[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row” content_placement=”top” bg_type=”bg_color” bg_override=”full” el_class=”row1″ bg_color_value=”#a44f8c”][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_custom_heading text=”WHERE DO WE STAND NATIONALLY?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_row_inner content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1672978644533{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”20053″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1673608395376{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”20055″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”20056″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”KENTUCKY RANK AMONG 50 STATES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:25|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff|line_height:1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1672978747977{margin-top: -32px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”5px”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript2″]

The above statistics are taken from the “Big Bold Future” report.  To view this report in detail, click here.

[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][ult_dualbutton button1_text=”Big Bold Future Report” icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2Fbig-bold-future-report%2F|title:Big%20Bold%20Future%20Report|target:_blank” btn1_background_color=”#044f7c” button2_text=”Community Profiles” btn_icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2F2022profiles%2F|target:_blank” btn2_background_color=”#047940″ btn1_text_color=”#ffffff” btn2_text_color=”#ffffff” btn1_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” btn2_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;”][vc_empty_space height=”20px”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_empty_space height=”45px”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner el_class=”profiledata” css=”.vc_custom_1672978472093{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;background-color: #ffffff !important;}”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”indicators”]

KENTUCKY EARLY CHILDHOOD INDICATORS

[/vc_column_text][vc_progress_bar values=”%5B%7B%22label%22%3A%22COLLEGE-GOING%20RATE%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2254%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22custom%22%2C%22customcolor%22%3A%22%23047940%22%2C%22customtxtcolor%22%3A%22%23ffffff%22%7D%2C%7B%22label%22%3A%22DEGREE%20ATTAINMENT%22%2C%22value%22%3A%2236%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22custom%22%2C%22customcolor%22%3A%22%23047940%22%2C%22customtxtcolor%22%3A%22%23ffffff%22%7D%5D” bgcolor=”bar_black” units=”%” el_class=”progress”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript”]

The above are Kentucky statistics.  To see your individual Groundswell Community Profile, click here.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_empty_space height=”35px”][vc_custom_heading text=”WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text single_style=””]In our knowledge-based economy, job growth now comes almost entirely in fields that require some learning beyond high school. Postsecondary learning includes career training, apprenticeships, technical certificates, or conventional associate and bachelor degrees, and Kentucky needs more working age residents with all those credentials.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text single_style=””]Find more statistics below by clicking the “Big Bold Future Report”, or see how your School District is doing by clicking on the “Community Profiles” option.[/vc_column_text][ult_dualbutton button1_text=”Big Bold Future Report” icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F12%2FBBFRankingSlides.2022.ApprovedforRelease.pdf|target:_blank” btn1_background_color=”#044f7c” button2_text=”Community Profiles” btn_icon_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fprichard-backup.com%2F2022profiles%2F|target:_blank” btn2_background_color=”#047940″ btn1_text_color=”#ffffff” btn2_text_color=”#ffffff” btn1_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” btn2_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1673008261513{padding-right: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”][vc_empty_space height=”35px”][vc_custom_heading text=”RESOURCES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:36|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text single_style=””] [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”top” css=”.vc_custom_1673459726988{margin-bottom: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1673608504884{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #a44f8c !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #a44f8c !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #a44f8c !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #a44f8c !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”POLICY & INVESTMENT PRIORITIES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]
  • Increase college affordability
  • Expand dual credit opportunities for high school students
  • Sustain performance-based funding for public universities and colleges (Big Bold Ask)
  • Fully fund needs-based aid for students (Big Bold Ask)
[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”BIG BOLD ASK” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:26|text_align:center|color:%23a44f8c” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”mc-bullet-list”]✔ By FY 2026 increase annual general fund investment by $338 million[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator color=”custom” el_width=”80″ accent_color=”#000000″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_custom_heading text=”POLICY SPOTLIGHT” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1673608514089{border-top-width: 2px !important;border-right-width: 2px !important;border-bottom-width: 2px !important;border-left-width: 2px !important;border-left-color: #a44f8c !important;border-left-style: solid !important;border-right-color: #a44f8c !important;border-right-style: solid !important;border-top-color: #a44f8c !important;border-top-style: solid !important;border-bottom-color: #a44f8c !important;border-bottom-style: solid !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”LOCAL PRACTICE PRIORITIES” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]
  • Campaigns that connect every student to a post-high school pathway
  • Community FAFSA campaigns
  • Durable skills development
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator color=”custom” el_width=”80″ accent_color=”#007934″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_custom_heading text=”GROUNDSWELL ACTION SPOTLIGHT” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:center|color:%23047940|line_height:1.2″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text single_style=””]MANCHESTER – After a local Togetherness March that was sparked by the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor tragedies, two Groundswell members in Manchester asked themselves what they could do as an action step to impact racism in their town.  Rhonda Phillips and Sara Szymkowiak decided to create an organization that would empower and nurture youth who may not have the same opportunities as others to gain the skills and resources needed to succeed in academics and as community leaders.

The Thompson Scholars Foundation, named for Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education President Dr. Aaron Thompson, a Clay County Native, currently serves disadvantaged students, including but not limited to racial minorities, those experiencing poverty, or first-generation college students.

The Thompson Scholars program focuses on building skills in social and emotional development, leadership development through civic engagement, self-advocacy and self-confidence, communication skills, STEM and Arts programming, college and career readiness, and assistance with the entire college or technical school enrollment process.

Scholars receive a college or technical school scholarship based on their attendance in the program.  The board and team are committed to support scholars even throughout their post-secondary academic pursuits to minimize barriers to completion.  Former Scholars who graduate from college or technical school will be designated as Thompson Fellows, who in turn, can give back to the organization through whatever means, be it giving of time or finances.[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”19910″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”https://prichard-backup.com/groundswell/”][vc_column_text single_style=”” el_class=”postscript3″]

The above story is taken from our “Groundswell Action” stories.  Groundswell Actions come from communities around Kentucky working to making a difference at the local level.  Read more of them here.

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