Innovate, Implement, Inspire: Highlights from the Student Parent Summit 

Innovate, Implement, Inspire: Highlights from the Student Parent Summit

By Evelyn Lucho

The Student Parent Summit 2025: Innovate, Implement, Inspire brought together nearly 300 advocates, practitioners, researchers, and student parents for two days of learning, connection, and action. This year’s summit marked the largest gathering yet. It created space to both celebrate progress and deepen commitments to advancing equity for student parents in higher education.

The summit began in San Luis Obispo with an afternoon of GAINS Act Office Hours and a Drop-In Networking Lounge focused on the implementation of this bill across institutions. The energy carried into the opening reception, which welcomed a record 177 participants, including advocates, practitioners, student parents, and their families. 

A Keynote Rooted in Lived Experience

The first full day opened with an unforgettable keynote by Stephanie Land. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Class and Maid, which was adapted as a Netflix series, and a former student parent. In a raw and moving conversation, Land spoke candidly about the barriers she faced as a parenting student and the determination it took to pursue her education while raising her daughter. Her story deeply resonated with the audience and served as a reminder that policy and programmatic solutions must always be grounded in the lived realities of those most impacted. 

Action-Oriented Sessions

Throughout the summit, participants engaged in sessions tailored for a range of California’s higher education landscape across all three public systems. Sessions emphasized the institutionalization of student parent programs and initiatives as well as the development of practical, actionable solutions that attendees can implement. From sharing innovative campus practices to spotlighting systemwide initiatives, discussions focused on building sustainable supports for parenting students. At the same time, the conference underscored the importance of addressing the unique needs of each campus and system. 

There are many passionate and dedicated practitioners working to advance student-parent success. This year, we were honored to celebrate and recognize two of them with the Innovate Award; one institution with the Implement Award; as well as one advocacy organization and three student parents with the Inspire Award for their efforts. 

Family Voices at the Center

The summit closed with a multigenerational family panel, which featured current and former student parents and their children. Their collective voices served as a powerful reminder of the importance of creating supportive, equitable, and accessible systems. Such systems must recognize and honor their dual roles as caregivers and scholars. Panelists recounted the barriers student parents face inside and outside of the classroom. The conversation also highlighted the experience of navigating higher education with young children. 

“I was embarrassed to take my baby to math class; now here she is, sitting with me at a panel,” panelist Kalisha Gomez of Riverside City College shared. It was truly inspiring to witness what is accomplished when inclusive spaces make room for students to show up as their authentic selves and are embraced by the community. 

Ground the Summit in Student Voices

Andrea Lara Jara, Michelson 20MM’s Student Fellow for Basic Needs and a student parent herself, joined us at the summit. Andrea recounted the experience as a space for student parents and institutions to sit together and look closely at both the barriers and the possibilities. 

After attending a session, Andrea reflected on the honest and innovative conversations. One thing that stood out to her was how the discussion on data collection moved beyond compliance to consider trauma. Participants recognized that peer-to-peer approaches can not only strengthen data collection but also center student-parent voices to guide systemic change toward equity. Additionally, the multigenerational panel was a highlight for Andrea as she shared that the panel “welcomed children into the space. It showed how parents move through higher education with their families, not apart from them.” 

The conversations and connections sparked at the Student Parent Summit highlighted the power of coming together to drive change. As we celebrate Student Parent Month, we honor the voices and leadership of student parents who continue to inspire change across California and beyond.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

Advancing Smart Justice in California: Meet the 2025 Spark Community Advisors

California is home to thousands of individuals who have been impacted by the justice system and are seeking pathways to education, healing, and meaningful careers. This year, the Michelson 20MM Foundation is sharpening our Spark Grants focus to support innovative efforts in Smart Justice. This includes initiatives that expand higher education in prison and create reentry pathways into the workforce. To help guide this work, we’re proud to introduce the 2025 Spark Community Advisors whose lived experience and expertise ensure our grantmaking remains responsive and inclusive.

2025 Smart Justice Focus Areas

  • Efforts that scale and increase higher education and workforce development pathways for incarcerated individuals pursuing firefighting careers
  • Initiatives with innovative approaches to higher education in prison (HEP) programming
  • Projects that help ensure the quality of education being provided in HEP programs
  • Efforts that analyze the landscape of HEP programming in California to support the  launching of a California HEP consortium, a group that will advance recommendations on best approaches in HEP/Reentry programming and policy statewide

Meet the Spark Community Advisors

To ensure the Smart Justice Spark Grants reflect the needs and realities of the communities most impacted, we’ve partnered with five advisors. They bring deep lived experience and professional expertise in higher education in prison, reentry, and restorative justice. They’ve helped us design this funding cycle ensuring its focus on advancing systems change, uplifting justice-impacted voices, and shaping a more equitable future for Californians.

Jessica Hicklin

Co‑Founder and Co‑Executive Director, Unlocked Labs

Jessica Hicklin is the co‑founder and co‑executive director of Unlocked Labs, a St. Louis–based nonprofit. Hicklin’s team is on a mission to “build a better justice system from the inside out.” Drawing from her lived experience, Hicklin helps lead the development of UnlockEd, which is an open‑source educational platform for incarcerated learners. Hicklin also oversees initiatives that hire currently and formerly incarcerated developers to build tools that improve accessibility and measurability of prison programming.

Taffany Lim

Deputy Director, Prison Education Program, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Taffany Lim, Ed.D. is the deputy director of the Prison Education Program at UCLA. She wrote the book, The Ripple Effects of College Programs in Prison: Hope, Humanity, and Transformation (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025), in partnership with 13 formerly incarcerated college grads whom she has worked with for more than a decade. Previously, Dr. Lim served as the executive director of California State University, Los Angeles’ Center for Engagement, Service, and the Public Good, where she oversaw campus programs and initiatives that promoted community engagement and collaboration. 

Julissa O. Muñiz

Assistant Professor of Education, UCLA

Julissa O. Muñiz, PhD is an assistant professor of education in the School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. She examines the conditions that both enable and constrain teaching, learning, and identity development among incarcerated youth who are living and learning in juvenile court schools. Dr. Muñiz earned both her PhD and MA in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University; her Ed.M. in prevention science and practice from the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and her B.A. in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. 

Azucena Ortiz

Co-Founder, Healing and Justice Center

Azucena Ortiz (ella, she, her, they) is a Guatemalan-born, Los Angeles–raised facilitator and co-founder of the Healing and Justice Center. For over 21 years, she has created spaces of healing and resilience through movement, nonviolent parenting, and restorative practices. Ortiz co-leads Parenting Beyond Walls, collaborates with Mend Collaborative on Days of Healing inside prisons, and is a teaching artist with We Still Move.

Miguel Quezada

Co-Founder and Co-Director, Mend Collaborative

Miguel Quezada is the co-founder and co-director of Mend Collaborative. Mend Collaborative is a restorative justice organization that creates access to healing processes for families and individuals impacted by violence. Previously, Quezada served as a batterer intervention program facilitator, crisis intervention counselor, community health worker, community organizing, policy director, program manager, and consultant creating curriculum for rehabilitative programs.

The Smart Justice Spark Grants funding cycle will close on September 16, 2025. To learn more and submit a proposal, visit our website.

About Michelson 20MM

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.

Telling the Stories Behind the Digital Divide: Michelson 20MM Awards Spark Grant to BRITE Media

Telling the Stories Behind the Digital Divide: Michelson 20MM Awards Spark Grant to BRITE Media

The Michelson 20MM Foundation has awarded a Spark Grant to BRITE Media to create DISCONNECTED, a feature-length documentary exposing the human cost of the digital divide. Digital equity is not only about access to technology, it is about ensuring that everyone can participate fully in education, health care, civic life, and the economy. Without reliable internet, too many communities remain disconnected from opportunities others take for granted.

BRITE Media is determined to change that by bringing the fight for digital equity to the big screen and directly to the public. Through powerful storytelling, the film, which is previewed below, will show that when everyone is connected, society is stronger.

Making Policy Personal

DISCONNECTED shines a light on the people behind the policy debates. Advocates and policymakers have been working to close the digital divide, yet their work often happens out of the public’s view. Through the documentary, viewers will meet students struggling to complete homework without home internet, farmworkers unable to schedule medical appointments online, and families cut off from legal and immigration resources. Through empathy, humor, and hope, the film reveals why digital equity is essential for everyone.

“When we hear the stories behind the statistics, digital equity stops being an abstract issue and becomes urgent,” said Cristal Mojica, Senior Program Manager for Digital Equity. “Storytelling connects hearts and minds in ways data alone can’t. DISCONNECTED will help people see themselves in the fight for equity.”

Why Now Matters

The project is launching at a pivotal moment. Presently, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) remain largely unaccountable for serving rural and low-income communities. This was further evidenced by ISPs’ efforts to advance state-level public policy that would enable them to withdraw critical Carrier of Last Resort services from our communities. As a result, every day without action deepens the divide.

DISCONNECTED will premiere during a period when raising public awareness can directly influence policy and funding decisions. Timely screenings and panel discussions can give communities the tools to demand change before opportunities are lost.

Expanding the Lens

The Spark Grant will allow BRITE Media to expand filming beyond Los Angeles into Ventura County’s rural agricultural communities, including Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Oxnard. These predominantly immigrant and low-income towns face persistent broadband access challenges. Without high-speed internet, children fall behind in school, patients cannot connect with medical providers, and families have limited access to legal and immigration services.

From Screenings to Action

DISCONNECTED is both a documentary and a call to action. The filmmakers plan to debut the film at festivals, where live screenings will be followed by panel discussions with community leaders, advocates, and policymakers. These conversations will move audiences from awareness to action. As momentum builds, the team hopes to secure streaming distribution to bring the digital equity movement to millions of households nationwide.

A Shared Vision for Connection

Michelson 20MM Spark Grants program invests in initiatives that tackle systemic barriers to equity and opportunity. Supporting DISCONNECTED aligns with our belief that connected communities are stronger communities. By amplifying the voices of those most affected by the digital divide, the film seeks to inspire collective action to close the gap for good.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

From Keynotes to Community: What We Learned at the 2025 California OER Conference

By Cailyn Nagle

This August, the California OER Conference offered both an opportunity to learn from practitioners and a chance to build community. While much of the conference took place online, the Michelson 20MM Foundation was happy to sponsor the conference and host two regional, in person happy hours. 

Kicking Off: Keynotes and Collaboration in Culver City

The evening before the start of the event, faculty, administrators, and advocates from across Southern California joined us for the first happy hour. The California OER community has made tremendous strides driven by the strong spirit of collaboration cultivated across the OER ecosystem. Luckily, sometimes that collaboration can also include collaborating to eat some pizza.  

Dr. David Wiley kicked off the conference Wednesday morning with the first keynote of the event, during which he shared his perspective on AI, OER sustainability, and the future of open education. Dr. Wiley, founder of Lumen Learning, which provides low cost course materials through leveraging high quality OER, helped shape the open education movement and authored the influential 5 Rs of OER.  

Thursday’s keynote, “The Future of Equity in OER Amid a Shifting Landscape,” pulled voices from across the country together. They shared an important and challenging conversation about the shifting national landscapes’ impact on the field. Open education practitioners approach the work from different contexts and perspectives, but are unified in the desire to build a better future for students and educators alike. Amid recent unprecedented scrutiny and challenges, hearing from OER practitioners dedicated to centering the needs of students within this atmosphere was an invaluable contribution to the conference.

Highlighting Michelson 20MM Spark Grantees and Other Sessions

The conference’s sessions ranged from updates on projects to new research and case studies. While focusing on California, the conference included participation from Connecticut, Florida, and Texas. Two strong currents throughout the conference were an interest in AI and the ongoing impact of the California Community College’s (CCC)  Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) program.

AI was covered from multiple angels beyond the keynote including best practices, a survey of trends and preferences, and multilingual education. Over the two and a half days of the conference, six AI related sessions were offered, which shows a strong interest from practitioners and the field. During Bay View’s session, which previewed their newest national survey, they shared that 62% of California faculty and 87% of California’s students reported using the technology.

The other strong thread woven throughout the event was the ongoing impact of the ZTC programs growing across the CCC system. With most ZTC programs using OER to bring their textbooks costs to zero, it is no surprise that the project, now in its final funding phases with hundreds of degree programs underway, has garnered deserved attention. Some of the sessions focused on providing updates on the progress of the system-wide effort while others gave a peak into more regional projects. The presenters from Chabot College gave an update on a multi-campus effort to build a dynamic dashboard created from diverse sets of data that shows the impacts, gaps, and outcomes of ZTC efforts. The dashboard, funded through a Michelson 20MM Spark Grant, has gained momentum with new campuses signing on to participate. Irvine College also featured another Spark Grant-funded ZTC program that investigates how students find and access ZTC efforts.  

Beyond these themes, the Systems Update from the University of California (UC), the California State College and University (CSU), and the CCC offices shared the upcoming open education projects, challenges, and direction the largest systems of higher education in the country are considering. Other sessions took a more detailed look at issues facing institutions of higher learning, such as automatic textbook billing. Additionally, faculty from Eastern Connecticut State University sharing new research in their session ‘Is Automatic Textbook Billing Beneficial for Your Institution? A Case Study.”

Closing Out with Camaraderie in Oakland

Educators and open community members from CCC, UC, and local private colleges closed the conference in Oakland at  the second Michelson 20MM OER Happy Hour. While we have been happy to host four previous similar events in Los Angeles, this was our first in the Bay Area. With guests coming in on trains, carpools, and around the block, we are deeply grateful to all who attended the event. While open education is a growing field, and much larger than even just a few years ago, many OER practitioners often feel siloed in their work. That makes building community and connections a vital part of creating the thriving and sustainable OER ecosystem we need. We are honored to be part of building that community.

Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

Stronger Together: Advancing Equity Through Higher Education for Students Impacted by the Justice System

Stronger Together: Advancing Equity Through Higher Education for Justice-Impacted Students

By Miguel Leon

The Michelson 20MM Foundation proudly sponsored the 2025 Prison to University Conference. Mount San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) hosted the summit, which brought together nearly 300 practitioners, students, advocates, and allies. Attendees participated in a day of plenary discussions and break out sessions that highlighted the transformative power of higher education in the lives of individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. 

President Martha Garcia, welcomed attendees and delivered a message of hope and inspiration. She underlined the importance of this community coming together to heal, share best practices, and advocate as one collective group, rooted in, and strengthened by the lived experience and wisdom of everyone in the room. Representatives of higher education in prison programs, as well as on campus reentry programs from throughout California, uplifted student-led efforts that have radically changed how all three of California’s higher education systems support this population. We are grateful for President Garcia, the California Community Colleges, Mt. SAC Rising Scholars, Underground Scholars, Project Rebound, and everyone else who created the space for this discussion.

The University of San Diego (USD), a Michelson 20MM Spark Grantee shared their Transfer Coalition Initiative (TCI). TCI focuses on increasing higher education retention and completion rates for individuals in prison and individuals being released from prison. Through the Spark Grant, USD created a streamlined regional network that includes over a dozen local higher educational institutions. They work together on an online regional toolkit that enhances integral resource and knowledge sharing among system-impacted students and all associated support staff. This effort has increased cross-collaboration, programming, and community-building events among schools and facilities in the region. 

The Michelson 20MM Foundation proudly underwrote the participation of three student fellows, each representing one of California’s higher education systems, in the planning committee for the Prison to University Conference. Christian Black (University of California system), Albert Bui (California State University system) and Dani K. Silva (California Community College system) were integral to the success of this effort and we appreciate their leadership. In addition, we’d like to thank and congratulate all the attendees and allies who courageously share their stories and remind us that higher education has the power to change lives.

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

Innovating for Inclusion: 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grantees Tackle the Digital Divide

Building Digital Equity in California: Spotlight on the 2025 Spark Community Advisors

Ensuring everyone has access to affordable, reliable internet is key to unlocking educational, economic, and civic potential. The Michelson 20MM Foundation is committed to closing the digital divide, especially for underserved and historically marginalized communities. Through the 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grants cycle, we are proud to invest in innovative, systems-level strategies that have the power to create meaningful change at scale.

The 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grants support projects that advance policy advocacy, promote broadband as a civil right, and address digital equity as a social determinant of health. They help shape a future where all Californians can fully participate in society, democracy, and the economy.

Welcoming the 2025 Digital Equity Spark Grantees

BRITE

BRITE will bring DISCONNECTED, a feature documentary on the digital divide, to a broad public audience. The film tells the human stories behind digital discrimination and highlights the advocates working for change. By using empathy and storytelling, the filmmakers aim to turn policy into something personal and urgent. Through screenings, panels, and community engagement, DISCONNECTED will help spark national conversations around digital equity and inspire viewers to get involved.

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA)

Building on their 2024 pilot internet service provider (ISP) project in Pico-Union, CHIRLA is launching a community-driven effort to close the digital divide. This project centers the voices of immigrant families by reaching over 2,000 residents to understand their internet access needs. CHIRLA staff and ambassadors will hold conversations at member retreats and through outreach that respects language and cultural context. Insights from these efforts will shape a pilot low-cost internet service designed with the community, for the community. The project also includes digital literacy education and free devices to ensure families can fully participate online.

UNITE-LA

UNITE-LA will advance community broadband pilots in Pacoima and the Antelope Valley. Their efforts target two of the most persistent barriers to digital equity: affordability and access. In partnership with local coalitions, UNITE-LA will support the launch of public broadband models rooted in community leadership and resident input. In the Antelope Valley, a new public broadband authority will begin implementing a shared network plan. In Pacoima, a task force will pilot strategies to reduce internet costs and improve service quality. This work models how place-based solutions can challenge digital redlining and shift broadband planning toward equity, transparency, and local control.

The Youth Law Center (YLC)

The YLC will help close digital equity gaps for foster and justice-involved youth. These young people face systemic barriers to internet and mobile access that stem from both restrictive institutional settings and the instability and disruptions caused by foster care experiences—barriers that can limit educational achievement, economic opportunity, and long-term well-being. YLC will assess all 58 California probation agencies for compliance with digital access laws, ensuring youth can pursue education and stay connected. The project combines legal strategy, public records research, and youth leadership to push enforcement where policy alone falls short. YLC will also advocate to expand Lifeline access, removing documentation and eligibility barriers for foster youth. This work redefines digital equity as a civil rights issue, grounded in justice and accountability.

Looking Ahead

We are inspired by the grantees’ visionary work and dedication to advancing digital equity across California. Their projects exemplify the innovative, community-centered approaches necessary to overcome systemic barriers and ensure everyone has meaningful access to the internet. As these initiatives take shape, we look forward to seeing the lasting impact they will have on public policy, community empowerment, and closing the digital divide for good.

About Michelson 20MM

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.

Applications Open Soon: 2025 California Student Parent Pooled Fund

Applications Open Soon: 2025 California Student Parent Pooled Fund

Student parents deserve more than survival, they deserve systems that help them thrive. The Student Parent Pooled Fund is supporting bold ideas that do just that. The 2025 cycle opens July 28th with grants of up to $50,000 to support statewide change. Let’s build futures that work for student parents and their families!

About the Fund

The Student Parent Pooled Fund champions the needs of student parents. It lays the groundwork to connect student parent work across California while promoting equity and systemic change. Our goal is to support the whole family unit by investing in multi-generational solutions that advance education, economic opportunity, and family well-being. 

2025 Fund Details

  • Grant Amounts: Up to $50,000
  • Grant Period: 12 – 18 months
  • Eligibility: U.S.-based nonprofits or educational institutions impacting post-secondary students in California 
  • Funding Focus: Systemic change, not direct services
  • Approach: We welcome collaborative and multi-funded projects

Funding Priorities

The Student Parent Pooled Fund will prioritize efforts in five key areas:

1. Research and Practice

  • Informing improved data collection of student parents across California’s higher education systems.
  • Analyzing progress made across California’s higher education systems in supporting student parents as well as the efficacy of supports including but not limited to housing, childcare, food and nutrition, and workforce programs.
  • Advancing/scaling programmatic best practices and evidence based models in support of student parents.

2. Movement Building

  • Catalyzing and scaling
    • Student Parent learning communities 
    • Student Parent communities of practice
    • Student Parent coalitions
    • Student Parent networks
    • Student Parent clubs
    • Peer to peer support models

3. Education, Awareness, and Narrative Change

  • Providing statewide technical assistance to organizations and institutions focused on increasing their servingness of student parents.
  • Increasing statewide public awareness campaigns that uplift the needs of student parents.
  • Convening student parents, student parent advocates, and practitioners from throughout California to learn and share best practices. 

4. Policy Advocacy

  • Informing institutional and legislative leaders about the needs of student parents with the end goal of affecting systemic change. 
  • Coalescing the student parent community in California to advance state level change for student parents.  
  • Expanding benefits access for both parent and child

5. Evaluation and Impact

  • Evaluating the impact of the California Student Parent Pooled Fund and its collective and comprehensive approach to student parent work in California by analyzing
    • The effectiveness of building a community of practice 
    • The pooled funds contribution in advancing systems change for student parents in california 
    • The impact of coalescing philanthropy around student parent work 
    • Grantees’ perspectives on the benefits of a pooled fund approach

How to Apply

We invite organizations to help lead change for student parents in California. Together, we can build lasting, inclusive solutions. To apply, submit applications through our grantmaking platform, Submittable during the application period.

Thank you to our funding partners: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, ECMC Foundation, R&S Kayne Foundation, Stupski Foundation, and The Ichigo Foundation. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of student parents in California. 

About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

A Boost for OER Champions: LMU Is Creating Tools for Visibility and Recognition

A Boost for OER Champions: LMU Is Creating Tools for Visibility and Recognition

A New Resource to Meet a Growing Need

Across California, faculty members are embracing Open Educational Resources (OER) to reduce students’ costs and increase their access. As OER gains prominence, many instructors face a familiar challenge: How to effectively communicate the value of OER to their students, colleagues, and institutions.

Faculty who run OER programs often create exciting programs with little support for sharing their work. They write, revise, and implement new materials, but lack the marketing tools to help others understand the impact. Loyola Marymount University (LMU) understands that without awareness and visibility, even the most transformative OER can remain underused.

The Toolkit Filling the Gap

With a 2025 Michelson Spark Grant, LMU is addressing that gap. They will develop an openly licensed OER for Social Justice Marketing and Advocacy Toolkit. The toolkit will offer ready-to-use, customizable materials that faculty, students, and staff can use to promote and sustain OER adoption.

These resources aren’t one-size-fits-all. They’re designed with California’s diverse institutions in mind. The toolkit includes:

  • A Faculty Promotion Kit to support faculty in advocating for their adoption, adaptation, and creation of OER
  • An Awareness and Engagement Kit to engage students and faculty in OER adoption through interactive and visually compelling materials.

Everything will be adaptable. Institutions can contextualize materials to reflect their mission, values, and student populations.

Co-Created with Students, Built for Community

What sets this project apart is its emphasis on collaboration. Students will play a key role in shaping the toolkit by supporting graphic design and video storytelling, among other roles. LMU’s approach shifts away from top-down advocacy models, instead centering student creativity and voice.

This hands-on, participatory model reflects the values at the heart of OER: access, agency, and shared ownership. “We’re not just promoting OER, we’re building infrastructure that supports it long-term,” said Cailyn Nagle, Senior Program Manager for OER at Michelson 20MM. “This toolkit will give faculty and students what they need to keep the movement going, together.”

Designed for Impact and Built to Last

The project will pilot with LMU’s existing OER faculty teams and then scale through partnerships with the Southern California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC). Materials will be housed in the OER for Social Justice Handbook and made freely available for adaptation. At the same time, trainings and workshops across the state will help campus leaders use the toolkit in real time. LMU’s efforts will foster  professional development, peer support, and new collaborations.

By investing in visibility, this project helps institutions recognize and reward OER work. It supports faculty who want to integrate OER into tenure conversations and gives students the tools to become advocates on their own campuses. Most importantly, it ensures that OER continues to grow not just as a set of resources, but as a movement rooted in equity, inclusion, and shared success.

About Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

Addressing Housing Insecurity in Higher Education: Evidence from the CFRR Study

Understanding Efforts to Address College Student Homelessness: Findings from the Evaluation of the College Focused Rapid Rehousing Program

By Dr. Queena Hoang

Graduation rates have increased across California public colleges, yet racial disparities among students still persist. Structural inequities leave students of color and other marginalized groups more affected by basic needs insecurity. Studies, research, and practice have proven that college students do experience homelessness. Homelessness among students isn’t always visible, it is often experienced in hidden or unstable way. Defined as lacking fixed, regular, and adequate housing, homelessness affects 1:4 California Community College (CCC) students and 1:10 California University Students (CSU) students. Sadly, over 1.5 million students nationwide face this reality. 

It’s really important to understand that students in college do experience homelessness, [and] it’s important to say that out loud… I think it’s still not clear to everyone that students are going to college and sometimes lack a fixed, regular and adequate place to stay… For many students, that does mean they’re living in spaces that are not meant for human habitation, or they’re moving from place to place. -Dr. Rashida Crutchfield, California State University, Long Beach, Center for Equitable Higher Education

Recently, Dr. Crutchfield and Jessica Wolin shared findings from a three-year evaluation of the College Focused Rapid Rehousing (CFRR) strategy. During Addressing Student Homelessness: Findings From the College Focused Rapid Rehousing Program, presenters emphasized the importance of addressing the housing crisis among California college students. Following the presentation, a panel of experts offered insights, recommendations, and best practices. 

What Is College Focused Rapid Rehousing?

Jovenes Inc first developed the College focused Rapid Rehousing model in Southern California. Program leaders envision CFRR as a way to meet the needs of students experiencing homelessness. CFRR also helps students who are not well served by campus short term assistance and require longer term, holistic support. 

The key to CFRR is that it is grounded in a campus community partnership.  Wendy Rubio, Senior Director at Lutheran Social Services of Southern California, Long Beach shared, “The collaboration that we had between Cal State Long Beach and Lutheran Social Services of Southern California really demonstrated how valuable such partnerships can be, especially when there is a shared vision, when there’s open communication and there’s that mutual respect.” Such partnerships leverage the strengths of both the academic institution and a community housing organization that know how to effectively serve people experiencing homelessness. The goal of CFRR is that students will achieve positive outcomes in the areas of academics, housing stability, financial security, physical and emotional well being.

Impacts of CFRR

Between 2020 – 2024, the program housed 639 students.  The three-year study had a number of notable impacts on students including: 

  • CFRR participants enrolled at CSUs reported significantly higher probability of staying in school and graduating than students who received short term assistance. 
  • Participation in the program mitigated strain and distraction due to housing insecurity. We saw that students had higher levels of confidence in their ability to manage work and their lives. 
  • CFRR participants experienced significant improvements in their mental health. They reported a notable decrease in their overall stress and feeling more confident in being able to handle personal problems. 
  • Students reported that they were better able to ensure that they received a nutritious diet and were able to cook for themselves more nutritious foods because they actually had a place to live.

By providing this holistic approach, coordinated efforts between the colleges and the community based organization not only provide the housing stability for the student, but also creates a supportive environment that helps the student to achieve their academic success, wellbeing, and ultimately addresses the students’ homelessness situation. -Wendy Rubio


To learn more about the impact of CFRR, visit the CFRR webpage and read the report.

About Michelson 20MM Foundation

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.

Student Leaders Driving Change: Introducing the 2025 Michelson 20MM Fellows

Student Leaders Driving Change: Introducing Our 2025 Michelson 20MM Fellows

Four students across each system of public education in California are joining the Michelson 20MM Foundation to hone their advocacy skills and advocate for a better future. Over the next 10 months, students will lead projects in our four program areas—Student Basic Needs, Smart Justice, Textbook Affordability, and Digital Equity—with the guidance from Michelson 20MM experts. Students play a pivotal role in advocating for education equity and a better future for all, we are excited to partner with them and continue building student power across California. 

Please join us in welcoming this year’s group of change makers: the 2025 Michelson 20MM Student Fellowship Cohort!

Ria Babaria

Textbook Affordability Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles

Ria Babaria (she/her) is a second-year student at UCLA majoring in Public Affairs. From Riverside, California, Ria focuses on education policy that expands mental health, financial support, and civic participation for marginalized youth. Her work is grounded in the belief that education should be a right, not a privilege.

Ria’s journey into student leadership began with a fundamental belief that education should be a tool for liberation, not a gatekeeping structure that deepens inequality. In high school, she saw how access to education, mental health, and financial stability shaped the trajectories of her peers. What started as a passion quickly became purpose. Since then, Ria has written over five pieces of legislation and co-sponsored over 50 in the California State Legislature in line with her passions. At UCLA, Ria researches assistant school violence, exclusionary discipline, and restorative justice policies in Michigan.

In all settings Ria consistently focuses on access, dignity, and structural transformation. She views youth leadership not as a symbolic gesture, but as an essential mechanism for reimagining systems that were not built to serve everyone equally.

For Ria, textbook affordability is a critical yet often overlooked barrier to student success. She understands that after paying tuition, many low-income and first-generation students can’t afford required materials. In a state like California, where public higher education is meant to be a public good, we must remove cost barriers that block full student participation. 

Through the fellowship, Ria hopes to connect with a network of student leaders committed to advancing equity and affordability in higher education. She is particularly interested in collaborating on textbook policy reform throughout California, including eliminating automatic textbook charges, advocating for campus stipends, and revising UC-wide policies that affect affordability.

Ria plans to pursue a J.D. or Master’s in Public Policy to continue her work at the intersection of legal advocacy and education reform. Her long-term goal is to transform how schools respond to gender-based violence, mental health crises, and systemic inequality. She hopes to create accessible legal and policy training for youth impacted by violence and institutional neglect. This will ensure that those most affected by broken systems are not only heard, but equipped to lead change.

Andrea Lara Jara

Student Basic Needs Fellow; Cal Poly Humboldt and Moreno Valley College

Andrea Lara Jara (she/her) is a social work student at Cal Poly Humboldt, where she focuses on decolonizing social work practices to better support historically marginalized communities. She is passionate about storytelling and the many ways it can advocate, heal, compel, and liberate people. 

Andrea started as a peer facilitator for the student-parent support group and worked in the CalWORKs office at Moreno Valley College. She aimed to build a parenting student community through weekly discussions, live events, and virtual presentations. As she connected with fellow students, it sparked a deeper question: Were parenting students included in shaping the systems meant to help them? That curiosity led her to Project SPARC (Student Parents Are Reimagining CalWORKs). As a SPARC Leader, she collaborated with peers to meet with campus leadership and policy makers on bureaucratic barriers. It was through this work that she realized meaningful solutions must be developed with, not for, communities.

Andrea believes student basic needs are a key measure of current policy effectiveness. When students struggle to meet basic needs, it reflects policy failures rather than personal shortcomings. As the Basic Needs Student Fellow, Andrea hopes to uplift the lived experiences of students and contribute to building systems that reflect their realities. She is particularly interested in supporting policy conversations by staying grounded in the experiences of those navigating these systems firsthand.

Andrea plans to pursue a dual Master of Social Work (MSW) and Juris Doctor (JD) degree to continue supporting policies that center dignity and care. By amplifying lived experiences, she hopes to advance equity one story at a time.

Chloe Serrano

Smart Justice Fellow; University of California, Los Angeles

Chloe is a rising senior at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying Asian American Studies and Public Affairs. She was born and raised in Buena Park, CA, and is a proud, unapologetic Korean Filipina. Chloe benefited from grants, aid, and community college; now, she works to preserve those resources for future students. 

Chloe is passionate about workers’ rights, reproductive justice, and incarceration reform. She recalls a radicalizing moment in junior high school when she began fearing gun violence while going to school. That fear drove her to organize her community against state-sanctioned violence. Since then, she has been involved in her community as a community development grant commissioner to make sure her city supports marginalized communities’ financial needs. Chloe served as a student trustee for her community college district, and advocated for policy change on a local and state level through several fellowship programs. 

She sees education, employment, housing, and civic participation as essential for long-term stability and equity for justice-impacted individuals. With the fellowship, she hopes to sharpen her advocacy skills, better understand the needs of the justice impacted community, and create an outsized impact.

Chloe aspires to pursue a career in law and policy. In that vein, she will pursue a Juris Degree post graduation. Chloe believes in “Isang Bagsak,” which means “one down” in Filipino, and plans to dedicate her career to uplifting her community.

Yvonne Su

Digital Equity Fellow; Coastline Community College

Yvonne Su (she/her/hers) is a second-year student at Coastline College, where she is studying math and data analytics. Born in Taiwan, Yvonne moved to the U.S. with her family at the age of 10 and grew up in Irvine, California. She earned her Global Studies degree from UCLA, taught in K-12 public schools, then returned to school to transition into data/technology. 

Yvonne’s journey as a student leader began at Coastline College, where she serves as treasurer of associated student government. She is passionate about supporting non-traditional students in community college, such as parents, seniors, English learners, and dually enrolled high school students. Yvonne helped the student government build a student-centered budget and revise scholarship criteria to reflect more diverse demographics. Outside of school, she is also interested in AAPI advocacy and civic engagement. 

Yvonne has been a beneficiary of digital equity programs and recognizes that many students have the same needs to fill the digital equity gap in their lives. She believes programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program help meet those needs. In the future, Yvonne aspires to build coalitions with schools, government agencies, and organizations who are working on digital equity to amplify the importance and assess the functionality of these programs. Her goal is to work in civic technology, making government services easier to use for everyone. She also hopes to study applied math/computer science in graduate school.

As these four remarkable students begin their fellowships, they bring not only deep personal insight but also a shared commitment to advancing equity in higher education. Their lived experiences and bold ideas will shape meaningful change across California’s public education systems. We’re honored to help them challenge inequities, reimagine what’s possible, and build a more just and inclusive future for all.

About Michelson 20MM

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.