Learn to Earn urges commission to adopt student vision, proposes mayor’s Children’s Cabinet

Erica Fields, senior director for partnerships and community impact at Learn to Earn Dayton, presented the Student Vision for Dayton and urged the commission to support resolution 6933-26 to adopt the plan and establish a mayor’s Children’s Cabinet to oversee implementation.

Fields said the vision — developed in partnership with youth across the city in 2023 — identifies four priorities: leadership development, mental health and bullying prevention, college and career readiness, and safe, supportive neighborhoods. The submission to the commission includes a vision statement, goals and strategies, a resource guide and an implementation tracker designed to monitor progress.

To move from planning to action, Fields outlined two technical-assistance opportunities the organization recommended: participation in a City Accelerator program to build local capacity, and a Fuse Executive Fellowship that would embed a project executive in city government (Fuse would cover 90% of that placement) to staff the cabinet. Learn to Earn and Dayton Public Schools were cited as committed partners.

Commissioners praised the plan and emphasized implementation. Commissioner Beckham thanked Learn to Earn and urged attention to youth involvement and outcomes; Commissioners Fairchild and Shaw expressed support, and Commissioner Joseph called the item central to the city's future and committed to working toward successful execution. No final vote on the resolution was recorded at the time of the presentation; staff said the resolution was before the commission as a first reading and that implementation details would follow.

Source: Presentation and exchange with commissioners during the May 20 commission meeting.