Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Current Grants
  • Scholarships
  • Applicant/Grantee Login
Johnson Scholarship Foundation
  • Home
  • Our Grants
    • Current Grants
    • Apply For a Grant
    • Scholarships
  • Our Work
    • About Our Work
    • Indigenous Peoples
    • Economically Disadvantaged
    • People with Disabilities
    • Current Grants
  • The Foundation
    • About The Foundation
    • History & Values
    • Board & Staff
    • Financial Information
    • Annual Reports
  • News
  • Menu Menu
You are here: Home1 / News2 / News3 / Palm Beach County Local College Access Network

Palm Beach County Local College Access Network

The community collective impact meeting on May 4th was, by any account, a huge success. Speakers included the Presidents of Palm Beach Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College, a Vice-President of Florida Atlantic University, a student from Delray Beach, the Executive Director of Florida College Access Network, the Mayor of Palm Beach County, the Superintendent of the Palm Beach County District School Board, the President of the Business Development Board and representatives from the business, faith-based, non-profit and philanthropic communities. We had about 60 people.

Despite all of the diverse speakers, the agenda was a simple one and we were able to conclude the meeting within the 2 hour envelope that we had promised. The idea was to make the case for a local college access network and ascertain the level of interest amongst a group of key community leaders.

Our meeting – and the planning that led up to it – was assisted greatly by the Florida College Access Network, which brings experience, data and a planning grant. The purpose of this LCAN is to raise high school graduation rates and post–secondary completion. Presently, a little over 40% of Palm Beach County residents have a meaningful post–secondary credential. “Meaningful” can be anything between a certificate in cosmetology to a PhD in engineering.

40% is a little better than the state and national average but this is only because so many affluent (and educated) retirees come to Palm Beach County. The completion rate for students coming through the system is in the mid-thirties and lags state and national averages. The goal is to increase the completion rate to 60% by 2025. The approach has similarities to Pathways to Education. For a glimpse at a robust local college access network, check out http://sayyesbuffalo.org/

Our meeting concluded with a call for volunteers to join a Leadership Council, which will set the direction for the Palm Beach LCAN and choose a backbone organization to execute. Over 24 people came forward and it is clear that this initiative will enjoy high level support from every sector of the community. Apart from the social justice issue, there is widespread recognition that the economic future of this area is tied to the quality of its workforce.

What is less clear is whether or not the community will be able to effectively harness this support to achieve the desired end.

Success will require two crucial elements. First, and most important, is effective leadership of the Leadership Council. Second is the availability of an inspired and competent backbone organization. There is no shortage of people or possibilities and the result will depend upon who steps forward and takes responsibility for getting this done.

Leading the LCAN initiative through its initial phase was a tax on the Foundation’s limited resources but the experience was beneficial in many ways. The Foundation will continue to support this initiative by participating in meetings and, with approval of the Grant Program Committee, do its part financially if and when that time comes. As a corollary to the LCAN, but of paramount importance to the Foundation, we will continue and advance our discussions with Take Stock in Children in an attempt to merge our respective scholarship programs and raise more community money to support them. Stay tuned.

Recent Posts

  • Philanthropy Lifts the Disability Resource Center and Students it Serves
  • Mentoring Through the Important Conversations
  • Tribal Colleges – Providing Native People with Access to Choice, Visibility and Control
  • Mentoring Pays Dividends – a Mentor Reflects on Connecting
  • Interpreting Medicine: Deaf Student Shadows Doctors in Italy

Archives

  • January 2023 (2)
  • November 2022 (2)
  • September 2022 (2)
  • August 2022 (1)
  • July 2022 (3)
  • June 2022 (1)
  • May 2022 (2)
  • April 2022 (2)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (3)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • November 2021 (2)
  • October 2021 (3)
  • September 2021 (2)
  • August 2021 (3)
  • July 2021 (2)
  • June 2021 (2)
  • May 2021 (3)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (2)
  • February 2021 (2)
  • January 2021 (3)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (1)
  • October 2020 (2)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • August 2020 (2)
  • July 2020 (3)
  • June 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (3)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (2)
  • November 2019 (2)
  • October 2019 (2)
  • September 2019 (2)
  • July 2019 (2)
  • June 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • April 2019 (3)
  • March 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • November 2018 (6)
  • October 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • August 2018 (2)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (3)
  • May 2018 (3)
  • April 2018 (3)
  • March 2018 (2)
  • February 2018 (3)
  • January 2018 (4)
  • December 2017 (3)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (5)
  • September 2017 (4)
  • August 2017 (3)
  • July 2017 (3)
  • June 2017 (5)
  • May 2017 (5)
  • April 2017 (3)
  • March 2017 (5)
  • February 2017 (3)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (3)
  • November 2016 (4)
  • October 2016 (5)
  • September 2016 (5)
  • August 2016 (6)
  • July 2016 (4)
  • June 2016 (6)
  • May 2016 (5)
  • April 2016 (4)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (1)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (1)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (1)
  • February 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (2)
  • November 2014 (2)
  • October 2014 (1)
  • August 2014 (1)
  • July 2014 (2)

Johnson Scholarship Foundation
One N. Clematis Street, Suite 307
West Palm Beach, FL 33401

The Johnson Scholarship Foundation is a private Foundation. It does not make individual grants. All scholarships and grants are made through selected institutions. The Foundation’s support of these causes is delivered through a variety of scholarships and grant programs, which are described in this site.

© Copyright – Johnson Scholarship Foundation

Phone: 561-659-2005
Fax:  561-659-1054
Email: wood@jsf.bz

Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Home
  • Our Grants
    • Apply For a Grant
    • Scholarships
  • Our Work
    • Indigenous Peoples
    • Economically Disadvantaged
    • People With Disabilities
  • The Foundation
    • History & Values
    • Board & Staff
    • Financial Information
    • Annual Reports
  • News