ELEVATE

In the summer of 2016, the Education as a Path to Economic Growth study was released, highlighting the correlation between investments in education and economic growth in Columbia and Walla Walla counties, as well as the Milton-Freewater area. The study proposed 19 strategic recommendations for education investments in the region. Subsequently, in the fall of 2016, an Implementation Task Force Action Plan was developed to guide advocacy for these recommendations. In 2017, United Way of the Blue Mountains underwent a transformative change, shifting from a program funder to a collective impact organization, emphasizing collaborative efforts to improve long-term outcomes. The Implementation Task Force's Big Investments Subcommittee focused on Recommendation 1, aiming to enhance the community's understanding and commitment to high-quality education. They researched educational attainment alliances and promise models, consulting with Social Venture Partners to learn from their experience supporting the Road Map Project.

Elevate's journey began in the summer of 2019 when conversations were initiated to identify their first priority area. By the fall of that year, the Steering Committee had determined that Middle School would be their focus, leading to further research and interviews with parents, students, and teachers to establish specific goals. However, unforeseen challenges awaited them in early 2020, as flooding and the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic forced school closures. Despite these setbacks,
the Middle School Working Group persevered and identified key objectives: fostering positive connections among students, families, schools, and the community, creating opportunities that inspire all students and support their transition to high school, and designing strategies that address the diverse needs of students and their families.

In the summer of 2020, the Educational Attainment Alliance, a partner of Elevate, began pursuing the Strive Together application, signaling their commitment to educational excellence. This was followed by Community Roundtable Conversations held in various towns, bringing together representatives from education, government, healthcare, and other sectors to discuss critical issues faced by families during school closures. Elevate also joined the Washington State Cradle to Career Network, an advocacy coalition focused on state-level policy.

In January 2021, the Educational Attainment Alliance rebranded itself as Elevate: Building Strong Communities Through Education and launched the Middle School Working Group. Later that year, Elevate formed a partnership with Partners for Education (Berea College), expanding their network and resources. The summer of 2021 saw the Steering Committee identify early learning and kindergarten readiness as their second priority area.

As Elevate entered 2022, they hired a Community Results Coordinator and organized the Elevate Education Summit across multiple venues. Working groups focused on kindergarten readiness, middle school, and post-secondary access and success analyzed data and engaged with students, parents, and the community to determine current needs. Community conversations were held with high school staff assisting students with post-secondary plans, and middle school students participated in a survey on cell phone usage. Additionally, a Comprehensive Early Learning Study was completed, further informing Elevate's efforts.

Throughout their journey, Elevate forged partnerships with organizations such as the Washington Cradle to Career Coalition, Partners for Rural Impact, Ballmer Group, Washington State Board of Education, and the Washington Student Achievement Council. These collaborations strengthened their ability to create positive educational outcomes and build strong communities through education.