Gary Community Ventures

MagicSchool is a technology company that specializes in providing artificial intelligence-driven tools to support educators. Its comprehensive platform offers over 60 AI tools designed to assist teachers in various aspects of their profession, including lesson planning, assessment creation, differentiation, and communication. By generating original, tailored educational content, feedback, and recommendations, MagicSchool aims to enhance educators' productivity and effectiveness.

Founded in 2018, Honest Jobs is a platform dedicated to helping individuals with criminal records secure fair-chance employment opportunities. Operating primarily in Columbus, Ohio, the company aims to connect these individuals with employers who value their skills and potential.

Guardians Collective is a San Francisco-based company that operates an online platform designed to foster collaboration between parents and early childhood educators. The platform serves as a community space where parents can engage in dialogue, share information, and seek support in a safe and anonymous environment. By connecting parents with early childhood educators, Guardians Collective aims to address early learning gaps and facilitate the exchange of research-based, developmentally appropriate activities. Through its mobile technology, the company enhances the parenting experience, making it less isolating and more collaborative, thereby empowering families and educators to work together effectively.

EveryDay Labs develops toolkits and attendance intervention reports to help educators partner with families and promote equitable opportunities for all students. Founded in 2015 and based in Redwood City, California, the company combines behavioral science, data science, and family engagement to reduce chronic absenteeism and optimize districtwide student supports.

Established in 1924, the Kresge Foundation is a private, national philanthropic organization with a $3 billion endowment. It focuses on promoting human progress through seven program areas: arts and culture, community development, Detroit, education, environment, health, and human services.

Founded in California in 2016, Wonderschool supports experienced educators to start licensed infant and toddler programs or preschools from their homes. The company provides assistance with licensing, program setup, marketing, and offers a software platform for managing students, parents, and operations. It also features a marketplace for parents to search programs, schedule visits, enroll children, and make payments.

Peekapak Inc. is a Toronto-based company founded in 2013 that specializes in a digital language arts-based character education program aimed at children. The platform focuses on enhancing social-emotional learning by providing educators and parents with engaging tools to teach essential skills such as empathy, teamwork, and self-regulation. Peekapak's award-winning resources include digital stories and lessons that align with educational standards, making it easier for teachers to integrate character education into their classrooms. The program is designed to foster compassionate and empathetic behavior in children, helping them develop into successful individuals. By combining educational expertise with innovative technology, Peekapak offers a unique and effective approach to character education for both in-class and at-home learning environments.