Marlene Pelayo Lisa Clark M

“Growing up in Oxnard, I had first hand experience struggling with my homework and not having someone help me with it because of the language barrier. Serving there is just my way of giving back.”

In order to create positive change in his community, Connor became a tutor and mentor at the Emily Shane Foundation. “The Emily Shane Foundation partners with public middle schools in Los Angeles and Ventura County to provide academic and mentorship support. Middle school is a formative time in any young person’s life. It is a period of flux in which we bridge the divide between our adolescent and teenage years.” Connor believes that providing guidance to at-risk youth can redirect their life in a positive direction. At the site, he would sit with students for an hour at a time for academic support.

Lisa graduated in Fall 2015 with a double major in Communication and Political Science with a Health emphasis. She volunteers at Planned Parenthood once a week due to her interest in promoting women’s rights. As soon as Lisa discovered that she would be required to volunteer 90 hours for her Capstone project, she knew she wanted to dedicate those hours to Planned Parenthood.

Volunteering at Planned Parenthood sparked an interest in the health field, leading to her emphasis in health. Lisa shared that her most memorable service experience was lobbying in Sacramento and Washington D.C. for young people’s reproductive rights. She hopes to raise awareness for Women’s Rights and bring more of a positive connotation to Planned Parenthood and their many services.