Callahan & Associates, Inc.’s Post

Meet Our New Fellows: Ray'Chel W., Founder of ForOurLastNames. ForOurLastNames empowers early career professionals to transform financial stress into financial action through customized pathways, relatable education, and secure financial partnerships. Learn more about all 21 founders in the Future Founders Fellowship Cohort 10 here: bit.ly/fellowshipcohort10

"Make no small plans." -Daniel Burnham Oftentimes, we have a failure not to think too big but instead we think too small. We attempt to chip away at a problem instead of thinking systematically about attacking the root cause and developing a solution to truly address the issue. Xchange Chicago is thinking big about how to re-shore high quality IT services into the South and West Side of Chicago. This big vision means that underinvested and disinvested communities finally have an opportunity to build tech careers in their own neighborhoods. At scale, we see the potential for upwards of 5,000 apprentices/year and $250M in impact IF we are able to capture $1B worth of IT spend from companies based in the Greater Chicago area. If you want to help P33 Chicago, Gary Comer Youth Center and SDI Presence make our BIG plans a reality - join us for a tour of our facilities in Grand Crossing. I guarantee you will leave thinking very differently about economic development, workforce development, community development and place-based investing.

I woke up this morning to a text message from a colleague congratulating me and my team on our Morningstar #gold rating for the T. Rowe Price College Savings Plan. It was a wonderful way to start my day! I'm always proud of our work at the Education Trust of Alaska and our three 529 plans. Our product is investments, and T. Rowe Price is an experienced leader in designing high-performing portfolio options for account owners to benefit their future education-goers. We are grateful for the people behind our product and the process through which they have designed our excellent lineup. As stewards of the assets invested in our plans, my team and I have reflected deeply on best practices for good governance and prudent management. We strive to implement strategies and systems that make saving for future education expenses accessible and help to break down financial barriers to higher education or workforce training. This year, we took a deeper look and brought in additional expertise to help us see opportunities for strengthening and reinforcing what we knew we were already doing right. When I started my career in #highereducation 24 years ago, all I knew was that I wanted to help more people make it to and through college. My accidental career trajectory landed me in a field I love with the exact impact I wanted. The impact can happen because of our team and our partnership with T. Rowe Price. Last word on this subject, 529 College Savings Plans make a difference, break down barriers, and change lives. If you're not saving for yourself or your loved one... let's talk. https://lnkd.in/g-uFefSE

Insights from this recent analysis created by New Holland Capital's Ira Handler were a powerful reminder of the predictive power of early success in reading and the urgency for communities to rally around our most vulnerable learners. Read our top takeaways from our recent roundtable ⤵️ ⭐️ Our intervention is likely to raise participants' reading levels and increase their likelihood of high school graduation. ⭐️ Early intervention and continuous engagement are important for maximizing the benefits of our program. ⭐️ The estimated extra career earnings for participants ranges from $9,500 to over $20,000. ⭐️ The results of the analysis are highly favorable compared to similar interventions. ⭐️ Investments in evidence-based interventions like Springboard Collaborative are crucial for supporting students' long-term success. We'll drop a link from the The Chronicle of Philanthropy that explains these findings more. 👇 #Education #Literacy #K12Education

Opportunity

🚨 Government Announces Yet Another Taskforce 🚨 But what we really need are tangible results, not just taskforces. We're calling for more cash and deals, not more committees. We're pushing for a transformation towards more equitable systems and practices in funding and investment. I'm heartened by the news of a "bespoke funding pot for female-founded businesses through private capital." However, we can't ignore the fact that our taxpayer money is flowing through a deeply biased system, leading to less than 2% of venture funds reaching female founders and less than 1% reaching black founders. It's time for real change, action, and equal opportunities for more founders and investors. Sign the open letter at www.notwithmymoney.info if you think more needs to be done. Let's make our voices heard and push for a fairer, more inclusive financial landscape. 💪🏽💰 #EquitableFundingNow #DismantleBias #ChangeNotTaskforces #notwithmymoney 🌟🔥 https://lnkd.in/ew-U4Ktb

The direction we need to go today.

About the Impact Prize: The American education system and job market have long emphasized attending four-year-college as the primary path to attain a well-paying job and comfortable lifestyle. Increasingly, younger generations are questioning the value and return on four-year education and are looking for alternatives. At the same time, the U.S. economy does not have enough skilled workers to meet demand, with the gap projected to widen in the coming years. We believe this is a pivotal moment to embark on a long-term commitment to address the education achievement and career skills gaps in the United States. Today, people face increasing tuition costs and college dropout rates with limited on-ramps to earn livable wages that support families. The demand for jobs that require more than high school, but less than a four-year-degree, is outpacing the supply of qualified workers. There is insufficient emphasis on, and resources dedicated to, career and technical education as a means to increase widespread economic prosperity. The Impact Prize features those taking action to drive positive change in today’s rapidly evolving economic landscape: the problem-solvers and innovators bridging gaps by increasing access to family-sustaining wages, career progression, and social mobility for people from all backgrounds. This $1 million open call is a cornerstone of the Iovino Family Foundation’s dedication to advancing economic prosperity for more people in the United States by promoting skills training, entrepreneurship, and investment in innovative learning technology. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eRng_bzp #impactprize #cte #workforcedevelopment #students #education #employment #innovation #careers #economicmobility #diversityequityinclusion

Celebrating the journey and wisdom gained along the way! 🚀 Our founder shares a heartfelt reflection on starting their career at Northwestern Mutual in 2001, highlighting the invaluable mentorship of Harry Hoopis. 🌟 #Mentorship plays a crucial role in shaping successful careers. Here at B File System™, we honor the mentors who guide us and the lessons that propel us forward. #Mentors #InsuranceProfessionals #CareerGrowth #InsuranceSolutions

Where these grads choose to physically locate themselves effectively is the same as “betting their futures” on a specific market… and it’s real estate will move accordingly. We are long on the Bay Area.