Hispanic Foundation College Success Programs
Diversifying the Future
Although Latinos represent 28% of the total population in Silicon Valley, only 3% are in the high tech work force. With 39% of the K-12 student population identified as Latino, we anticipate the challenge to continue growing.
Toward a Latino High-Tech Workforce
The HFCSP’s primary objectives are to contribute to higher high school graduation rates; improve college readiness, increase student and parent knowledge about the college journey, growing numbers of students attending college; increase college graduation rates, and increase the number of Latinos employed in the high tech industry.
A Brief History
The Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley (HFSV) published in 2011 the first Silicon Valley Latino Report Card to better understand the livelihood of Latinos in Silicon Valley. The results of the report provided substantial data, analysis, and comparisons about the challenges Latinos face every day and also sharpened HFSV’s mission to improve the quality of life for Latinos in Silicon Valley through education.
In early 2014, HFSV went into Latino neighborhoods and asked families to participate in a survey; a project that generated over 2,000 responses. The result of this was the Voices of Change report published in late 2014. The report indicated 40% of the participants place education as the most important challenge, and increasing youth programs to prevent student dropouts is the solution.
In 2016, the Hispanic Foundation College Success Center (HFCSC), a hub designed for Latino youths and parents to increase educational opportunities was opened (the first of its kind in the region). A one-stop hub that encapsulates our “cradle to career” course of action empowering middle school, high school, and college students and their parents to excel through education efforts. HFSC helps both students and parents obtain information on college access, advice, guidance, workshops, and online resources.
Parent Education
The goal of the Parent Education Academy (PEA) is to increase the knowledge and engagement of Latinx parents in the involvement of their children’s education. Our PEA partners are Family Engagement Institute (FEI) at Foothill College, Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), and Familias Unidas, United Through Education. We also partner with HOLA! South Bay to provide Grow with Google digital literacy programs (Aprendizaje Digital) in Spanish for adults seeking to further their tech skills. Our PEA programs serve 1,000+ parents served per year.
Grades K-5
We collaborate with Springboard Collaborative to help students boost reading skills while also strengthening family-educator relationships. Our partners at Science is Elementary help us bridge the gap between children and access to exciting, high-quality science education. Our partners at Calculus Roundtable provide students with an understanding of the world through the lenses of math and science.
Grade 6-8
We provide coding classes and math proficiency resources. We collaborate with Girls Who Code to offer 6th, 7th, and 8th graders the opportunity to learn about STEM through the lens of Latina STEM professionals. We also collaborate with Silicon Valley Education Fund to provide Elevate [Math] programs, to increase the number of students passing and meeting Common Core math standards in their next-level math class, to get them on a path for college and career success.
High School
We provide college-readiness resources and workshops to students in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. We collaborate with Quetzal Mama to provide college admission coaching. Quetzal Mama is a national resource for students and families from historically underrepresented groups seeking exceptional college advice and support.
College
Our college initiative consists of our Latinos in Technology Scholarship (LITS) program, which awards renewable scholarship support for up to three (3) years to Latinx juniors and seniors who have declared a major in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) related field at a four-year university. We also pipeline our scholars into summer internship programs and provide professional development opportunities through our Career Coaching program Empowered Students and our Conexiones Mentorship Program. To date, 427 college students have received scholarships.
Documents
Diversifying the high-tech industry with Latinx scholars pursuing a career in STEM.
Hispanic Foundation College Success Programs Reports
Volunteer Opportunities
Conexiones Program – A career mentorship program
Girls Who Code – Closing the gender gap in tech
College Success Program Funders
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