IN THE COMMUNITY
Community Catalysts
“Being in College Corps helped me with skills in the areas of leadership, time management and how to talk to people, especially in a public setting. It helped develop my soft skills, and I grew as a person.” - IAN CHRISVER DE VERA, BUSINESS MAJOR
Students Igniting Change
College Corps Students Make a Difference in Their Community While Gaining Skills and Earning Stipends BY Gina Oltman
W
hen Perla Valencia of Stockton learned that she could earn money by inspiring young people in her community to attend college, she wasted no time jumping on the opportunity. “I know it might sound cliché, but children and teens growing up today, they hold the future,” said Valencia, a Stanislaus State criminal justice major and student assistant on the Stockton Campus. “I see the need here in Stockton, and that’s why I chose to work with Improve Your Tomorrow mentoring young men of color in high school. I saw the organization’s mission and knew I wanted to be part of it.” Valencia made her choice as a participant in the #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program at Stan State. College Corps is a statewide program that pays students a stipend to spend a year working 450 hours in public service on and off campus in three priority areas: K-12 education, climate action and food insecurity. At Stan
STA N M AGA Z I N E
State, 100 students participate in College Corps over the fall and spring semesters of each academic year. “The program provides a very meaningful experience to students,” said Miriam Ureno Moreno, Stan State’s program director. “Not only do the students gain skills, but the program also provides an empowering experience that engages them in the community and prepares them to go on to other things.” Students, including Dreamers, are considered eligible for the program under a wide variety of circumstances, and they can earn up to $10,000 a year participating in College Corps, depending on how active they are. The program is now in its second year after being tested for two years as a smaller pilot program called Civic Action Fellows. College Corps at Stan State has nearly two dozen partners hosting students, including nonprofit groups, school districts and government entities. Students can choose from 43 locations for their
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Ian Chrisver De Vera
