Greetings!
Spring is here! (Sort of.) We hope you're staying warm and dry as the storms continue. And remember, after the rain comes the rainbow.🌈 Keep working hard; the semester is almost over!
Please read through this newsletter, which includes April's in-person English Conversation Club, a new Programs Coordinator position, our Community Conversation event, many resources, and upcoming scholarships.
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Upward Scholars Announcements |
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In-person English Conversation Club

Upward Scholars invites you to our first in-person Conversation Club in over three years! The Upward Scholars English Conversation Club is an opportunity for you as a student to build confidence in your English conversation skills via a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment. The upcoming theme is "Vacation Plans and Dream Jobs."
In-person English Conversation Club:
When:
Friday, April 21, 2023
7–9 pm
Where:
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City
2124 Brewster Ave, Redwood City, CA 94062
*Please note that parking is limited, so carpool if possible. If transportation is a barrier for you to join us at Conversation Club, please email info@upwardscholars.org to let us know. We may be able to provide free transportation vouchers to and from the event for students who live in Redwood City, Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, San Carlos, Belmont, or Half Moon Bay. Plan to arrive early to ensure enough time to find the church and MINGLE!
RSVP by Thursday, April 13, to join us and invite your friends to do the same. We look forward to seeing you in person.
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Upward Scholars is hiring a Programs Coordinator!
Do you want to work with Upward Scholars to help other adult immigrants achieve their dreams? Well, you're in luck because we're hiring! The Programs Coordinator will coordinate the programs and services under the Career Development and Holistic pillars. They will also assist the Programs Team in offering prospective student orientations and ensuring academic program applications and reports are completed on time and with quality data, among other things.
Learn more about the opportunity here and apply if you're interested!
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Upward Scholars' Community Conversation |
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It's time to register for Upward Scholars' Community Conversation! Join us to hear a conversation with key community partners about our newest program TeacherUp. Through TeacherUp and our growing partnerships, Upward Scholars aims to create a robust support structure for adult immigrants pursuing degrees and careers in early childhood education and development. Together, we'll help students like you achieve their full potential as educators and gain economic mobility while nurturing the young minds of tomorrow.
Dr. Linda Prieto, Executive Director of Upward Scholars, will be joined by Dayna Chung, Executive Director of Community Equity Collaborative, and Marta Lily Silva, Upward Scholars alumna and owner of Lily's Bilingual Family Daycare. Christine Thorsteinson, Director of Early Childhood Development at Silicon Valley Community Foundation, will moderate our Community Conversation. We'll share the registration form next month and hope you're as excited about this event as we are!
When:
Thursday, May 11, 2023
10–10:45 am
Where:
via Zoom
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BusinessUp Boot Camp, in partnership with Centro Community Partners
Do you have or want to start your own business? Do you need help figuring out where to start or what resources are available to you as an immigrant? We have you covered!
Upward Scholars and Centro Community Partners are partnering up to offer a two-day BusinessUp boot camp on Saturday, April 15, and Sunday, April 16, at 8:00 am PST via Zoom to guide you through building personalized, actionable business plans and developing your business ideas. Owning a small business is a great way to move up the economic ladder and create lasting multigenerational change in our communities, so don't wait.
The boot camp is open to everyone, regardless of affiliation to Upward Scholars, city of residence, or level of business knowledge. Register here today to save your spot and start your business in as little as one weekend!
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Spiritual Counseling with Reverend Gerardo GarcÃa Palacios
Upward Scholars offers all students and their families free spiritual and emotional counseling with Rev. Gerardo GarcÃa Palacios. People of all beliefs are welcome, and Rev. Gerardo is English-Spanish bilingual.
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Navigating your Professional Development Opportunities with 4Cs
4Cs invites all Child Care Providers to this informative workshop on Professional Growth and Development in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Field. Join Thursday, April 6, 2023, 6:00 pm–7:30 pm via Zoom to ask personalized questions during a Q&A session with the presenters.
Topics covered in this workshop include Cañada College Education & Human Development certificates/degrees, Skyline College by Education & Child Development certificates/degrees, admissions, college resources, and CA Child Development Permits.
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PG&E Safety Net Program
If you or your family is a PG&E customer and lost power for more than 48 hours due to the severe storms, you may be eligible for PG&E's Safety Net program. Depending on qualifying circumstances, PG&E customers can receive $25 to $100 for experiencing extended power outages. These payments are issued automatically to the customer on record anywhere from 60 to 120 days after the outage. If you experienced a power outage over 48 hours and have yet to receive a payment from PG&E within the allotted time, call 1-800-743-5000. Learn more about PG&E's Safety Net program here.
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Fresh Approach East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market
The Fresh Approach East Palo Alto Community Farmers’ Market is back! It is open for the season of 2023, from April 19 until Mid-November. The Market operates every Wednesday from 9 am to 1 pm. Located at 2555 Pulgas Ave, East Palo Alto, Bloomhouse is a partner non-profit doing great things for the East Palo Alto community.
At the Farmers’ Markets, shoppers with CalFresh EBT (SNAP), WIC, SSI/SSDI, Medi-Cal, or Unemployment benefits can receive a dollar-for-dollar match to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables, essentially doubling their original food budget. Visit the information booth to get more details! They accept cash, credit, and EBT!
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Family Connections FREE 4-week Summer Program
Family Connections offers a FREE 4-week summer program in East Palo Alto and Redwood City for caregivers and children 1-5 years old.
Children 1–3 years and their caregivers will come together on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 am–12 pm. Children 3–5 years will meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 am–1 pm.
Daily activities include story time, singing and movement, arts and crafts, outdoor play, gardening, and much more. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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San Mateo US 101 Express Lanes: Community Transportation Benefits Program
The new Community Transportation Benefits Program helps cover transportation costs for qualifying individuals in San Mateo County. Participants can choose from one of two transportation benefits; a $100 Transit Credit on a Clipper Card (Annual benefit) or a $100 Toll Credit on a FasTrak Transponder (One-time Benefit).
To qualify for either transportation benefit under this program, a participant must meet the following three qualifications to enroll:

- A resident of San Mateo County,
- Age 18 or older
- Earn an individual income at or below $78,300 (for 2022)
For more information on the program, click here.
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Free Tax Help from Tax-Aid
It's tax season! Tax-Aid offers free tax help for households that earn less than $60,000. Their expert Bay Area tax volunteers give you the confidence to prepare taxes adequately and can provide tax support and advice year-round in your preferred language. They have several options, including curbside drop-off, in-person tax help, and virtual services.
Click here to learn more. Their website is available in multiple languages.
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Priority Enrollment at Cañada College
On April 11 from 4–8 pm, Cañada College will be hosting its priority enrollment event. This is an opportunity for new and incoming students to complete their required enrollment steps to register for classes. This PEP Event is open to all High Schools, Adult Schools, and the general public who will be new or incoming students at Cañada College for Summer 2023 and/or Fall 2023 semesters.
Click here for more information and to register.
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Functional Fitness & Balance Class at Sequoia YMCA
Join Sequoia YMCA for a low-impact workout that incorporates gentle resistance and balance exercises. Improve your cardiovascular endurance and build muscle strength. Appropriate for beginners and older adults.
Classes are on Thursdays from 9–9:45 am and are free.
Click here for more information.
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Mariposa Program
Individuals in San Mateo County that are recipients of Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and San Mateo County Access and Care for Everyone (ACE) benefits are eligible for a free Parks annual pass! To learn more, contact the San Mateo County Human Services Agency at 650-508-3200.
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Free Webinar about LGBTQ Issues for Young Children
Children develop concepts of gender, families, and love before age five. It's important that adults have the information they need to support young children in feeling safe and confident in their bodies, families, classrooms, and world.
This training is for parents, caregivers, and anyone who wants a more expansive, welcoming world for young children. Multiple dates cover the same content so that most people can participate. Click on your desired date below to register.
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Free Caltrain Passes for SMC Residents
Caltrain Go Pass provides free train trips on Caltrain between any zone at any time. Approved applicants will receive a special Clipper Card loaded with the Go Pass. This card must be used to tag on and off at the Caltrain Stations for valid use. Go Passes are good until 12/31/23, with limited supply.
Eligibility requirements:
- Make less than $70,000/year
- Work or live in San Mateo County
- Plan on using the card at least twice a week
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External Employment Opportunities |
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Part-time Case Worker at El Concilio
El Concilio of San Mateo County is looking for a bilingual person that is committed to helping the community, is resourceful, and has strong listening and navigational skills.The Case Worker will provide a variety of support services for clients who are in emergency situations, including shelter, housing, food, health/mental, and other critical family service needs. Click here to learn more and apply.
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Hidden Villa Summer Job Openings
Hidden Villa is a farm and wilderness located in Los Altos Hills, California, hosting summer camp programs since 1945. Hidden Villa Camp provides high-quality job training, attracts an inspiring group of people committed to youth work, social justice, and stewardship, and is a great resume builder for young adults.
The camp is hiring for a variety of seasonal positions:
- Camp Nurse
- Head Lifeguard
- Unit Leader
- Backpacking Trip Lead
- Residential Overnight Counselor
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Sequoia District Adult School (SAS) Job Board

SAS has a job board to help students like you find jobs. There are a variety of positions in various industries. Visit their website to learn more.
If you hear of any employment opportunities, please contact Jessica at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and she will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Upcoming Scholarships
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The following is a list of external scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Click on the links to learn more about each scholarship.
NOTE: If you need help applying to any of these, contact Jessica at jessica@upwardscholars.org to be paired with a volunteer who can work with you one-on-one.
- Application Deadline: April 30, 2023
- Some qualifications: STEM major; 3.0 GPA or higher; Hispanic and/or demonstrate leadership or service within the Hispanic community
Immigrants Rising has curated this list of scholarships and fellowships that don't require proof of U.S. citizenship. The list has general application eligibility requirements, including education level, region/state, and immigration status (e.g., DACA, TPS, and in-state tuition eligibility). Only opportunities with due dates within the next 180 days appear on the list. Use the filters to find scholarships that could be right for you, and click on the scholarship to learn more and apply!
Click here to find an array of scholarships specific to your major or area of study.
If you know of any other scholarship opportunities with deadlines in the next few weeks or months, please email me at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and I will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Thank you for reading through this newsletter. I hope it was helpful to you. If you have any further questions or want help with anything you read here, please contact me.
Onward & upward,
Jessica
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Upward Scholars provides adult immigrants the boost they need to move up
the economic ladder through education and career development support.
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