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Community Catalysts
Students Igniting Change
College Corps Students Make a Difference in Their Community While Gaining Skills and Earning Stipends
by Gina Oltman
When 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
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 service, and they can provide support at 30 one-time events, such as health fairs, community clean-ups and food drives.
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
“For the students, what makes College Corps different from a typical part-time job is the work is very meaningful. They are not just earning money to pay for their education, they are getting meaningful experiences,” said Ureno Moreno. “From these meaningful experiences, they develop important skills. Students tell us they’ve gained skills from the program in areas that include communications, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving and organization.”
Valencia is a good example of that. As a mentor with Improve Your Tomorrow during the 2022-23 academic year, the first-generation college student managed a caseload of 16 students called “brothers” in the program. She met with each brother every two weeks, communicated with school staff and kept a written log of their progress in the program, which focused on encouraging them to attend college after high school, introducing them to nearby college campuses and explaining the higher education opportunities available to them.
As she worked, Valencia found that her writing and interpersonal skills were improving, and she was learning a lot about the public education system.
“I’ve only been in the education system as a student, but with Improve Your Tomorrow, I got to see the teacher and counselor side of things,” said Valencia, who is graduating this winter and feels the experience helps her in her new job as a probation assistant for San Joaquin County. “I saw how the whole education system functions from all sides.”
Two other College Corps participants, Ian Chrisver De Vera and Patrick Ejinaka, had similar experiences improving their skills and learning about topics that were new to them.
said Chrisver De Vera, who worked with the nonprofit Able Works tutoring middle school students in math and teaching financial literacy to older students.
As he completes his bachelor’s degree in business this winter, Chrisver De Vera has already launched his career in human relations at a mortgage company in Concord.
“My experience with College Corps helped me develop a go-getter attitude,” he said. “And that helped me get my current job.”
Ejinaka, a criminal justice major who is now in his second year with College Corps, said he learned a lot last year helping a Stanislaus County agency prepare for climate change by creating maps of the region’s vegetation, soil and buildings, then working at Turlock’s We Care shelter with the homeless population.
He said the work was educational, enlightening and fulfilling.
“It makes you feel good because you see how grateful people are for your service,” he said. “Even if you think
you’re not doing much, to others it means the world, so that is pretty nice.”
A first-generation college student who plans to go to law school, Ejinaka said he would like to do some of his College Corps service this year in education. But, he quickly added, he would be happy with any assignment.
“I am just grateful for the experience,” he said.
All three students said they were also grateful for the College Corps stipend, which helped them cover their educational expenses and reduced their need to take out loans or work long hours while trying to focus on their studies.
“Having the stipend was really helpful,” said Valencia. “For a college student like me, who is trying to make ends meet, that helped me a lot.”
