Desert Health News - May-June 2024

www.desertdoctors.org OneFuture Coachella Valley (OFCV) has been honored as one of 10 national recipients of the Carnegie Corporation of New York’s Profiles in Collective Leadership initiative. This tremendous recognition positions our local collaborative as a model career-enhancing program that effectively unites community, fosters systemic change and puts young people on a path to thriving futures and engaged citizenship. The award not only positions OFCV as a national leader, but also provides a $200,000 grant to help further their mission. Their work and its effect on students will be documented by a storytelling partner, and they will have the opportunity to share with, and learn from, other winning organizations across the country. “We are thrilled with this incredible honor,” said OneFuture President and CEO Sheila Thornton. “The philanthropic initiative draws on the strengths of local government, education, nonprofit, business and health care professionals to create career opportunities for young people and encourage civic participation.” OneFuture Coachella Valley’s purpose In 2005, a survey of employers in Riverside County found that 80%of hires for high- level positions were recruited from outside of the area. To address this community challenge, OFCV was established to work with regional K-12 school districts, local colleges, non-profits, city government and local businesses to address career readiness and build a strong local workforce that can meet the needs of the region economically. Some of the career academies and pathways developed from the collaborative include arts, media and entertainment; fashion and interior design; information and communication technologies; health science; and medical technology, to name a few. Students from the later take part in their high school’s Medical Health Academy and contribute to our OneFuture column in each edition (see page 7). From 2009 to 2021, OneFuture has contributed $17 million in scholarships to nearly 3,000 students. These recipients have completed the following degrees: 1,165 bachelor’s, 488 associate’s, 171 master’s, 17 doctorate, plus 87 certificates. Additionally, nearly 8,000 high school students study in career-oriented programs. Learning from OneFuture’s success The Carnegie Corporation’s mission is to “invest in knowledge that inspires informed action.” As stated on their website,1 their new Profiles in Collective Leadership initiative “aims to help others understand how and why certain collaborative models are effective in fostering systemic change and delivering learning opportunities that consistently put young people on a path to thriving futures and engaged citizenship. The goal is to identify organizations already engaged in this work so we can lift up and learn from their efforts.” They go on to state: "Education is the foundation of a healthy democracy. It enables social mobility, builds community, and creates an informed citizenry. It helps young people determine their future and contribute to society. Achieving that promise for all students requires everyone who plays a part in education to design for the extraordinary and equitable experiences and outcomes we want. That includes involving people within school communities — students, families, and educators — but also leaders in government, healthcare, business, and other sectors that influence students’ lives and communities. Our vision for Profiles in Collective Leadership is to identify collective leadership models where this cross-sector approach is already being embraced, with a focus on initiatives intended to enable young people to chart a course from learning to meaningful careers and civic engagement. By elevating and supporting organizations at the forefront of efforts to reimagine our education system, we aim to learn more about the kind of leadership it takes to catalyze systems-level change and to harness those lessons to benefit the entire field." Ten winners from eight states were selected by a panel of jurors comprised of a broad range of leaders in business, higher education and philanthropy. Selection criteria included organizations that are: • Focused on redesigning and aligning pathways from high school to higher education, the workforce and meaningful civic engagement www.DesertHealthNews.com May/June 2024 Medical News The Valley ' s Leading Resource for Health and Wellness 6 Continued on page 8 Local independent providers with valley-wide hospital privileges offering patients quality care with no membership required From primary care to specialty care Desert Doctors is a group of providers formed to provide comprehensive care to the residents of the Coachella Valley while minimizing out-of-pocket costs. ...and much more For direct access to quality care, visit DesertDoctors.org, or call 760-232-4646 In-office and Telemedicine (offered by some providers) Providers join our network to spend more time doing what they love–caring for their patients–and to collaborate with other independent providers through education and research. Primary Care Sleep Medicine Pain Management Urology Physical Therapy Neurology OB/GYN Pulmonary Care Your Health Carnegie Corporation Recognizes OneFuture as Exemplar in Education By Lauren Del Sarto Local K-12 school district academies and career pathways programs include culinary arts. Local business partnerships help prepare students upon high school graduation through internships and job shadowing. OneFuture provides student support services, workshops, financial aid counseling and scholarships. Members of the Gents Alliance Program present at the 2024 Male Student Leadership Conference.