Achieve Escambia

05/15/2025

Achieve Escambia is proud to announce that Executive Director Ruthie Noel graduated from the Leadership Northwest Florida Class III on May 9, 2025. Seventeen leaders were selected by Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) Foundation to participate in Class III of the program focused on regional collaboration through community, content, and connection.

Class III participants were immersed in a seven-month educational program and met other leaders from a variety of backgrounds who represent Northwest Florida’s diverse composition. The program offered participants a holistic view of the conditions, challenges, and opportunities shared throughout the region, focusing on the areas of Business Vitality, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Infrastructure, Talent, and Quality of Place.

“The FGNW Foundation Board selected individuals most likely to utilize their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit and betterment of Northwest Florida,” said Jennifer Conoley, President and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest & FGNW Foundation. “Ruthie was selected for demonstrating the ideal characteristics sought after in program participants.”

When asked what she gained by participating in the program, Ruthie shared: “Growing up in rural Northwest Florida, I didn’t fully realize the depth and diversity of our region. Participating in this program has allowed me to get reacquainted with the unique communities we visited and gain a clearer picture of the challenges and opportunities we all face together. Recognizing our shared goals and interdependence isn’t just a take-away from the program; it’s a lens through which I now view my daily life and work.”

Those interested in applying for Class IV or learning more are encouraged to attend an informational webinar hosted on Wednesday, May 21. The session will provide an overview of the program, key dates, and insight into the application process. Visit the link in the comments to register.

Call for applications for the next Leadership class will be this summer. Visit FGNW: Leadership Northwest Florida or contact Kasey Killebrew at 334-790-4557 or [email protected] for additional information.

About Leadership Northwest Florida
For Northwest Florida to continue to compete, diversify, and thrive, it will take informed, dedicated leaders who understand the complex and competitive environment of economic transformation. Leadership Northwest Florida is designed to be an educational program offered for professionals in all industry sectors desiring to grow their knowledgebase, network, and skillset in the 13-county region of Florida’s Great Northwest footprint. This experience will ultimately result in long-term influence of the leadership graduates for the betterment of Northwest Florida.

About Florida’s Great Northwest
Florida’s Great Northwest is the regional economic development organization for the Florida Panhandle. The organization was created to promote Northwest Florida for economic growth and diversification, advocate for economic development issues that affect the region, and collaborate to improve regional competitiveness. The organization accomplishes this in partnership with the state and local economic development organizations, rural regional economic development organization, utility partners, private sector businesses, local government, higher education institutions, workforce boards, and community leaders.

05/07/2025

What an incredible three days of learning, connecting, and sharing at the Florida College Access Network Talent Strong Florida Summit! FCAN is at the heart of a movement to ensure every Floridian achieves an education beyond high school and a rewarding career. Hosting this annual conference is just one of the ways we work together to ensure education is the pathway to economic mobility for all.

🔑 Take-Aways:

- Local College Access Networks (LCANs) have similar goals and tailored approaches to increasing enrollment in our communities.
- We do best when we learn from and with each other.
- This work matters because every student matters.

If earning a degree or credential after high school opened doors for you, you have an opportunity to ensure access and affordability for the next generation.

Join the next Achieve Escambia LCAN meeting on 6/26/2025 on PSC campus 4-5pm.

05/06/2025

What a win for ALL Florida students and families! The #1 barrier to earning a credential or degree after high school is cost. Now, Florida students will have the chance to learn about the financial aid options available to them while still in their high school classrooms.

🎓 Big news for Florida students!
The Florida Legislature passed a bill to include FAFSA instruction in high school financial literacy courses — a major move to boost college access and affordability statewide.

👉 https://floridacollegeaccess.org/news/florida-legislature-advances-bill-to-require-fafsa-instruction/

05/06/2025

🎉 The new Pensacola State College Veteran and Military Family Service Center is a full-service provider for veterans and military-affiliated students. Advising, academic counseling and assistance with students' benefits are all under one roof! The VMFSC is located in the Student Services Center, Building 6, on the Pensacola campus.

Veterans at PSC will no longer need to hop from one building to another like a pinball machine to get the help they need on campus.

05/01/2025

The School-Based Resources Action Group (SBRAG) focuses on maximizing the resources available to students and families on-site in Escambia County elementary schools. You're invited to join the conversation and get more kids and families connected to the programs and services they need! The next SBRAG meeting will take place Monday 5/12/2025 from 9am - 10am in the Board Room of the Escambia Children's Trust on Pensacola State College campus. Email [email protected] for additional info and to RSVP!

04/29/2025

Pensacola State College is hosting another Pirate Day this Saturday 5/3! Come learn more about Admissions, Financial Aid, Scholarship Info, TRIO, Veterans Services, Testing Support, Academic Advising, and Registration from 10am - 2pm on Pensacola Campus.

04/17/2025

If you're interested in influencing social determinants of health to improve kindergarten readiness, you're invited to join our new Caregivers and Parents as Resources (CPR) action group! This group focuses on promoting early childhood development efforts by connecting families with the support they need. The next meeting will be held Tuesday 4/22/2025 via Microsoft Teams. Message our page or email [email protected] to learn more. CPR is an action group working under the Kindergarten Readiness Collective Action Network "KCAN" which focuses on increasing the number of Escambia County children who come to school healthy and ready to learn.

04/17/2025

The Equity Project Alliance, in partnership with Achieve Escambia, the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Gulf Coast Minority Chamber of Commerce, is continuing the conversation about its most popular dinner topic – the Statistical Data Walk for Escambia County. The data has been updated and includes areas such as Housing, Infant Mortality Rate by Race, Children Under 18 Living in Poverty in Escambia County, Access to Vehicles, Disparities in third grade reading by race, Heart Disease Deaths and so much more.
The EPA is making tangible impacts in surfacing community concerns and working in partnership with local businesses, government agencies, and other non-profits to find solutions to the root causes of inequities in our community.
Join the conversation, explore the data, and engage in transformative thinking at the next Dinner of Change on April 22, 2025.

Join us at the annual Equity Project Alliance Data Walk and Dinner of Change to dine, discuss, and explore data together!

04/14/2025

Grateful for Pensacola State College Foundation and the incredible opportunity to participate in the inaugural Organizational Excellence certification program through the Center for Nonprofit Excellence. Thank you for investing time and talent into building local nonprofit capacity - and for welcoming a mini visitor for the celebration! 👧

04/03/2025

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) representatives and representatives from agencies throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties will be available to answer questions regarding services available to students with disabilities. This valuable information will assist students with disabilities and parents with transition planning while in school and also from school to a post-school environment.

For more information regarding this event, please contact
Kim Norris at [email protected] or Alesia Carter at
[email protected] or 850-469-5539.

Escambia County Public Schools to Host Transition Services Information Fair!

The Escambia County Public Schools Exceptional Student Education Department is sponsoring the Transition Services Information Fair.

The event will be held at:
Marcus Pointe
Building A, Door 4
6205 N. “W” Street

Friday, April 4, 2025

9:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M.

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) representatives and representatives from agencies throughout Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties will be available to answer questions regarding services available to students with disabilities. This valuable information will assist students with disabilities and parents with transition planning while in school and also from school to a post-school environment.

Presentations will be made by Agency Representatives and Employers throughout the event. You will leave with much needed information to assist you or your child with resources available in the community and helpful tips on obtaining and maintaining employment. Parents, students, teachers and other interested consumers are invited to attend.

For more information regarding this event, please contact
Kim Norris at [email protected] or Alesia Carter at
[email protected] or 850-469-5539.

04/03/2025

Amazing news for our local students!