by DJ Manou, WSBT 22 Reporter
Wednesday, May 5th 2021
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"Michiana 40 Under 40" awards a handful of young talent for their efforts to innovate and give back to the community. One recipient is being recognized for helping students learn.
To say 2020 was a challenging year is obvious. But the ‘under the radar’ work done at EnFocus has helped boost foundational pieces in South Bend.
Innovation requires creativity, a leap of faith, and money. Gillian Shaw has kept her focus on making that a possibility.
"What is going to be the most strategically and impactful thing for you to do that brings you to the next level of being innovative? And then let’s strategically go for the grant opportunity that makes the most sense for you," said EnFocus Director of Research Development Gillian Shaw.
Searching for grants she can bring to the South Bend area, Shaw secured nearly $4 million last year. But it’s what that money went to that earned her recognition.
"The grants are going to school districts, to health departments, it’s also going to small businesses."
As companies look to overcome staff shortages, the grants help streamline production.
"Ensuring that our businesses are able to kind of keep their production going in a very hard time," said Shaw.
Of that $3.9 million, 1.8 went to ensuring South Bend students had hotspots.
"So far, we’ve connected 2,000 of our students who had no Internet or limited Internet at home with Internet connectivity, so they can continue their e-learning and really continue their education throughout the pandemic," said South Bend Schools Chief Technology Officer Patrick Stalvey.
"I think it’s probably one of the most impactful things you can do to help the school district in a time where their students still need to learn but they are trying to do something that are in a brand new way that they’ve never done before. 24:16
Part of that money also was used to roll out an additional 200 Wi-Fi buses.
"They’re in the neighborhood hotspots that maybe we know kids need to live in, but they haven’t reached out yet for the gear hotspot for themselves."
Patrick Stalvey says Shaw is his go-to person when he wants to expand on opportunities. She even helped create the model for e-learning before the pandemic brought that need to life.
"Change is hard. When you’re going outside your comfort zone it’s even harder, so just to have someone there to hold your hand and really guide you through the process and help you innovate it’s just amazing."
Shaw says she wants to continue making growth easier.
"Nobody wants to kind of do something so exploratory on their own dime, sometime especially these nonprofits or the small businesses, because they’re using everything they have it to keep their lights on."
Shaw says she is now continuing to look at the American Rescue Plan for grant possibilities for the school district and manufacturing.
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Click here to read Shaw's bio.