Well, welcome back.
As we've been telling you
throughout the month of September,
W FAA is partnering with United to learn.
This is a nonprofit that helps to
accelerate student achievement all
across Dallas ISD elementary schools.
And today, we're learning more about
the organization's corporate partners.
Abby Williams is the CEO and
founder of United to learn.
James Walton is a partner at Ernst and Young.
Thank you so much for being here.
Both of you, Abby,
let's first of all talk about
the partnership between United
to Learn and Ernst and Young.
So across Dallas ISD,
our educators are making sure that
those public dollars are stretched
as far as they possibly can,
ensuring, you know, strong teachers
salaries and core curriculum.
But then there's a gap.
And that's where we get to
partner with great folks like
James and his colleagues at EY
to step in with tutor training,
student supplies and great
tutors for every kid who needs
it so that everyone has what
they need to be successful.
And James, why did EY specifically
want to get behind? This initiative,
well Y we feel like companies can
be a force for social good and as a
purpose LED organization we do believe
that we can have a greater impact.
In fact, we have a program called Y
ripples that is our global corporate
responsibility program with an aspiration
to impact a billion lives by 2030.
That's incredible. How do you
all help students specifically?
So through our program we think about
the the next generation workforce and
we know that the students in Dallas
today are our workforce of the future.
And so we work with partners like
United to learn to get engaged
in the community and we know that
our organization partnering with
other like minded organizations
can have a much bigger impact than
we could just by ourselves.
So working with United to learn,
we've created programs for our employees to
get engaged on the campuses working with.
With students,
as well as donating through various
social responsibility funds.
Ohh, and how did the donations
help these local students? I'll
tell you. So they are absolutely
investing with their financial funds.
They're making sure that, you know,
after a science curriculum has
been introduced in the classroom.
James and his colleagues are
stepping in to create maker spaces.
So those are financial investments.
But I have to tell you that EY becomes
a A stabilizing force for a campus.
So over the last few years campuses
have gone through, you know,
many trials and challenges and tribulations.
But I know that principal
Pipkins relies on James.
I know that they have, you know,
very frequent check-ins and the
company is there and they come back
in with teacher appreciation efforts.
They come back in and make
enhancements to the.
To the hallways and they're
there to say we've got you,
we see you.
We want to be a part of your
success as a teacher,
as your student success and our city success.
Yeah, absolutely.
What ripple effect, right.
So tell me there are people out
there who work for companies.
Maybe they're working from home right
now and they're pausing and watching us.
They're interested in partnering
with United to learn how can they do
that and why should they do that?
Oh, well, I I hope that they will.
I will say that most importantly,
we know that everyone has a purpose.
We have a purpose in our lives.
You have a purpose in our jobs.
EY has a corporate image and A
and a corporate plan with how
they want to live that out in our
city and what they want to see.
We at United to learn want to be
that bridge to help them live out
that purpose in our public schools,
in the community,
make it as easy as possible.
So easiest first step would
be going to united to
learnok.org/partners and they
can hear about what EY and other
partners in the city have done.
And hopefully will be inspired to
follow up with us so that we can
get them on a campus just like
you. Well, Abby and James,
thank you both so much for your time
today and for all the seeds that you're
planting across our entire area.
And I could say even beyond that
because you have no idea what these
kids will end up accomplishing.
So thank you both so much for your time
and For more information about United
to learn and how you can get involved
to scan this QR code on your screen.
We've also got information
on our website, wfaa.com.