Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

Tag: AmeriCorps

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

IALR Shares Partnerships, Progress and Transformation in Annual Report

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has published its 2021-2022 annual report, which highlights innovative and collaborative partnerships across departments that are transforming the economy of Southern Virginia.  

“Significant economic growth has resulted due to robust partnerships across the region. IALR stands ready to serve as Virginia’s go-to partner for education and workforce development, business and economic growth, and a globally competitive business ecosystem.” – IALR President Telly Tucker.

View the Full Report 

One of the pivotal moments of the report period is the creation and adoption of the new IALR Strategic Plan, which will guide IALR’s work and efforts for the next five years. With input from key stakeholders, the plan establishes strategic goals to outline how IALR can best capitalize on its unique strengths to impact the region. 

Just some of the new initiatives and programs launched, announced or expanded during FY 21 and FY 22:  

The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC™) framework is spreading into schools across the Commonwealth. The GO TEC program is just one component of the newly developed and proven EmPOWER system – an employer-driven model to systematically connect students to careers through career awareness, exposure, and engagement and experience. Future and current members of the workforce, as well as businesses, find joint benefits in problem-solving teamships, apprenticeships, externships and internships, mock interview days and more.  

While striving to promote a diversified economy by serving a variety of industries, much of IALR’s impact in 2021-2022 was in the manufacturing sector. Expanding the existing middle-school-through-college workforce development pipelines, the new Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program is a rapid adult-learner model that prepares talent for jobs in the defense industrial base. ATDM launched in 2020 and is already proving successful and showing what modern public-private partnerships should look like. In addition, IALR partnered with the Commonwealth of Virginia and Danville Regional Foundation to construct the Center for Manufacturing Advancement, a new destination for manufacturers ready to optimize and scale and home to the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.  

Through the Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Innovation Center, a joint project with Virginia Tech, IALR has established itself as a global leader in the CEA industry. The presence of the innovative research and state-of-the-art equipment are already making an impact on Southern Virginia. Thanks to best-in-class resources, including lab spaces and staff, the Applied Research team provided 30 companies with applied research and testing services like analytical chemistry, polymer testing and more.  

In partnership with the Southern Virginia Regional Alliance (SVRA) and many other economic development organizations, IALR is proud to champion the area while working with local, regional and state partners. In FY 21 and 22, the Southern Virginia region saw $498 million in announced capital investment and 1,288 new jobs. IALR contributed to economic success by serving as a temporary home for growing businesses by providing critical testing services and lab space to innovative companies across industries. The Bridge to Recovery Program connected companies with suppliers and helped businesses become more resilient post-pandemic.  

The Institute Conference Center hosted a variety of events geared toward the growth of industry sectors and Southern Virginia, including trainings and economic development activities. Numerous companies, including anchor and growing employers held successful job fairs, connecting community members with quality employment. An extensive renovation of the main building and a relaunch of Megabytes, IALR’s on-site café, have allowed the Institute Conference Center to provide even better service for the 20,800 guests who visited.  

IALR Awarded $230,000 Grant to Continue Public Health AmeriCorps Program

IALR Awarded $230,000 Grant to Continue Public Health AmeriCorps Program

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) was awarded a grant of $230,000 from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The grant will fund the continued impact of the Regional Engagement to Advance Community Health (REACH) AmeriCorps program, which has provided public health workshops and educational opportunities in concert with the REACH Partnership since 2022.  

“We are so excited to see the positive and tangible impact that our REACH AmeriCorps members will continue making on health outcomes of individuals, families and the community as a whole,” said Dana Silicki, Advanced Learning Program Manager at IALR. “This grant will allow REACH AmeriCorps to continue serving the Dan River Region by addressing health and education needs.”  

“The REACH partnership is committed to addressing systemic barriers to physical and mental health services for at-risk populations, and health education outreach offered by the REACH AmeriCorps program is a key part of that,” said Dr. Cassandra Shelton, REACH Program Manager. “The continued funding of REACH AmeriCorps will allow us to effectively and systematically improve health education and access.” 

The REACH AmeriCorps program is dedicated to expanding capacity for public health service by providing direct outreach and education service in the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County and Caswell County (NC). Members provide individualized support, addressing the region’s most pressing physical and mental health challenges through a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) lens. 

IALR is recruiting 15 part-time REACH Community Health Educators, who will conduct community health workshops over nine months in targeted census tracts in the Dan River Region. Workshops will be based on specific population health topics, addressing areas of high need and chronic health issues. Members will serve approximately 25 hours per week. 

In conjunction with the REACH AmeriCorps program, The REACH Partnership, an effort supported by The Health Collaborative of the Dan River Region, deploys Community Health Workers and Community Paramedics – referred to as coordinated care teams – to assist with an individual’s physical and mental health needs and connect clients to community resources, addressing the myriad social determinants of health. The REACH Partnership includes the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (lead and fiscal agent),  Virginia Cooperative Extension, Piedmont Access to Community Health Services, Gateway Health, Sovah Health Danville, Compassion Healthcare, the Danville Life Saving Crew, Caswell County EMS, Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services and Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The Partnership efforts are funded by a $6.3 million grant from the Danville Regional Foundation. 

AmeriCorps State and National, a federal-state partnership with a central role for Governor-appointed State Service Commissions, develops and implements state-specific national service programs. These grants allow organizations to recruit, train and supervise AmeriCorps members who are providing services to support education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and service to veterans and military families. 

AmeriCorps State and National engages more than 65,000 Americans in intensive service each year. AmeriCorps members in the AmeriCorps State and National program receive a modest living allowance. At the successful completion of each service term, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.  Members who are age 55+ when they begin service may gift their Segal Education Award to immediate family members. 

About AmeriCorps  

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov. 

About IALR  

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, advanced manufacturing, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.   

Family Literacy Night

Family Literacy Night

Dan River Year AmeriCorps, Danville Project Literacy, AmeriCorps, and REACH AmeriCorps present Family Literacy Night on Thursday, March 2, to coincide with Dr. Seuss’s birthday and National Read Across America Day! This event will feature 29 stations where students can complete a hands-on activity based on a book.
 
In addition to activities, 300 books will be given to the children who attend. Dollar and Scotter, mascots from URW Community FCU and Danville Otterbots, will be present to meet and pose for photos. URW Credit Union will also give away the book Just Saving My Money. And finally, Storytime from Rachel Timm of the Pittsylvania County Public Library will take place at 6:00 p.m.!
 
Please come out for fun activities, chances to win prizes and great snacks!

IALR Awarded Federal Grant for AmeriCorps Program, Holding Open Interviews for Multiple Positions

IALR Awarded Federal Grant for AmeriCorps Program, Holding Open Interviews for Multiple Positions

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) was awarded $333,933 by AmeriCorps, the federal agency leading the nation’s volunteering and service efforts. The funds will be used to continue the support of the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program as it strives to improve K-12 students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Southern Virginia. Open interviews for multiple AmeriCorps positions will be held at IALR on Aug. 11-12 from 12-4 p.m.; there is no appointment necessary.

Dan River Year AmeriCorps members and staff gather at IALR for a ceremony to celebrate outgoing members’ completion of the year-long service program. Members were presented with awards and enjoyed a presentation and luncheon as appreciation for their efforts to build K-12 STEM capacity.

AmeriCorps awarded competitive funding to programs across the nation, five of which exist within Virginia. Of the five awarded grants, Dan River Year AmeriCorps represents the only nonmetro program awarded outside of Northern Virginia. This achievement serves as recognition of the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program’s high quality and its partners’ leadership, success, and commitment to serving the Dan River Region. For the past 20 years, IALR has served Southern Virginia and has acted as the lead agency for the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program since 2015.

With 14 service sites spanning Southern Virginia, including Pittsylvania County, Halifax County, and the cities of Martinsville and Danville, Dan River Year AmeriCorps connects individuals with opportunities to advance their careers and education while providing service to their community. IALR and the Danville Regional Foundation provide support and leverage for Dan River Year AmeriCorps as it continues its vision of addressing the region’s literacy challenges through building STEM capacity. Having served over 15,000 hours, Dan River Year AmeriCorps members work diligently to combat these issues and meet the critical needs of the community.

AmeriCorps members have opportunities to provide services that support education, disaster services, health, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity and service to veterans and military families. For their service, members receive a stipend and financial awards for education as well as professional development and leadership skills. Those interested in receiving more information or becoming involved with Dan River Year AmeriCorps may visit www.ialr.org/americorps or contact Dana Silicki at dana.silicki@ialr.org or (434) 766-6729. The open interviews on Thursday and Friday will fill positions in Danville, Martinsville and Pittsylvania, Henry and Halifax counties for Community Health Educators, STEM/Literacy Tutors and STEM/Literacy Educators.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps works to foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Placing more than 250,000 members and volunteers annually, AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans to serve their communities through extensive efforts across the nation. As the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, AmeriCorps empowers millions to serve in a variety of capacities. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.