Building Belonging at CSUs, Empowering Incarcerated Youth with Impact Justice, and Reflecting on Our Year of Impact

Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating impact of the wildfires that have swept through our communities. The destruction is immeasurable, and the toll it has taken on the lives and well-being of so many is beyond words. We stand united with those who have been affected, and we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone who has suffered loss during this time. We will continue to prioritize amplifying recovery efforts, while providing important updates and resources in our communications as we navigate the challenging times ahead.

Building Belonging & Support for Parenting Students at California's CSUs?

The EdTrust-West team inspired us with a vision of a future where pregnant and parenting students truly feel a sense of belonging on The California State University campuses. Together with student parent Jordan Calley, the panel discussed the unique experience of parenting students, including:

• While three in four parenting students feel included, over half struggle with belonging when considering their identity as student parents. Gaps in support and resources, such as childcare and financial aid, add to the disconnect.
• Policies like family-friendly syllabus statements, clearer resource access, and more family-oriented spaces can make a difference. It’s vital to listen to and center student parents’ voices in creating inclusive campuses.

?? Missed it? Read the recap and watch the replay to discover how we can better support parenting students! We look forward to sharing the results from the EdTrust-West survey in the coming months. Learn more.

Empowering Youth with Education: The California Justice Leaders Postsecondary Pathways Program

Impact Justice is launching the California Justice Leaders Postsecondary Pathways Program (CJLP3) with support from a Michelson Spark Grant. This initiative builds on the success of their California Justice Leaders (CJL) program, expanding educational opportunities for justice-involved youth.

• Expanding Access to Education: CJLP3 helps youth involved in the justice system gain access to higher education as a form of rehabilitation.
• Bridging Education and Justice: The program fosters communication between juvenile justice officials and educational institutions.
• Scaling a Proven Model: CJLP3 builds on the success of Laney College’s ROC model, helping young people beyond Alameda County.

Learn more.

Reflecting on the Year's Impact?

In case you missed it, our Program Managers shared their thoughts on the progress achieved in 2024 and the outlook for 2025.

• ???Digital Equity: The team led successful campaigns to tackle digital discrimination and increase broadband access, with a special focus on community-driven projects. In collaboration with SoCal Grantmakers and Education-Trust West, we also explored AI’s role in digital equity. Learn more from Cristal Mojica .
• ???Intellectual Property: MIPI’s work with HBCUs reached new heights, featuring another cohort of the HBCU IP Futures Collaborative and the release of the HBCU Futures Collaborative Impact Report. We also promoted global IP education and fostered innovation in K-12 schools. Learn more from Chinwe Ohanele, Esq. ?
• ????Open Educational Resources (OER): The OER program drove research on students' experience with automatic textbook billing while advancing Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) initiatives and student-led campaigns across California’s higher education system. Learn more from Cailyn Nagle .
• ?? Smart Justice: The team welcomed Spark Grantees to advance restorative justice and reentry programs and celebrated the success of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program and UCI LIFTED's first graduation. Supporting currently and formerly incarcerated students in their educational pathways was also a priority. Learn more from Kenia Miranda Verdugo .?
• ?? Student Basic Needs: We celebrated major wins for student parents, including priority registration, increased food support access, dedicated webpages for student parent resources, and improved data reporting. We also launched the California Student Parent Pooled Fund. Learn more from Queena Hoang, Ed.D. .?

?? Looking Ahead: The team remains committed to driving systemic impact and meaningful change in 2025!

Events and Updates

• February 4th and 5th - Early Childhood Development U.S. Initiative Convening: Queena Hoang, Ed.D. and Miguel Leon are joining the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and Ascend at the Aspen Institute to champion existing and promising practices for children and caregivers.
• February 6th - Destination Crenshaw?Funders Event: We are pleased to join Destination Crenshaw and other funders to celebrate the launch of a community connectivity project, which was in part supported by a Michelson Spark Grant.?
• February 19th - Urban Institute 's "Expanding Digital Inclusion: Bridging Gaps & Promoting Opportunity:" Cristal Mojica will speak alongside a panel of experts on the importance of digital opportunity and inclusion at this hybrid event in Washington, DC.?

Opportunities

• Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Success Story Project: If you've created a new textbook that saved students money or have a ZTC degree story to share, we want to hear from you! The project seeks to ensure that policymakers and other systems leaders see the value of ZTC programs and continue to prioritize them, which is possible with your help. Share your story.