YCore Project Spotlight: Designing a Mentorship Program for FCE’s High School Students (Foundation for a College Education)

Fellows: Abhimanyu Vasishth, Albert Cui, Emily Wu

In Partnership With: Jaclyn Babcock at Foundation For a College Education

Foundation for a College Education is a nonprofit based in East Palo Alto that strives to build a community for students of color where higher education is attainable. Their work involves both the students and their parents, in effect catalyzing change in the broader community by equipping these families with the necessary tools to succeed in the college application process. Their mission is centered around increasing the number of students of color who graduate from accredited four year colleges and universities.

YCore’s team, composed of Abhimanyu Vasishth, Albert Cui, and Emily Wu, decided to partner with FCE in the hopes of further developing the nonprofit’s work through a mentorship curriculum for prospective 1st generation college students and high school students, to help them develop their professional networks and realize their social capital.

Several processes went into the creation of this curriculum — our team interviewed stakeholders (past and prospective mentors and mentees), gathered resources and materials from other education nonprofits, and created a project timeline for the 3 year mentorship program. Ultimately, they used this information to create an engaging curriculum that they plan to continuously improve on through focus groups.

Impact of COVID-19:

Unfortunately, in the wake of the recent pandemic, FCE’s tutoring and other services for students were moved online. Their annual fundraising gala was also cancelled.

As for YCore’s team, although their goal remains the same, concrete plans to implement the mentorship program will most likely be delayed. Regardless, they are grateful for the insights they’ve gained in the work they’ve done with FCE thus far, including how patience and consistency are needed to facilitate strong relationships with high school students, how to offer mentors the same amount of support, encouragement, feedback (which the student won’t necessarily provide), and training, etc.

Foundation for a College Education is dependent on donations to stay afloat. Do your part and make a donation at https://collegefoundation.org/donate/, or support YCore’s work directly at https://ycore.org/donate!