Get to Know: ASPIRE

LCAN Coverage Area: Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla counties

In 2018, leading community partners including the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Big Bend, and local education institutions including Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University came together to collectively address talent and educational attainment in the Capital Region. This cross-sector collaborative, representing non-profits, business and government agencies has developed into a formalized initiative called ASPIRE (Accelerating Student Performance Into Realms of Excellence Capital Region). ASPIRE Capital Region, a local college access network or LCAN, formed to ensure that all students are career and college ready with the necessary skills to positively impact the community.

The goal of collective impact is to bring people and organizations together, in a structured way, to achieve social change. While Leon, Gadsden and Wakulla counties (the Capital Region) as a whole are strong, current and future shifts in labor market demand will require additional investments in local talent and workforce to remain competitive. Additionally, certain traditionally underserved populations within the community will be more likely to be adversely impacted by these demand shifts.

ASPIRE will leverage the assets of partner organizations and community stakeholders to scale education and workforce development opportunities in the community. Specifically, the initiative strives to ensure all students are career and college ready with the necessary skills to positively impact the community and every citizen in the tri-county area has both the access and the opportunity to pursue education beyond high school.

Website: https://www.aspirecapitalregion.com/

For more information, please contact:

Kim Kelling
kkelling@fsu.edu
Phone: 850-591-8084

Corrie Melton
cmelton@talchamber.com
Phone: 850-570-0613

Marcus Nicolas
mbnicolas@fsu.edu
Phone: 850-694-1690