Before the Together Initiative Network (TIN - an effort that brings together individuals and organizations to serve the Pequea Valley (PV) area in strategic ways) existed, a new school district superintendent and a soft-spoken local pastor met for lunch. Tim Rogers, lead pastor of Grace Point Church, remembers the lunch meeting happening around 2011. Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) superintendent Erik Orndorff remembers that he did not know Rogers well, but he knew that as TIN was forming Rogers was accomplishing good things in the PV area. "I said, 'We have to get these guys on board,'" Orndorff recalled.

During lunch at what was then Friendly's in Gap, Rogers asked Orndorff a question that has become legendary. "Tim offered $25,000, and he talked about hours of manpower," said Orndorff. Ultimately, Rogers asked Orndorff what he would do if Rogers could supply him with the money and/or the manpower.

That conversation led to a summer school and food distribution program for students in the PVSD area, but it also sparked more conversations. TIN formed originally as Together 2011 and the next year became Together 2012. Rogers admitted that moving forward with Together 2013 seemed a little silly, so the name Together Initiative Network and moniker TIN was chosen. Part of TIN's regular activities involved attending the annual AHA Conference. At one conference, the group heard about the work Kevin Palau was doing partnering schools and churches in Portland, Ore. During that field trip, a conversation between Rogers and assistant PVSD superintendent Rich Eby occurred. "Tim asked me, 'What is the thing that you really can't accomplish right now that you really want to implement?' I said, 'a birth to (age) 5 Literacy Liaison,'" recalled Eby.

That conversation led to Grace Point hiring Katie Beiler, an elementary school teacher who became the first preschool literacy coach in the area around 2017. Beiler visited homes of young children and worked with them and their parents to encourage early reading and the development of kindergarten-readiness skills.

From there, the program grew. "We joined the Community Action Partnership (CAP)," recalled Eby, noting that the program is now called First Ten Early Learning Initiative. In 2018, Lisa Eckert replaced Beiler working with CAP. In 2020, she her position became part of The Factory Ministries as senior director of youth services. Eckert now oversees other employees from offices located in The Factory at 3293 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise. Eckert coordinates a number of programs for area families, including outreaches such as Imagination Library books, monthly Play and Learn activities, and kindergarten transition supports, as well as home visits. Eckert reported that the PVSD kindergarten readiness scores have remained steady at 40 to 45% readiness. She noted that 80 to 85% of all incoming kindergarten learners have attended at least one early learning program in PVSD.

Orndorff pointed out that by third grade children should be reading to learn rather than still learning to read. "My first order of business as superintendent was to make sure we can get younger kids educated," he stated, adding that by third grade, it is harder to raise the proficiency scores of two-thirds of children. "Let's get these preschool kids educated," he stated. "That's the best thing I can do for our facilitators." Studies have shown that when children are reading proficiently by grade three, poverty levels in the area are likely to drop.

In the end, funding for the preschool programs came from a number of sources. Eby reported that the United Way and Urban Outfitters provided funding along with Grace Point Church. Title IV and Title I funding was utilized along with a "Ready to Learn" Block Grant and CAP funds for certain types of programming. He also noted that the Pequea Valley Education Foundation and the Rotary Club of Paradise have helped provide books for young students, and that Eckert has secured a number of smaller grants, as well.

While acknowledging progress in the preschool area, Rogers pointed out that TIN was begun with a broader focus. "I felt the money would be available if we had the vision and if we asked the right leaders those questions," recalled Rogers, who noted that around 2011 he visited Dennis Groff, then Paradise Township supervisor, with a question similar to the ones he posed to PVSD personnel. "(Groff) wanted a new roof for the Girl Scout building in Paradise Park," said Rogers, who added that Keystone Church was able to help with funding, a number of local contractors volunteered time, and a local lumber yard donated materials. Later, after the building was updated, the churches held a community block party in the park, and an attendee offered to paint the building. "That solved problem at no cost to the township," stated Rogers. "This is what TIN was intended to do."

Looking ahead, Orndorff sees the work of Mike Lewis, workforce advocacy director with The Factory Ministries, and volunteer Mike Sensenig as the next frontier for TIN. "Our vision is to give every kid his or her first (career) choice," said Orndorff. "We have great kids, and 65% of them go into our workforce. Why aren't we taking that as seriously as going to college?" Seeing local businesses getting involved in the effort, he added, "The workforce needs to tell us what they need. There are so many trade jobs out there that can't be filled, and we need kids to be hands-on more." As TIN brings together factions of the community that are stakeholders, Orndorff hopes to see change. "Now those visions are coming together," said Orndorff, who called the work of PVSD First Choice coordinator Jared Erb "amazing." "None of this happens without him," Orndorff stated.

Rogers looks forward to seeing what TIN can do to tackle a variety of issues facing the PV community. Rogers is glad to see the goals he had in mind before TIN formed coming to fruition. "I hope TIN is empowering every leader to realize that you can't do it alone, but we can do it as long as we continue communication," he said.

Orndorff looked back to the early conversation at Friendly's and noted that it has resulted in an expanded perspective among community members. "I think the bigger viewpoint is that together we can go farther. It's a lesson - alone we can go faster, but together we can go farther." More information about The Factory may be found at https://thefactoryministries.com.

Information about the PVSD early learning program may be found at https://www.pequeavalley.org/early-learning/early-learning-overview.