Community

Grant Aims to Boost Financial Aid Completion Rates This Summer

A $72,000 grant from the Education Credit Management Corporation Foundation (ECMC) aims to remove barriers in the financial aid application process for West Contra Costa families this summer. With the goal of boosting financial aid completion rates from the current 63% to 73% of 1,837 enrolled graduating seniors in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), the grant will fund weekly office hours with college counselors in person and via Zoom, as well as a Financial Aid Completion event in partnership with Contra Costa College where students and families can complete their financial aid documents in a group format.

Published

3 months ago

August 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Kennedy High School, Richmond. Courtesy photo.

The Richmond Standard

A $72,000 grant from the Education Credit Management Corporation Foundation (ECMC) aims to remove barriers in the financial aid application process for West Contra Costa families this summer.

With the goal of boosting financial aid completion rates from the current 63% to 73% of 1,837 enrolled graduating seniors in the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), the grant will fund weekly office hours with college counselors in person and via Zoom, as well as a Financial Aid Completion event in partnership with Contra Costa College where students and families can complete their financial aid documents in a group format.

The West Contra Costa Public Education Fund (Ed Fund) will oversee administration of the grant while Richmond Promise and the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) will provide programmatic support and data sharing.

WCCUSD college counselors as well as Richmond Promise near-peer ambassadors will assist. The program partners are spreading the word about these services so that graduating seniors can be prepared.

The efforts are critical due to changes in the student financial aid process for the 2024-2025 cycle, according to local education experts. A new application form and criteria, new parent requirements and shorter application deadline are creating new barriers to families aiming to apply.

Christopher Whitmore, executive director of Richmond Promise, said his team has always believed financial aid completion rates are a key indicator of a student’s intent to pursue postsecondary education.

The Promise provides college scholarships and guidance to hundreds of graduating seniors annually from Richmond and North Richmond, courtesy of a $35 million, 10-year investment by Chevron Richmond in 2014.

To be eligible for the $1,500 in annual scholarship funds, students must complete their FAFSA or Dream Act application, a requirement that aims to make postsecondary education even more affordable.

“A large part of our college access work in local schools focuses on helping students and families navigate [the financial aid application] process,” Whitmore said. “We have seen firsthand the additional obstacles created by changes at the federal level this year, and we are excited to come together with two great partners of ours, Ed Fund and WCCUSD, as we continue our work on behalf of Richmond students.”

Robert Bunce, Ed Fund executive director, said that when the community works together, “we can create real possibilities for our kids.”

“We are thrilled to bring together the school district, Richmond Promise, and the Ed Fund to make college affordability a reality for more families this summer,” Bunce said.

Karina Soriano-Ponce, district lead counselor for the WCCUSD, said collaborating with community partners “is a crucial part in providing support to our students.”

“This partnership will focus on providing comprehensive financial aid application support to students and their families that will empower them in navigating the financial aid process with confidence, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to pursue higher education without the burden of financial uncertainty,” Soriano-Ponce said.

Families and students interested in taking advantage of these services can reach out to Maddie Orenstein at Maddie@edfundwest.org, Soriano-Ponce at kponce@wccusd.net, or Miguel Molina at mmolina@richmondpromise.org.

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LIVE! — TOWN HALL ON RACISM AND ITS IMPACT — THURS. 11.14.24 5PM PST

Join us for a LIVE Virtual Town Hall on the Impact of Racism hosted by Post News Group Journalist Carla Thomas and featuring Oakland, CA NAACP President Cynthia Adams & other Special Guests.
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. PST

Published

5 days ago

November 12, 2024

Oakland Post

Discussion Topics:
• Since the pandemic, what battles have the NAACP fought nationally, and how have they impacted us locally?
• What trends are you seeing concerning Racism? Is it more covert or overt?
• What are the top 5 issues resulting from racism in our communities?
• How do racial and other types of discrimination impact local communities?
• What are the most effective ways our community can combat racism and hate?

Your questions and comments will be shared LIVE with the moderators and viewers during the broadcast.

STREAMED LIVE!
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Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of November 6 – 12, 2024

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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#NNPA BlackPress

OP-ED: The Illusion of Allyship. White Women, Your Yard Signs Mean Nothing to Me

NNPA NEWSWIRE – “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

Published

1 week ago

November 9, 2024

Oakland Post

Political yard signs can symbolize intentions and allegiance. But this year, they’ve also symbolized betrayal. During this general election, Black women were led to believe that more White women would stand with us. Exit polls, however, told a different story. Despite overwhelming displays of support, more White women still chose to vote for the convicted felon, reality TV star, and rapist. White women answered the call but left us hanging at the polls.

A Familiar Disappointment

I live in DeKalb County, Georgia, and the abundance of Harris-Walz yard signs could’ve fooled me. But I’ve seen this before, back when Stacey Abrams ran for governor. White women showed up, put up signs, attended rallies, knocked on doors, and phone-banked. Yet, when it came time to vote, they let us down—not once but twice. I’ve been here for over 15 years, and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that political signs are symbols without weight.

In every election, I’ve talked with White women. Most aren’t the primary earners in their families and vote along party lines, aligning with the preferences of their fathers and husbands. These conversations reveal a reluctance to break from tradition, even when their votes affect women and certainly when their votes impact the lives of people who look like me.

The Illusion of Solidarity—Symbols Are Not Enough

On social media, I’m seeing White women posting pictures of blue bracelets to “prove” they didn’t vote for Trump. “The blue bracelets are something White women are wearing so others can see that they didn’t vote for Trump,” says Liberal Lisa from Oklahoma on X. Chile, bye. These bracelets are hollow symbols, empty gestures that mean nothing to me. An accessory to claim distance from Trump’s legacy is superficial comfort, while the choice to not stand with us in the voting booth is far more profound.

I’ve seen Black Lives Matter signs and black squares posted on Instagram to “prove” support for Black people, but we now know that was a lie, too. Will those same people who claimed Black lives mattered now take down their Harris-Walz signs and show their true selves?

Navigating these truths is a daily struggle for me—professionally and socially. White women often misuse their privilege, supporting us only when it’s convenient. Seeing overqualified Black women sabotaged or abandoned by White women at critical moments is a constant emotional challenge. It’s exhausting to live with this reality, especially when solidarity seems like something they pick up and discard at will.

One clever campaign ad from Harris-Walz that spoke directly to White women. “Your Vote, Your Choice” emphasized that their vote was private—independent of their household situation. Another was from Olivia Howell Dreizen, the “Vote Without Fear” campaign, which empowered women to consider the greater impact of their choices. But it seems many still couldn’t choose the roadmap to freedom—even when it was handed to them.

A Call for Action Beyond Words

White women, I want to believe you care, but actions speak louder than yard signs, bracelets, or Instagram posts. Show up in our communities, advocate in your workplaces, and stand up to dismantle the structures that uphold white supremacy. Only through real action will we know where you stand.

If you choose not to act, we see you—and we know exactly where you stand. Good luck these next four years.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.