Greetings!
Happy Women's History Month! We hope you're having a great semester so far and managing to get through midterm season.
Please read through this newsletter, which includes the Upward Scholars' Community Conversation event, April's in-person English Conversation Club, lots of community resources, and upcoming scholarships.
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Upward Scholars Announcements |
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Save the Date: Upward Scholars' Community Conversation |
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You're invited to Upward Scholars' Community Conversation! Mark your calendar for May 11 at 10 am to get a virtual update on our impact in 2022, learn about Upward Scholars' plans for 2023, and, most exciting, hear a conversation with key community partners about our newest program TeacherUp. The date of our Community Conversation coincides with Teacher Appreciation Week. Coincidence? We think not!
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!
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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 & Dream Jobs."
In-person Conversation Club:
Friday, April 21, 2023
7–9 pm
Save the date: We'll share location details and the RSVP form next month.
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Technology Volunteers
Did you know Upward Scholars has volunteers supporting students with technological issues, especially those with laptops and computers?
Students in San Mateo County, contact Sue Kayton at kayton@alum.mit.edu or (650) 853-1711 (phone calls only) to receive assistance.
Students in Alameda County, contact Lisa Dueri at lisadueri@yahoo.com or (415) 621-9533 (phone and texts accepted) to receive assistance.
Please understand that Sue and Lisa are volunteers and will return your call or message when they are available. Be courteous and clear in all communications, and always mention that you are an Upward Scholars student. If you leave a voicemail, clearly state your name and call-back number.
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Spiritual Counseling with Reverend Gerardo García Palacios
Upward Scholars offers all students and their families free spiritual and emotional counseling with Rev. Gerardo García Palacios. People of all beliefs are welcome, and Rev. Gerardo is English-Spanish bilingual.
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Sustainable Eyewear Project
Palo Alto High School's Advanced Authentic Research class is hosting a free eye exam clinic. It has partnered with community members to upcycle unused eyewear into new glasses for people from low-income households. If you live in the area and are interested in a free eye exam and upcycled, sustainable eyeglasses, please email Jessica at jessica@upwardscholars.org to be added to a list Upward Scholars will share with PAHS.
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Nuestra Casa's SecondChance Project
If you like reading or being part of a social club, you'll love Nuestra Casa's SecondChance Project. This group will share stories about farmwork, immigration, racism, and more while reading Breaking Through by Fransico Jiménez.
The group meets every Thursday from 5 to 6:30 pm at Nuestra Casa (2396 University Ave) in East Palo Alto.
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Steps to Become Licensed
The Child Care Licensing Program licenses Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs) in California. Join 4Cs of San Mateo County on Thursday, March 9, from 6 to 7 pm via Zoom to learn how to obtain a state-regulated license for a Family Child Care Home. Participants will learn the steps, ratios, and equipment needed.
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Dreamers Unite Conference
The 10th annual Dreamers Unite Conference will be held on Saturday, March 11, at Sequoia High School from 9:15 am-1:15 pm.
Workshop topics include: How to Take Care of Your Emotional Well-Being, Know Your Rights, Activism Through Art, How to Choose and Pay for College, and more.
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Traveling on Advance Parole Webinar
Individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) can request and travel with Advance Parole for humanitarian, employment, and educational reasons. To qualify, DACA recipients must demonstrate that their need to travel falls within one of these categories.
This webinar will provide an overview of travel with Advance Parole, its requirements, suggestions to apply successfully, and risks to consider before traveling outside the United States, including prior removal orders, common grounds of inadmissibility, and other complications that could arise when traveling.
Register here for the webinar on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from 12 – 1:30 pm to learn more.
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Understanding Children’s Behavior Workshop
4Cs of San Mateo County is hosting two separate workshops (one in Spanish and one in English) designed to support continuous improvement efforts of infant/toddler programs. Participants will be able to explore possible causes of behavior, understand the connection between behavior and social-emotional development, and learn strategies for supporting behavior with infants and toddlers in group care.
Spanish workshop: Wednesday, March 15, from 6 to 8 pm on Zoom. Register here to attend.
English workshop: Thursday, March 30, from 6 to 8 pm on Zoom. Register here to attend.
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Naturalist Internship: Habitat Restoration Training and California Naturalist Certification
Grassroots Ecology's 9-week Naturalist Internship allows college students and recent graduates to explore a career in environmental conservation and deepen their understanding of California's natural history. Through outdoor education and hands-on field training, interns will gain local ecological knowledge, habitat restoration skills, a robust professional network, and valuable experience in the environmental field.
Upon completing the internship, interns earn a California Naturalist certification, an education and skills certificate recognized statewide. This certification is offered in partnership with the UC California Naturalist Program, whose mission is to foster a diverse community of naturalists and promote stewardship of California's natural resources through education and service.
There will be an informational session for interested students to learn more about the program on Thursday, March 9, from 6 to 7 pm. Register here to attend the informational session.
Read more about the internship and apply here. Applications are due by Sunday, March 19, 2023, at 11:59 pm.
Storm-soaked Residents Can Apply for Federal Disaster Assistance
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Homeowners and renters in San Mateo and Alameda counties with damage or losses due to the New Year’s storms can apply for federal disaster assistance.
Disaster assistance may include grants to help pay for temporary housing, essential home repairs, and other serious disaster-related needs such as medical and dental expenses, transportation, child care, and moving and storage expenses.
The deadline to apply is March 16, 2023.
Disaster-related assistance may include:
- Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable;
- Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items;
- Unemployment payments for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and do not qualify for state benefits (self-employed);
- Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance;
- Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; or
- Advisory assistance for legal veterans’ benefits and social security matters.
NOTE:
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Community members without legal status can apply through a minor child in their household. FEMA does not share data with ICE except under very rare circumstances (see fact sheet for more information).
- Applicants referred to the Small Business Administration (SBA) by FEMA should apply for the SBA loan. If they are approved, they do not need to accept the loan. If they are denied the loan, FEMA will reevaluate their case to determine what level of financial assistance it can provide.
- Applicants can appeal FEMA’s decision on their case. Appeals should be filed within 60 days of receiving the decision letter, but if this deadline is missed, applicants should appeal anyway, explaining why they could not meet the original appeal deadline.
To apply, FEMA provides the following guidance for homeowners and renters:
If you have insurance, first file a claim with your insurance provider. FEMA assists applicants with uninsured or underinsured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs. FEMA assistance cannot aid with losses already covered by insurance.
There are several ways that you can apply for FEMA assistance:
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OYE Conference
Join Upward Scholars at the 11th Annual OYE (Orgullo y Educación) Latinx Youth Conference held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Cañada College. OYE provides opportunities for 450 local teens, young adults, and their parents to explore and express Latinx culture and identity and find tools to overcome challenges, pathways to the future, and strategies to strengthen our communities. This year's theme for the conference is Honoring our Roots and Launching into the Future.
We invite you to join Upward Scholars for our workshop "Building up our Parents for a Better Future" from 1:00 pm to 2:15 pm. Bring your children and invite your friends, neighbors, family, and anyone you think might benefit from our program and the conference. We'll be playing Upward Scholars Lotería, so you don't want to miss it!
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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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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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Hidden Villa Summer Camp
The beautiful setting and open philosophy of Hidden Villa make for an especially memorable experience for children of all ages. The camp is designed to grow with children and adjust to meet their needs, introducing them to wilderness and farm activities, fostering leadership skills and responsibility, and emphasizing respect for the environment and others. While there are fees associated with the camp, financial aid is available.
Their camps are filling up fast, but there are still spaces available in:
- Kinder Camp
- Residential Community Camp
- Farm & Wilderness Camp
- Counselors in Training
- Leaders in Training
You can sign up for the waitlist if a camp session is full. Learn more about Hidden Villa programs and sessions here.
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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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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: March 31, 2023
- Some qualifications: Self-identify as a Chicana and/or Latina; full-time student; 2.0 GPA or higher
- Application Deadline: April 2, 2023
- Some qualifications: 1st in family to attend college; 2.5 GPA or higher; open to undocumented students
- 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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