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.

Honest Jobs is a leading fair-chance employment platform based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2018. The company focuses on assisting individuals with criminal records in securing job opportunities. By providing a dedicated online marketplace, Honest Jobs connects formerly incarcerated individuals with employers willing to offer second chances, while ensuring compliance with relevant laws and human resource practices. The platform aims to eliminate barriers to employment for those impacted by the criminal justice system, fostering a more inclusive workforce and promoting fair hiring practices across the United States.

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, Inc. is a company founded in 2015 and based in Redwood City, California, that focuses on improving student attendance and outcomes in education. It develops a toolkit that provides educators with insights, research, and strategies to engage families effectively, ensuring that all students have equitable learning opportunities. By combining behavioral science, data science, and family engagement techniques, EveryDay Labs aims to reduce chronic absenteeism and support educators in optimizing districtwide student support systems. The company’s interventions empower schools and parents to monitor and enhance student attendance, ultimately fostering an environment conducive to academic success.

The Kresge Foundation is an independent non-profit organization based in Troy, Michigan, established in 1924. With assets totaling $3 billion, the foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for future generations by promoting human progress and creating access and opportunities in underserved communities. Its work is organized into seven program areas: arts and culture, community development, education, health, human services, the environment, and initiatives specifically focused on Detroit. The foundation aims to improve the health of low-income individuals, support artistic expression, increase college achievement, and address global climate change through innovative solutions. Its executive management team oversees the foundation's assets and ensures that funds are allocated effectively to various grantees and programs.

Wonderschool is an educational platform founded in 2016 in California, designed to facilitate the establishment of home-based infant and toddler programs and preschools. The company collaborates with experienced educators and childcare providers, offering support with licensing, program setup, and marketing to help them start their own childcare services. Wonderschool's comprehensive software platform enables educators to manage their students, parents, and educational programs efficiently from a single dashboard. Additionally, Wonderschool features a marketplace where parents can search for programs, schedule visits, enroll their children, and process payments. Committed to enhancing access to high-quality care and learning environments, Wonderschool promotes the early development of cognitive, motor, behavioral, and social skills in children as young as six months.

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.