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HISTORY
Mahoning
Valley Vision for Education (MVVE) began in December 2001
as a series of education summits organized by the Regional
Chamber. The goal of these summits was to make the local business
community aware of, and open a dialogue on, the issues surrounding
education in the valley. From these summits emerged a group
of community, business, and education leaders whose common
focus was the improvement of education in the region. MVVE
was formally organized in July of 2002 with Dr. Sherry Linkon
(YSU) and Dr. John Robertson (KSU Trumbull) as Co-chairs and
Joyce Brooks as Coordinator.
Meanwhile, Youngstown City and Warren City Schools were participating
in the KnowledgeWorks Ohio Small Schools Transformation Initiative.
The two school districts identified MVVE as a Center of Strength
partner, defined by KnowledgeWorks as a nonprofit organization
involving parents and other community members in the planning
and design of high school education, on the basis that community
involvement enhances student success.
A
community engagement process was developed based upon research
connecting quality of education with community involvement.
This process included the collection, analysis, and sharing
of data in which citizens expressed their hopes and identified
challenges facing education in the Valley. The community engagement
process was carried out through 46 focus groups and hundreds
of written surveys. Click here for Valley Voices and see what
they said.
As
a result of the community engagement process, A Vision for
Education in the Mahoning Valley was developed and the mission
statement was written in October 2002. MVVE has lent its community
engagement data to several local projects and committees.
Currently the organization partners with the KSU and YSU College
Access program, Youngstown 2010, Warren City Schools GEAR
UP Project, YSU/Youngstown City Schools Early College Project,
and many other community initiatives and programs.
MVVE
continues to be the community's voice in reaching the ultimate
goals of quality public education and a positive contribution
to economic development in the Mahoning Valley.
Currently
serving as co-chairs are Dr. Robert Beebe (YSU) and Dr. John
Robertson (KSU Trumbull) with Robert L. Faulkner Sr. as Coordinator.
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