Pathways to Success
Submitted By: JoDee Slyter
About Students Regional Consortium, Riverside
Website: https://riversideregionadulted.org/
Type of Practice: Marketing
Program Area(s): ABE / ASE, ESL / EL Civics / Citizenship, CTE / Workforce Prep / Pre-apprenticeship
Region: Inland Empire
Consortia Involved: About Students Regional Consortium, Riverside
Program Overview
To inform the Riverside region of the adult education programs and services provided, the ABOUT STUDENTS Consortium partnered with News and Review to create a multi-purpose publication focused on information, outreach and advocacy.
The Program of Practice
In the Riverside region, there was a lack of understanding and knowledge of the programs and services offered by the members of the ABOUT STUDENTS Consortium for Adult Education. The community leaders were unaware of the impact these adult education programs have on the lives of students and their families. Often members of the consortium didn't have opportunities to share messages which represented the value of adult education. Without a system or platform to showcase students' successes, those powerful stories were left unheard.
The Response
The ABOUT STUDENTS Consortium partnered with N&R Publications to create a digital newspaper, social media posts, and video that could be shared with several layers of the community including local legislators, educational leaders, community partners, and students. The publication was designed to share student stories of success, showcasing both the work of the consortium members as well as contributions of their community partners. It also stressed the why and how adult education is the economic engine that will power our state's recovery from the pandemic.
The Unique Features of the Program
The unique features of the publication focused on its multi-purpose use which included providing information, outreach and advocacy. The final product showcased a success story about a student from each member of the consortium, detailing his or her educational journey. The publication also connected each member's program with a community partner who contributed to the success of each student. Additionally, a video with student interviews, accompanied the digital publication to bring students' stories to life.
The Outcome
The ABOUT STUDENTS Consortium members established a comprehensive distribution plan with which to share the message of success for adult education. The digital publication, posts and video were sent out region-wide to city, county, and state government elected officials, the Riverside Workforce Development Board and committees, member district boards and leadership, and members' partners. The digital publication was also posted on websites as well as links on social media. Over 1,000 hard copies of the publications were also sent throughout the region. The response from the recipients was overwhelming and resulted in the members receiving multiple messages of appreciation for sharing the amazing students' stories and providing information about adult education programs offered by the consortium members.