Page 16 - Scene Magazine 42-06 June 2017

Annual Report
BCVision is a community-driven movement for change focused on making Battle Creek an even better place to live, work and play.
But how do we do that? Where do we start?
A thriving Battle Creek depends on ensuring equitable opportunities for all residents to have the income, education and resources they need to be successful. In the first half of 2017, BCVision’s work focused on realizing this shared vision.
In January, BCVision released the findings of a community-wide study conducted by New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools (NYU Metro Center) on improving equity and excellence in local education. The data shows that some students have access to high levels of opportunity while other students do not, and those students are experiencing dramatically lower academic outcomes. These patterns are heavily connected to race, income and neighborhood with black, Latino and low-income white students experiencing the lowest access to opportunities.
The leadership of BCVision affirmed their commitment to ensure their work has an impact on eliminating historic inequities by crafting and sharing a powerful equity commitment statement.
Fulfilling the Vision Behind BCVision
The statement, which will serve as a starting point for dialogue, vows to be bold and act with a sense of urgency in creating equitable opportunities for all Battle Creek residents.
Propelled by the study’s findings, all four Battle Creek area school districts convened a historic first joint school board session in April to kick off a collaborative effort to ensure all students in Battle Creek have access to an equitable, high-quality education regard- less of their zip code. During the joint school board session, the superinten- dents and board members talked about the shared fate for Battle Creek and suggested ways to further collaborate.
The momentum continued in May when the W.K. Kellogg Foundation made an unprecedented commitment to strengthen Battle Creek Public Schools so all students have access to a quality education. The foundation’s five-year $51 million investment will provide a comprehensive approach to impact every grade and every building in the district.
With equitable opportunity for all residents as our “north star,” we are also focused on providing career preparation and job access opportunities.
The Workforce Development Action Team hosted two Pre-Employment Preparation (PREP) Fairs in May pro- viding nearly 300 attendees with resume
assistance, interviewing practice and help with life challenges that make working difficult. Close to 50 of those attendees also participated in a Job Fair featuring nearly 30 local employers with more than 100 open positions.
BCVision also partnered with the Generation E Institute (GenEI) to launch a new mentoring program for minority- and women-owned emerging and early stage businesses. The need for the pro- gram was informed by a BCVision Small Business Action Team study reporting that while there are over 2,800 small businesses locally with less than 100 employees, only approximately 120 are minority-owned and 235 are women- owned. GenEI will help grow those numbers by providing a network of pro- fessionals to offer guidance and support.
This is only some of what BCVision has been up to. Our community is witnessing an historic time. We are acting boldly and with a sense of urgency. Our work won’t be easily accomplished, but very few chal- lenges this important are easy. If you feel passionately about these issues, BCVision invites you to help move Battle Creek forward. Contribute your voice and your action by joining the movement. Working together, we are bringing about change. Visit www.battlecreekvision.com or call (269) 719-8888 to learn more. You can also follow us on Twitter @BCVision or visit facebook.com/BattleCreekVision.
BCVision Equity Statement
We know, and will not ignore, the significant inequities in the Battle Creek community.
Because we...
Believe in the infinite possibilities of individuals.
Believe that education is the great equalizer.
Believe that everyone has a right to financial stability.
We will...
Listen to, include, and act on the voices of the unheard.
Direct resources to where the need is greatest.
Break down barriers to employment.
We will be bold and act with a sense of urgency to improve people’s lives in Battle Creek.
www.battlecreekvision.com | 269-719-8888 | Twitter@BCVision | facebook.com/BattleCreekVision.
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