California’s College Corps program...

Hiram Johnson High School, the lowest performing high school in Sacramento County. “Working with the students there boosted my confidence. I started to find my identity and trust that I had something to contribute to the world beyond just enrolling in college.”

“I wanted to create this opportunity for other people. So I created a student organization for local high schools and middle schools called Project Optimism. And they had that same transformative experience,” said Pruitt, noting that students who volunteered with the Project Optimism initiative had better grades, focus, and engagement.

Project Optimism serves youth from Sacramento County all the way to Los Angeles County, about 340 students for the full year. Students are aligned with mentorship cohorts, and an intentional guiding curriculum that supports the whole student.

Dr. Beth Manke, Professor of Human Development and Program Director for the CSU Long Beach College Corps Program, noted that her campus enrolled 50 undergraduate students in the College Corps program, including a number of undocumented students.

“These are experiences that have proven to be quite transformative for our students.

Over 85% of our student fellows reported that their internships have helped them in positive ways. They’re talking about how they’re able to apply course knowledge to real world experiences. They’re acquiring job or work related skills, developing skills to work effectively as part of a team,” said Manke.

“Our students are also telling us about the fact that they’re really getting a chance to understand their role in their own community. Many students today feel they don’t belong on their college campuses. Our students feel a sense of purpose and belonging,” she said. g