Be Bold. Be Patient. Be You.
That was the message Dr. Walter Iwanenko, President of Gannon University, shared during last week’s United Way Briefing. It set the tone for a deeper conversation about what it really means to invest in our community.
His message was clear, preparing students isn’t just about academics. It’s about developing socially responsible individuals, young people who are ready to contribute through their careers, volunteerism, and engagement in the community.
“We have to invest in our kids, and when I’m talking about investing, I’m talking about pre-K through 12,” he said. “If you look at the impact on the Erie community and what we’re going to need in the future, we’re going to need a strong workforce.”
That urgency is shaped by real challenges. Dr. Iwanenko spoke about declining population trends, historically low birth rates, and the growing number of young people choosing paths outside of higher education. And while he emphasized that college isn’t the right path for every student, he also challenged the community to think bigger.
“If you’re not going into that path, are you getting into the trades? How else are you preparing to provide for your family and give back to your community?”
His point wasn’t about one pathway, it was about making sure every student has a pathway.
And that’s where the United Way Community School Model comes in.
“I can’t stress enough how the Community School Model…is that investment in our youth,” he said. “If we think it’s going to happen by itself, it’s just not.”
Through this model, support goes beyond the classroom, meeting students where they are and removing barriers that might otherwise stand in the way of their success.
Dr. Iwanenko also reflected on how the needs of students, and the complexity of those needs, have grown over time. With challenges ranging from healthcare costs to the influence of technology, there are more people than ever trying to help, but without coordination, those efforts can fall short.
With challenges ranging from healthcare costs to the influence of technology, there are more people than ever trying to help, but without coordination, those efforts can fall short.
"What the United Way Community School Model does is organize that support,” he explained. “We have a lot of good people trying to help in a lot of different ways, but this model provides the structure so people aren’t overlapping. It creates a more efficient way to support students.”
It’s that structure, and the power of partnership, that makes the work so impactful.
Gannon University continues to play an active role in United Way Community Schools, from student volunteers reading in classrooms to leading STEM clubs and supporting initiatives like Safer Walking Routes, where GIS technology is used to map safe, walkable paths for students across Erie’s Public Schools.
But for Dr. Iwanenko, this partnership is just the beginning.
That vision is what he calls a “communiversity”… a model where the support students receive doesn’t stop at graduation.
“We’ve found ways to wrap services around students in K-12. But when they move into a university experience, many still need that continued support. So how do we extend it into the university, and how does the university wrap its arms around the entire community?”
It’s a concept rooted in connection, continuity, and long-term impact. Because when a community comes together, when support is aligned, intentional, and sustained, it becomes something bigger than any one organization.
It becomes a village. And in Erie, that village is growing stronger every day.