Every Voice Shines New Light

The value of an idea increases exponentially when it’s shared. From our staff, partners and grantees to the people impacted by their efforts, each perspective offers new insight into the critical issues at the heart of our work.

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Student conversing with her high school counselor

Supporting Students in Their College Journey

| by Monica Martinez in College Success

SoCal CAN Played a Lead Role in Organizing Groups to Respond to the FAFSA Crisis

Through collaborative partnerships with over 60 groups, SoCal CAN has amplified the voices of students impacted by this year’s FAFSA complications and served as a critical bridge between policymakers and community organizations.

The release of the new “simpler” Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) earlier this year caused unprecedented chaos. A three-month delay and ongoing technical issues left students and families struggling…

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Young athletes huddling on the basketball court with their coach Letter from the President

Lessons From A Successful Nonprofit Merger

| by Cathy Cha in College Success

Connecting with the Leaders of Positive Coaching Alliance

Mergers can be a strategic way for nonprofits to grow even stronger and have greater community impact.

Our President Cathy Cha currently serves on the board of the Positive Coaching Alliance.Compared to the for-profit sector, the nonprofit world tends to view organizational mergers through a more skeptical lens. A no…

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A college graduate photographed after receiving her diploma

Expanding Access to a Bachelor’s Degree for More Students

| by Monica Martinez in College Success

Checking in with two leaders blazing paths to equity in higher education

Countless students in California and nationwide face real barriers navigating to and through college.

There is no question that what happens in November will have huge implications when it comes to education policy and investments at all levels of government. This year’s problems with the Federal Application for Stu…

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Closeup of a graduation cap that reads "Paving the way for my familia and comunidad. Educated mujer first gen" Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Degrees of Difference

| by Monica Martinez in College Success

Research Shows the Need to Reduce Barriers to a Bachelor's Degree in California

Despite a bachelor's degree being the big equalizer in society, research shows that significant disparities for Black, Latino, and Native American students persist when it comes to college access and degree completion in California.

With tuition outpacing inflation and the costs for student housing, books, and other necessities on the rise, students and families are questioning the value of a college degree. As a recent article in The New York…

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Black UC Berkeley students gathered outside the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center on campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

A Black Community Space at Cal

| by Monica Martinez in College Success

UC Berkeley center enables Black students to find community and support

A conversation with Takiyah Jackson, director of the Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center.

When Takiyah Jackson was walking around the UC Berkeley campus recently with her five-year-old son, he asked why there were so few Black people on the campus. “If that’s the first question in a five-year-old’s mind,…

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Students entering campus Letter from the President

Back to School is a Time of Possibility

| by Cathy Cha in College Success

For Far Too Many Students, the New School Year is Linked to Anxiety and Concern

Through our College Success program, Haas Jr. is working to level the playing field for all higher education students.

It’s back to school time. I’ve been busy getting my two kids settled into the school year. Nervousness and butterflies are in the air, but at the same time there is a powerful sense of possibility about the year ahe…

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Community college

Delivering on the Promise of Higher Education

| by Robert Joseph in College Success

Additional investment and action needed to make college truly accessible for all Californians

California Community Colleges Interim Chancellor Daisy Gonzales talks about expanding access, equity, and affordability across the 116-campus system.

California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation. It includes 116 colleges serving 1.8 million students per year. As interim chancellor, Daisy Gonzales, Ph.D., has been overseein…

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