It is by no means new for chapters to host programs that encourage and promote college-going to young middle and high school students in their communities. Promoting a college-going culture is at the core of what it means to be a Latino Fraternity, and it is at the core of what it means to be a Lambda. Attending college is what allowed us to become Lambda men, and now it is our civic duty to give back to those underserved communities that raised us. What is new, however, is the level of sophistication in executing these college access events. Two great examples of this are the “From the Barrio to Academia” event hosted by Gamma Delta at the University of California Santa Barbara, and “The Color of Leadership Conference” hosted by the undergraduate and alumni chapters in the Greater Washington area. Both of these programs can serve as models for chapters across the nation looking into hosting a college access program.
FROM THE BARRIO TO ACADEMIA
The “From the Barrio to Academia” event hosted by Gamma Delta in February focuses on the principles of traditional college access programs: recruit high school students, bring them to a college campus for keynote speeches and workshops, and send them home with information and symbolic items (shirts, folders, pens, etc.) to seal the event in their memory. The program began in 2007 with the principle of developing a program that would allow students to believe that they could make it from their neighborhoods to the world of academia, hence the name of the program. The initial program recruited 50 at-risk students from three local high schools and has continued to grow to support over 100 students in its 7th year. This may not seem like amazing numbers, but what is important with this program is not the quantity of students but the quality of their experience and programming they receive
“From the Barrio to Academia” is the work of Brother Jaime Carias (Gamma Delta, Spring 2005) who is still involved with the program through his consulting company, College Success Services, which partners with the chapter and Lambda Theta Alpha for the event. He and Dr. Victor Rios, Associate Professor of Sociology at UCSB, subscribe to a philosophy of working with “at-promise” (instead of “at-risk”) students to give them the college knowledge and motivation they need to make it out of their neighborhoods and into the university. The program then focuses its workshops and keynote speeches on this demographic of students, connecting them with successful university students from similar backgrounds as examples of their own potential. All presenters are culturally relevant and motivate students on how they can draw their personal blueprint for future personal, academic, and professional success. Topics covered include understanding how to prepare for and apply to college, how to find financial aid, understanding their individual challenges and strengths as “at-promise” students, and setting short and long term goals for future success.
Basics
If your chapter is interested in planning a college access program, there are a number of things to consider, the three most important being: 1.) who will you serve? 2.) how will you serve them? and 3.) who will be your partner organization? In From the Barrio to Academia, Gamma Delta chose to serve “at-promise” high school students, they chose to serve them through a holistic day long programming model. They partnered with Lambda Theta Alpha, three high schools, the Vice Chancellor’s office, College Success Services, and a number of faculty and students to execute an organized, effective event.
Information
The most crucial component to planning a college access program is the content of the information you will be providing and how and who will be delivering it. Nothing is worse than being unprepared or providing incorrect information to 100 or more students. Be sure to work with departments on campus, alumni and faculty to ensure the information you are providing is accurate and relevant to your group. Important topics like admissions requirements and financial aid/scholarships should always be reviewed by a professional before the event. When possible, it is even better to have professionals give these presentations–leverage your networks to bring in informed/motivational speakers who can get students excited and relate to them.
Logistics
For a day-long event with high school students you must also have transportation, adult chaperones (usually school staff), and lunch for participants. Gamma Delta went even further and provided students with shirts and “goodie bags” filled with UCSB folders, pens, application information, and a copy of Dr. Rios book Street Life: Poverty, Gangs, and a Ph.D. which students could read after the conference. These items will go a long way to make sure students remember the event and its message long after they leave campus, hopefully encouraging them to take the next step.
Funding
Gamma Delta was fortunate to partner with their university’s vice chancellor’s office to fund their program. If you are not able to find a funding partner, you may look at reducing your costs or possibly fundraise on your own for the event. Gamma Delta and LTA at UCSB have conducted joint fundraisers in the past to cover costs that UCSB will not fund. Over time, your chapter may be able to bring in funding partners after you demonstrate success on your own. Remember people fund success!!
Brother Jaime Carias is a great example of a brother that is now a professional working in college access, but there are many brothers all over the country that are also doing this kind of work. Below are some brothers with expertise in college access that are willing to assist chapters in their area with information or planning an event. If a brother wishes to add his name and information to this list, simply email the Director of Communications.
">Mito Espinoza (Alpha Theta, Summer 1997)
Assistant Director of Admissions and Orientation
University of Maryland – Baltimore County
">Javier Gonzalez (Alpha Psi, Fall 2009)
Graduate Advisor in the Center for Student Involvement
University of South Florida