Anonymous
Source: PSHH
With colleges and universities making plans to open for in-person instruction this fall, high school seniors have big decisions to make as the deadline to select a college approaches. To help with this important decision, People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH) staff and students left on a three-day tour of colleges and universities all throughout the state of California.
“Being on campus really gave me more things to think of when choosing which college I will attend”, said CELEBRE student Cristal. “I got to experience some factors that I had not thought of before when choosing a university such as weather, distance from home, and wildlife. Something I really valued was our Latinx tour guides. Seeing so many Latina students attending prestigious universities made me go into a mindset of ‘If they can do it, so can I’ and it made me very excited for my future.”
The college tour is a landmark event that PSHH’s college-bound students participate in each year. Led by Director of Education, Joanna Dominguez and Regional Coordinator, Karla Acevez-Ramirez, the fifteen students visited Fresno State, California State University Monterey, San Jose State University, St Mary’s College, University of California Davis, Sacramento State University, Sonoma State University, University of California San Francisco, and San Francisco State University.
The students on this trip were part of PSHH’s CELEBRE (College Enrollment for Latinas Entering Bright Rewarding Education) program. An extension of College Club, this site-based program provides students with full-time advisors who equip them with the skills and knowledge to enter higher education. In addition to support through workshops and assistance with applications for admission and financial aid, CELEBRE delves deeper to help Latinas overcome gender inequities and stereotypes that may prevent them from succeeding.
To learn more about CELEBRE, visit pshhc.org/CELEBRE.
About People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH)
Founded in 1970, PSHH is the longest-serving nonprofit affordable housing organization on the Central Coast. With a mission of building homes and providing services to strengthen communities and change lives, PSHH serves low-income households, working families, seniors, veterans, farmworkers, those living with disabilities and the formerly homeless. It also provides homeownership opportunities through a self-help, “sweat equity” program that has seen over 1,200 homes successfully completed. PSHH has a presence in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Monterey counties, manages over 2,000 rental units, and employs over 200 staff members. For more information, visit pshhc.org, email info@pshhc.org or phone (805) 781-3088.
