This network is about ensuring all children—regardless of zip code—enter kindergarten with the skills, support, and confidence they need to thrive. When we invest early, we change the trajectory of lives, families, and our entire community.”
The Vireo Career to Cradle initiative is rooted in the belief that no single organization can solve complex challenges alone. These networks will use shared data systems, coordinated strategies, and community voice to move the needle on critical indicators that shape the future of our youth.
“Collaborative Action Networks are more than partnerships, they’re about changing how we work together,” said Meagan Mathias, Community Leadership Director at the Community Foundation. “We’re aligning around what works, grounding our efforts in data, and listening to the community every step of the way.”
The name Vireo was chosen with intention and symbolism. A vireo is a small, migratory songbird known for its resilience. Though small in size, the vireo plays a vital role in the ecosystem, quietly yet powerfully contributing to the health of its environment, often working in harmony with others. Vireos migrate but often return home. Similarly, this initiative will encourage local students to seek post-secondary credentials and then return home to utilize them in worthwhile careers. Thus, why Vireo is a Career to Cradle initiative, we’re beginning with the end in mind.
Just as the small Vireo bird builds its nest branch by branch, Vireo builds a better future, action by action, partnership by partnership.
By launching these CANs, Grant County is planting the seeds of long-term transformation—ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to thrive from Employment down to Kindergarten Readiness.
For more information about the Vireo Career to Cradle Initiative and how to get involved, reach out to Meagan Mathias at Meagan@GiveToGrant.org
About Community Foundation of Grant County, Indiana, Inc.
The Community Foundation of Grant County is an advocate for local philanthropy and is dedicated to improving the lives of people in the Grant County area. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1984, the Foundation partners with donors to establish charitable funds and supports nonprofits through a variety of grantmaking efforts. The Community Foundation connects people, resources, and causes to promote sustainable impact for the betterment of Grant County. Today, the Foundation manages over 400 charitable funds, advancing a broad range of causes that strengthen Grant County. For more information, visit www.GiveToGrant.org.
 
Media Contact:
Meagan Mathias
Community Leadership Director
Community Foundation of Grant County
Email: Meagan@GiveToGrant.org

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