By Dr. Queena Hoang
“Forging Equitable Futures for Student Parents in California: A Statewide Summit” was an inspiring start to national student parent month! Hosted by the Michelson 20MM Foundation and The California Alliance for Student Parent Success, the second annual event brought together advocates, practitioners, philanthropists, systems leaders, and parents from all across the state to amplify and share best practices.
Assemblymember Marc Berman receives the Student Parent Champion Award
“Helping student parents will have a multiplier effect.” -Assemblymember Marc Berman
The two-day event began at Regal LA Live on September 5th with a keynote address from Assemblymember Marc Berman. As he stated, “helping student parents will have a multiplier effect.” Following his remarks, Assemblymember Berman was presented with the inaugural Student Parent Champion Award for his dedication and commitment to parenting students’ success.
Panel featuring parenting students discusses “Raising Up”
The evening continued with a screening of “Raising Up,” a five-part docuseries investigating the barriers students face when pursuing higher education and showcasing the innovative leaders creating generational impact. After the film screening, parenting students and advocates featured in the docuseries took the stage to discuss their experiences and motivation behind the film. One summit attendee shared how inspired she was by the achievements of institutions such as Sacramento State University and organizations like Raise the Barr, which were highlighted in the film. The attendee asked, “But how do you do it? How do I get [my institution] to do it? We have great support services but we need things like student parent housing also.” Panelist Dr. Tina Cheuk shared the importance of speaking to the “minds and hearts” of decision-makers.
Dr. Alfred McQuarters’ opening remarks
Day two of the summit began with welcoming remarks from the hosts, including President of L.A. Trade Tech College, Dr. Alfred McQuarters, and student body president and mother, Destiny Willis. After the opening remarks, little ones took the stage with their parents to share their ideal vision of family-serving institutions and what they loved most about attending school—from the children’s perspective.
“We need a higher level of ethical care on our campuses. We want to be people first instead of simply students or employees. We need person-centered approaches.” -Summit Attendee, Student Parent Advocate
Leaders from across the state then led the 200+ attendees in breakout sessions. During “Empowering and Centering Student Parent Voice through Economic Mobility Coaching and Holistic Support,” presented by members of LIFT Inc., one attendee shared, “We need a higher level of ethical care on our campuses. We want to be people first instead of simply students or employees. We need person-centered approaches.”
Breakout sessions explore ways to support parenting students
Other topics included SNAP benefits, policy recommendations at the institutional and statewide level, potential impacts on cost of attendance with AB 2458, trauma-informed services, and the intersectional identities of former foster youth and parenting students. The summit also included sessions exclusively for parents to be in community with one another. We were honored to celebrate and recognize three parents for their innovative ideas on how to make postsecondary education more equitable for parenting students.
Student parents and their children share their experiences
The discussions throughout the summit highlighted the strength, determination, and brilliance of student parents who tirelessly balance their school obligations and co-curricular activities with parenting responsibilities. Their experiences reminded us of the need for higher education leaders and policymakers to create more inclusive and supportive environments for families. We also recalled the importance of love, support, and recognition thanks to the children who participated.
As we continue to celebrate National Student Parent Month, let us remember their words, which are a call to action for all of us: to listen, to learn, and to be more supportive of the student parents in our communities.
Special thank you to our sponsors: Foundation for Los Angeles Community College, ECMC Foundation, Stupski Foundation, California Department of Social Services, and Los Angeles Trade Technical-College.
Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.
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