I am honored to work for YES Prep Public Schools, a public charter school system committed to serving students of low socioeconomic backgrounds.  Our school system prides itself on many accomplishments, including the following:

1. 100% of graduating seniors are accepted to college

2. 93% of alumni matriculate to college within one year of high school graduation

3. 73% of alumni are currently enrolled in college or have already earned their degree (6 times the national average for low-income students).

As an educator, I hold the great privilege of empowering my students to rise above the discrimination, stereotypes, and low standards that have been placed on minority students.  About 95% of the student population at my campus is Hispanic.  They all have incredible stories of how they and their families immigrated to America from all over the world- including Mexico, El Salvador, Cuba, Honduras, and Guatemala.  Due to the highly politicized climate of our nation, many of my students are worried that everything they've been working so hard for may be taken away from them at any moment, either because they are undocumented or because their parents are undocumented.  Though they want the chance to succeed academically and be the first in their families to attend and graduate from college, the message that my students have received from the media and from certain politicians and their supporters is that they do not belong here; that they must return to where they came from because they are not welcome here.

With these funds, I plan to dismantle any fears that my students have about belonging in this country. I, along with a couple of my colleagues, will bring a group of about 10 students on a trip to enjoy the California Redwood Coast so that they can experience the beauty of our country firsthand. We will be camping in the Redwood Forest, partaking in a whale watch, enjoying a tide pool exploration, and doing some light hiking. We will camp in various state parks along the way and drive the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway. Originally, we were planning on going to the Grand Canyon, but due to a lack of camping space availability, we’ve decided to visit another national treasure and save the Grand Canyon for another time. By reconnecting with nature, and experiencing one of the most beautiful places that our country has to offer, my hope is that my students will learn to feed their dreams rather than their fears. I want my students to experience all that our beautiful country has to offer, regardless of their citizenship status.  The purpose of this trip is to empower my students to pursue happiness, even (perhaps especially) in the face of adversity and hate.  My students have the right to dream and more importantly the right to pursue their dreams.

Please stand in solidarity with my students by making a donation.  Your monetary support will go a long way in restoring the faith and hope that my students have in our country and in humanity.  

Thank you very much for your time and consideration,

A Humble Educator 

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