The Impact Cash 4 College Season Makes in the Community 

  • By Jazmin Reyes
  • •
  • 26 Dec, 2019
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Youth 2 Leaders has programmed 23 more Cash 4 College workshops for 2020. 

Local non-profit organization, Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation, helps over 1,900 high school students complete financial aid applications since the opening filing date of October 1, 2019.

 

The organization collaborates with Kern County high schools and other educational-based organizations to host Cash for College workshops. The workshops allow students to receive free assistance with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the California Dream Act Application (CADAA)- applications needed to acquire financial aid for college.

 

“Uno no sabe de estas cosas.” You don’t know about these things. Maria Ramirez, mother of two daughters hoping to pursue higher education, says in response to seeking help for her daughters’ applications. Ramirez and her husband are seasonal farm workers. The advancement of their daughters’ educational careers are dependant upon financial aid.

 

Executive Director at Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation, Frank Ramirez (no relationship to Maria Ramirez), says, “[The workshops] help with equity and equal access to higher education. Receiving financial aid equalizes the playing field for students.”

 

 In 2007, Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation became the Regional Coordinating Organization (RCO) for the Kern County area. Executive Director, Frank Ramirez, explains that a need existed for a central organization to lead the Cash for College initiative.

 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 16.1% of people living in Kern County have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Organizations like Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation were established to support students’ educational goals. Their involvement with Cash for College are one of the ways the organization provides support to increase the attainment rate in the county.

 

Youth 2 Leaders Education Foundation will continue hosting workshops until March 2, 2020.

High School Students from the San Joaquin Valley in Washington D.C.

By Jazmin Reyes • May 1, 2019

This week, the KCSOS Migrant Education Program, Region 5 selected 50 high school students to participate in the 2019 Close-Up Washington High School Program. The Close-Up Program is designed to offer participants and educators an exclusive experience of their American political system in action. This program takes place in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., where students experience a “close up” view of the government system, apply their skills from the classroom to real-life events, personally connect with other participants from around the nation, and learn about the American political system and history. Also, the program coordinates visits to Washington’s famous monuments, memorials, institutions, and meetings with their Congressional delegation on Capitol Hill. This is an experience of a lifetime!

Furthermore, we would like to recognize four Success Mentors from our Y2L Success Program who were selected to participate. The Y2L Success Program is a peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring program that offers services to all Migrant Education Program students throughout various high schools in the Kern High School District. These services range from academic and career guidance to tutoring in Math, Science, and English. Our mentors are all academically high-achieving, motivated and college-bound high school Seniors. Thank you to the KCSOS Migrant Education Program, Region 5 and the Kern High School District, we appreciate the continued partnership and support.


Y2L Success Program Participants:

Noemi Martinez, Mira Monte High School

Fernando Hernandez, Mira Monte High School

Carolina Varona, Golden Valley High School

Lizzette Caballero, Foothill High School

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