Central Florida CAN
"Where are the Jobs?" Guide Release
"Where are the Jobs?" Guide Release
Central Florida CAN
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A Journey Worth Financing, But How? / ¿Un Camino Que Vale La Pena Financiarlo, Pero Como? [Contributing Writers Series]

A Journey Worth Financing, But How?

¿Un Camino Que Vale La Pena Financiarlo, Pero Como?

By Maritza Rojas, MA, CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION, ACADEMIC ADVISING. Founder of american Virtual USA

This is an installation of a new Contributing Writers Series, focusing on bridging sectors and giving partners a spotlight to share on important issues.

Definitions

FAFSA: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Grants: Financial aid that's typically based on need and doesn't typically have to be repaid, i.e. PELL grant

Nontraditional student: Adult student at least 24 years of age

Scholarships: Gifts offered from sources such as individuals, corporations, social organizations, and other various groups

Student Loan: Borrowed money that must be repaid plus interest

Work-Study: Work on campus while a student

As working adults, sometimes we choose to change careers, sometimes extraordinary situations force us to pivot. I would like to share my journey into a pivot that required me to change career paths and the resources that I was able to find to finance my journey. Although some of the details are unique, the reality is that most adults change career paths at least two to three times in their lifetime. I am not going to lie, there are real barriers to overcome as a non-traditional student, but with research, resources, support, planning, and believing in yourself (self-efficacy), goals that you set for yourself to a new career path can be attained.

“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

The recession of 2008 affected so many facets of the economy, but the real estate industry was hit particularly hard. The recession nearly halted all transactions in the real estate industry. At that time, I had been a loan officer for over 20 years and my income stream suffered so greatly that it was not enough to pay the bills.

Almost instantly I was filled with fear and self-doubt and thought to myself, “I don't know how to do anything else! How am I going to make a living and cover the basic necessities?”

After my temporary and natural meltdown, I gathered my thoughts and decided to make a list of my skills. We don’t realize until we have to take inventory of our skills that we have amassed a number that are valuable and can be applied to other fields and occupations.

After taking inventory of my skills, the next hurdle was to figure out where I could apply my interests and strengths. I knew I would have to invest in furthering my formal education to acquire additional skills that I could apply to an area where I would have economic mobility while also serving a larger purpose.

I started by conducting general searches and reviewing options for careers and short degree programs. Eventually, I decided to apply at Valencia College. I set up a formal career assessment, and when I was done with my assessment and reviewed the results I realized I had been practicing what would later be my new career passion. During my years in lending, I was teaching financial literacy to newly arrived immigrants; I helped them navigate employment opportunities that they could pursue as they acquired English fluency and achieved economic stability and wealth-building through homeownership.

It was quite a relief that despite all of the uncertainty of that time period to know that there was a degree path for me that would start at Valencia College and later utilize the Direct Connect option to continue my education at the University of Central Florida. I didn't quite realize it at the time, but this option is a lifesaver in several ways, including tuition savings.

I had an airtight plan. So I thought . . .

Excited, I discussed my goals with my husband and naturally the question came up: “How are we going to pay for this?”

I reached out to the Financial Aid office at Valencia College and they were able to present me with options. There were several funding options available to me, but I had to start with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

A student must gather personal and financial information to complete this free application. Once the FAFSA is completed and eligibility is determined, you can go back and review other funding options that may be available such as student loans, scholarships, grants, work-study, and in some cases military benefits if you qualify.

In my case, a loss of income qualified me for a Pell grant which was awarded through the FAFSA application. A Pell GrantGrant is awarded each semester for up to 6 years and up to $7,395 a year. This grant does not have to be repaid if you maintain eligibility status.

There are many parts to successfully completing a plan of study, but the focus here is on how to finance your future. A tip: narrow down your area of interest and choose an institution. It will also be important to understand the total fees required to complete the program, whether it is a technical or degree program. Apply for any available funding sources and make sure you understand any applicable repayment obligations. Your choice in a new career will hopefully bring you great personal fulfillment as well as opportunities for professional and financial growth.

The extraordinary circumstances of 2008 inspired me to start a company that offers training and advising services for Spanish-speaking adults, helping them understand the opportunities and skills required to succeed in an occupation or seek resources to chart a career path. I recently attained a Graduate Degree in Career and Technical Education and Academic Advising. Central Florida is rich with resources such as UpliftED, post-secondary institutions, workforce development entities, employers, and other organizations that are ready and able to support your career goals.

Just remember your journey is worthwhile and attainable. If I did it so can you.

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POR MARITZA ROJAS, MA, EDUCACIÓN Y CARRERAS TECNICAS, ORIENTACION ACADEMICA. Fundadora de American virtual usa

Esta es una instalación de una nueva serie de escritores contribuyentes, centrándose en unir sectores y dando a los socios un foco para compartir sobre temas importantes.

Definiciones

FAFSA: (Por sus siglas en inglés) Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes

Grants: Ayuda económica que usualmente se da con base en la necesidad económica de la persona

Nontraditional student: Un estudiante mayor de 24 años

Scholarships: Regalos de fuentes como individuos, corporaciones, organizaciones sociales u otros grupos

Student Loan: Un préstamo que se debe pagar con intereses

Work-Study: Trabajo en la universidad durante el tiempo que soy estudiante

Es muy común en los adultos hacer un cambio de carrera y a veces situaciones extraordinarias nos impulsan a tomar otro rumbo o hacer un cambio. Me gustaría compartirte cual ha sido mi recorrido y el giro que di para embarcarme en una nueva profesión y los recursos que encontré para financiarlo. Aunque algunos de los detalles son particulares en mi vida la realidad es que la mayoría de adultos hacen un cambio de carrera u oficio dos o tres veces durante su vida. No te puedo mentir, hay obstáculos reales que vas a encontrar durante tu camino como un estudiante no tradicional pero con preparación, recursos, apoyo, planificación y lo más importante, creer en ti, lograrás las metas que te propones para culminar tu carrera.

“Si yo creo que lo puedo lograr seguro puedo adquirir el conocimiento para hacerlo aunque no lo tengo al inicio.”
— Mahatma Gandhi

La recesión del 2008 afectó la economía en general, y el mercado de bienes raíces sufrió mayor impacto que otras industrias, casi quedó paralizada esta industria. Durante esa época había cumplido más de 20 años como oficial de préstamos hipotecarios. Mi fuente de ingreso sufrió inmensamente y no alcanzaba para cubrir las obligaciones mensuales.

Casi que de inmediato entre en pánico y falta de confianza en mí misma y pensaba: ¿Cómo me voy a ganar la vida y cubrir los gastos básicos?”

Después de mi colapso emocional temporal pero natural, tome una pausa para pensar y decidí hacer un inventario de mis habilidades. No nos damos cuenta hasta qué hacemos el ejercicio, que tenemos muchas habilidades para aplicar en otra industria o carrera.

Después de analizar el inventario de mis habilidades la próxima tarea era investigar en qué área podría aplicar mis fortalezas e intereses. Algo era claro y sabía que tenía que invertir en mi educación para adquirir conocimiento y otras habilidades. De esa manera podría lograr un mejor nivel económico y servir con un propósito profesional y personal.

Inicie haciendo búsquedas generales de carreras cortas al igual que carreras profesionales. Después de enfocarme en un área decidí aplicar a Valencia College. Hice una cita para completar una evaluación de intereses formal y cuando terminé, el resultado señalaba que estaba practicando en parte lo que iba a ser mi futura carrera. Es muy especial, porque durante mis años como oficial de préstamos hipotecario apoyaba a los inmigrantes hispanohablantes y les enseñaba educación financiera y hablábamos sobre las oportunidades de empleo que habían al adquirir inglés para poder tener una estabilidad económica y aumentar su portafolio a través de la propiedad raíz.

Fue un alivio durante esa época de incertidumbre saber que había una carrera para mi e inicie mi camino en el Valencia College y lo termine en la Universidad de la Florida Central a través del programa Direct Connect. En ese momento no sabía cuan beneficioso era la oportunidad de transición para aliviar costos de la matrícula.

Ya estaba lista con un plan completo. Eso pensaba . . .

Emocionada fui a comentarle a mi esposo y me hizo la pregunta lógica. “¿Cómo vamos a pagar tu matrícula?”

Pedí ayuda a la oficina de asistencia financiera de Valencia College y me presentaron varias opciones. Había varias opciones para cubrir los gastos de matrícula para mi. Inicie con la aplicación para el FAFSA. FAFSA (por sus sigles en inglés) significa Solicitud Gratuita de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes.

El estudiante debe reunir datos personales y financieros para completar esta aplicación gratis. Al completar la aplicación FAFSA se determina la elegibilidad y se puede hacer una busqueda de otras fuentes de ayuda o financiamiento. Estas fuentes pueden ser préstamos estudiantiles, becas, regalos, trabajo en la institución o universidad y en algunos casos beneficios militares, si califica.

En mi caso tuve una pérdida de ingresos y eso permitió calificar por fondos Pell otorgados por FAFSA. La beca Pell se da por determinado tiempo y un monto máximo con restricciones. Este dinero no se paga siempre y cuando mantenga estatus de elegibilidad.

Hay varias etapas para completar un plan de estudio con éxito. Para el propósito de esta conversación el enfoque es cómo financiar su futuro. Mi consejo para ti es; identificar su área de interés y decir en qué institución va a completar su estudio.

Es importante entender los costos asociados a la matrícula bien sea una carrera técnica o profesional. Debes aplicar para todas las opciones y estar seguro de entender los términos de pago si aplican. Esta decisión de perseguir una nueva carrera tiene como fin ampliar sus oportunidades de crecimiento profesional y económicas.

Los acontecimientos extraordinarios del 2008 me inspiraron a formar una compañía que ofrece entrenamiento y servicios de orientación con el fin de ayudar a inmigrantes hispanohablantes para entender que se requiere para poder avanzar en un oficio y usar recursos para iniciar en un nuevo oficio e implementar un plan para una nueva carrera. Recientemente completé mi maestría en Educación y Carreras Técnicas y Orientación Académica. La Florida Central tiene recursos importantes como UpliftED, instituciones post secundarias, entidades para desarrollo y entrenamiento,empleadores y otras entidades comunitarias disponibles para ayudarle a lograr sus metas.

Recuerda que tu camino es importante y posible de alcanzar. Si yo lo pude lograrlo tú también puedes.

Maritza Rojas, MA, is the Founder of American Virtual USA, and is part of UpliftED’s Adult Learners Impact Team. This is an installation of a new Contributing Writers Series, focusing on bridging sectors and giving partners a spotlight to share on important issues.

A previous version of this blog post referred to Maritza’s business by its former name, Alanser.

Maritza Rojas, MA, es la Fundadora de American Virtual USA, y es parte del Equipo de Impacto de Estudiantes Adultos de UpliftED. Esta es una instalación de una nueva serie de escritores contribuyentes, centrándose en unir sectores y dando a los socios un foco para compartir sobre temas importantes.

Una versión anterior de esta publicación de blog se refería al negocio de Maritza por su nombre anterior, Alanser.

Black History, Excellence & Duty [Contributing Writers Series]

Black History, Excellence, & Duty

by Joyce Summersett, MSW CWDP, Executive Director of Southern Technical Institute Orlando

This is an installation of a new Contributing Writers Series, focusing on bridging sectors and giving partners a spotlight to share on important issues.

After Peter Parker’s death within the Marvel Universe, Miles Morales, a Black teenager, fills the shoes of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

After Peter Parker’s death within the Marvel Universe, Miles Morales, a Black teenager, fills the shoes of the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

 
 

Carter G. Woodson, known as the “Father of Black History,” developed Black History Month because he recognized that the American education system offered very little information about the accomplishments of African Americans. This was unfortunately true in my experience growing up as a child and teenager. My parents strongly encouraged education and they gave me as many books as they could on African-American history to read so I would grow up to be proud of my heritage.  However, as I became a young adult, I knew it was my continued responsibility to learn as much as I could about the many great accomplishments of the famous, and not-so famous, African Americans that preceded me. Woodson believed “those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.”

To me, Black History means that without the great leaders who have come before me, I would not have the same opportunities I, or any of us, have today.  It’s very important that my children know the life we live wasn’t given but earned, and a lot of people paid a hefty price for us to live the way we do. I’m doing something a lot of people before us didn’t, or couldn’t, do; it’s not to be taken lightly—I feel, and felt, honored to have been able to attend college: leading to me being the first person in my family to get both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, and then enter a field of work where every day I am impacting lives—I love what I do! Being a Black woman in Corporate America isn’t always easy, but I have found it to be rewarding and worthwhile. 

My parents were my unsung heroes, always encouraging me and supporting me. They truly were the wind beneath my wings and made an enormous impact on my life. They worked hard to make sure we had everything we needed and most of what we wanted without ever complaining. It wasn’t until I became a young adult that I truly understood how my parents were trailblazers: 

My father was a World War II Navy veteran. It was 1947, the GIs were home from World War II, and housing was in short supply. Available only to World War II veterans and their families—and only white veterans at that—Levitt & Sons, led by William J. Levitt, built affordable houses in the town of Levittown, New York. The community prospered, and Levitt also added schools and shopping centers based on a central plan, where families had to abide by certain rules, such as mowing their lawns every week. Levittown became a symbol of the “American Dream,” but it also became a symbol of racial segregation. An opposition group was formed, the Committee to End Discrimination in Levittown, to protest the restricted sale of Levittown homes, and to push for an integrated community. Despite the 1948 United States Supreme Court ruling that eventually integrated the town, there were still bank-designated requirements preventing African-Americans from buying homes. After many challenges, my parents were one of the few African-American families in 1953 able to buy a home in Levittown.

Eventually my parents moved, as racism was still prevalent in the community, and an incident involving my brother while in kindergarten made my family feel unsafe. So they moved and bought another home in Hempstead, New York. It wasn’t until I was a young adult my parents told me the whole story of their time there, and the sense of pride I felt for the bravery of my parents during that time was formative for me.

 
 
 
 

When I think of Black History Month and Career and Technical Education (CTE), I hear: “accessible pathway to success.” There are many African-American pioneers that bridged a pathway to: inventions, film, music, and poetry being created; education, civil rights, entrepreneurship, and politics being progressed; a President and Vice President and numerous other trailblazers inspiring future generations. Black History Month is a shared history in the fabric of the United States of America. At some level, none of these great achievers could have done it were it not for the institution of education.

I also believe it’s important to recognize and give credit to those who history has tried to ignore: there have always been African-American men and women, immigrants, and people with disabilities accomplishing great things. Yes, Neil Armstrong is famous for walking on the moon, but an African-American woman named Katherine Johnson was responsible for that historic space flight, a mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to its success (I was very proud to see a movie produced about Ms. Johnson’s brilliance in 2016, Hidden Figures)! During Black History Month, we remember those leaders and pioneers who paved the way. However, many of us have our own personal heroes/heroines that led by example and encouraged us to be the best version of ourselves. It’s up to every generation to add our contributions to advancing the position of African Americans. 

Every time someone achieves an educational or vocational goal, there is much to be celebrated. Black History Month and CTE Month is a time to be more inclusive, to seek to understand what is “not” recorded in history that highlights the greatness of our country and the richness of our collective heritage. It is also a time to ask: how do we provide educational opportunity for those that may be left behind? How do we tap into our collective resources to make sure that every minority, underrepresented, less fortunate population in our communities has equal access to educational and vocational opportunities? “When we create a culture that welcomes new points of view and values unique experiences, innovation can flourish,” says Angela Curley, Leader of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion and Corporate Citizenship at Henkel North America. 

It is through our African-American history lessons that we have read of many who rose against seemingly insurmountable challenges, struggles, sacrifices and persecution to achieve success. We continue to have the challenges of access, racism, financial attainment, mental illness, substance abuse, deprived communities and resources, and poverty. We all know that education makes us better citizens by teaching us how to conduct ourselves by following rules and regulations and giving us a sense of conscience.  Education is the key to eliminating inequality and reducing poverty.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— Nelson Mandela
 

So, as we celebrate Black History Month and CTE Month, I maintain hope and optimism during a difficult time for this country. To defeat systemic racial harm there needs to be truth, then accountability, and perhaps reconciliation. I want to make sure that I make a difference in my career by leading with compassion and integrity; that I instill the importance of pursuing education and knowledge and by representing our African-American forefather’s legacies to the best of my ability and make sure that I pave a path for other upcoming minority leaders to follow. I challenge us all to be inspired, be mindful and be thoughtful about how you as an authentic leader will inspire the next generation and create an even bigger world of possibilities. Take the time to get to know more about Black History—and not just in February. See what you can learn. Black History has helped all people regardless of race, gender or sexuality—not just African Americans. Be the helping hand to guide those up in obtaining an education, a career where they can accomplish what they have dreamed about—and help them make it a reality—for it truly does take “a village.”

Joyce Summersett, MSW CWDP, is Executive Director of Southern Technical Institute Orlando, and is UpliftED’s Career Connections Impact Team Chair & Stakeholder. This is an installation of a new Contributing Writers Series, focusing on bridging sectors and giving partners a spotlight to share on important issues.

Adult Learners, ALICE, and the Argument for Seeking Education After High School

Adult Learners, ALICE, and the Argument for Seeking Education After High School

by Jon Reiss

An Introduction to why

Those who are familiar with UpliftED know that our main purpose is to increase the portion of the Central Florida workforce who have a high-value credential or degree to 60%. According to the Florida College Access Network, that number is currently just short of 47% (46.9%) for our area (Orange, Osceola, & Seminole Counties). In order to accomplish this feat by the ambitious year of 2025 (the State has aimed for a more conservative goal of 2030), we realized that we would have to look elsewhere than merely those high school graduates who deny the traditional metamorphosis of high-school-to-college-student.

The rate by which high school students transition to college within a year of graduation was 69% in 2018, informing us that recent high school students weren’t the reason for the low attainment rate (National Center for Education Statistics). Sure, college graduation rates aren’t as high as 69%, but still we found that the attainment gap was largely due to those who had foregone college education in the past, which is why we aren’t currently above 50%, let alone 60% attainment (average U.S. college graduation rate was 54.88% in 2019-2020).

As we narrowed down on this population of non-credentialed persons, we realized that their defining characteristic was itself unconventionality. This is why we often refer to this group of learners as “nontraditional.” ‘Everyone knows’—excuse the broad generalization—you’re supposed to go to school, get good grades, then (“if it’s for you; it isn’t for everybody”) you go to college, graduate, and get a high-paying job. But again, this message was always bookmarked by the misleading acknowledgment that ‘college isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.’ This conventional wisdom has been popular far longer than it has ever been helpful, but still you may hear it today (should you, tell them to go kick rocks).

What resulted was a growing U.S. workforce that lived in arrested development as the country’s technology, economy, and needs all grew on restlessly. So, now, we talk about dates like 2025, and 2030, and “60%,” because our development has outpaced our workforce, and with huge looming challenges like automation around the bend, we risk losing agency over our own power. What I mean, is that all the contemporary grievance over jobs lost overseas was once a capitalist decision that might have made some business-sense; By 2030, ‘losing jobs overseas’ may become a necessary action, rather than an economic choice or political argument.

Educational Empowerment Through the Eyes of an Hourly Worker

That all is a bit abstract, though, isn’t it? What does this mean for the working person? It’s been somewhat common to hear that the half-life of a skill is 5 years, meaning that something you learn today will be half-as relevant in 5 years, and irrelevant in 10 (still using Microsoft Word? Or have you switched over to Google Docs? Likely, you currently use both to some degree, but one of these is on the fall. Or, another way to put the word processor debate: are you still used to writing as the sole author of a document? Or have you recently gotten more comfortable with writing in a document simultaneously with a colleague, or perhaps several colleagues?). With the expansion of our technologic capabilities and knowledge, it’s been argued that this half-life has been reduced to 1-3 years. 10 years ago, Microsoft Office proficiency was a nice bonus on your resume; now, it is assumed you know every function of Excel and Photoshop before you even start your new job. It would be better if you had HTML, Java, and Python coding experience.

This is partly why education after high school is so important: you are being taught up to the latest advancements in whatever field you choose to study, rather than being given cursory information on broad things you are ‘supposed’ to know. For better or worse, public education is designed to be as accessible as possible while it is being required. This means that by the time you complete high school you’ve really only performed a rudimentary initiation in order to be considered a participating member of American society (a citizen, in a word). It doesn’t prepare adults for the workforce; it doesn’t even really prepare them for entering the workforce.

Therefore, the college experience tends to be so transformative: once people are treated like adults and are introduced into programs of like-minded folk who act as encouragers and teachers, they realize the true potential that education possesses. Rather than understanding the parameters of what you are ‘supposed’ to know, you learn there are fathomless depths of knowledge awaiting to be mined in the classroom, and not only that it’s truly capital-I Interesting, but that you’ve found a path that awards hard work and sustains you both intellectually and economically. ‘Path’ isn’t a euphemism either; you are moving forward through time while also moving up a financial ladder where the person ahead of you offers a hand up to the next rung. These experiences aren’t just foreign to the hourly worker, they are positively alien, and may even seem threatening in their exclusivity.

Education and Adversity

As we’ve entered 2021, can we possibly fathom the advancements that will come, and what they will ask of us within the next decade? Or what natural travesties will challenge us?

A couple more facts about college graduates during the Great Recession to make my point: “From January 2008 to January 2013, millions of people without college degrees lost jobs and never regained them, while all of the job gains went to the one-third of the labor force with at least a B.A. degree” (Brookings).

In other words: “Over 95% of jobs created during the recovery have gone to workers with at least some college education, while those with a high school diploma or less are being left behind. While jobs are back, they are not the same jobs lost during the recession. The Great Recession decimated low-skill blue-collar and clerical jobs, whereas the recovery added primarily high-skill managerial and professional jobs” (Georgetown CEW).

This wasn’t necessarily intentional; this was a compulsory reaction to where job-demand is headed, hastened by concurrent crisis.

“[College graduates] accounted for 36.5 percent of the U.S. labor force in January 2013; yet, they claimed 71% of the net new jobs created since then. To sum up these figures: of the 10,656,000 net new jobs created from January 2013 to the December 2017, 7,564,000 went to college graduates” (Brookings).

Approximately ten years later, we face a catastrophic pandemic that has ravaged the world, but perhaps most notably our nation and its people and economy. As Forbes has noted through the COVID Inequality Project, Americans with a degree were 8% less likely to lose their job than someone without a degree (In the U.K. the difference is about 7%. In Germany, this difference is 1%). Simply having a degree insulates an individual from the instability that may be roiling around them.

ALICE and Stability

Again, though, perhaps we are getting lost in numbers. What we are really talking about is about stability. Stability for the economy, stability for families, and a stable vision of a stable future. We then find ourselves in ALICE’s territory.

ALICE—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—is a designation created to talk about struggling families and populations while refraining from falling back on the decrepit Federal Poverty Line. The ALICE initiative started as a small pilot program in Morris County, New Jersey, and has since grown to become a national reporting system taking place in 21 states, and more than 648 United Ways.

In short, ALICE refers to those who are working, typically more than one or two jobs, have children, but lack a meaningful savings account or other assets like property. The picture of who ALICE is can vary wildly, but the distinguishing factor is the same: they are perhaps one bad day from having their life irrevocably harmed financially. By and large, these people also lack post-secondary (after high school) education, and while their current situation might reflect this, it also means they lack the means for upward mobility out of that situation.

Getting back to the half-life of skills: What if you haven’t taken the time to develop any or certain skills? Put simply, where will your employability as a member of the competitive workforce come from if you haven’t sought education after high school? To be frank, there is little if any jobs available, let alone ones that pay well.

Now, innumerable dollars have been funneled through different social services in an attempt to aid money to these unfortunate people, but not a single cent goes toward remedying the issue that led to the problem to begin with. Therefore, money would be much better spent training these individuals and awarding them credentials, so that they have more agency and less dependency on future social services. Philanthropy is a wonderful thing, but its longevity is taken for granted.

We haven’t even gotten into things like wage stagnation, the fact that the number of ALICE families are consistently rising, distinctions between degrees and credentials (or even distinctions within credentials themselves), and several dozen other relevant fronts in which to charge the problems noted here in this article, all of which would suggest the same thing; America, Central Florida, the people in which this article are about, to the person reading this, are all depending on a fragile population to take a high-stake risk while hardly in a position to try to do so—in fact actively discouraged from attempting through various systemic barriers and a society that often judges harshly the choices of those in financially precarious situations—in going back to school, either for a degree or credential, and empowering themselves and our community.

UpliftED Resources

"Engaging and supporting nontraditional adult learners is a critical facet of our work as higher education providers and community leaders,” said Zoé Colón, MPA, Community Partnerships Manager of Parramore Education Innovation District (PEID), at the University of Central Florida’s Center for Higher Education Innovation, and member of UpliftED’s Guiding Team as Chair of our Adult Learner Impact Team. “Inspiring and guiding this often-forgotten segment of our community towards higher earning jobs and fruitful careers not only helps lift families out of poverty, but [also] stimulates our local economy. Now, more than ever, we have an obligation to these learners so that they are better equipped to bounce back from the impact of this pandemic and [are] less susceptible to economic recession long term." 

So, after many words, this is why UpliftED has committed years, but specifically the last few months, to develop tools and resources that help aid adults in taking that big leap back into education, while simultaneously trying to be encouraging without being condescending or patronizing—because that’s the thing: lack of education doesn’t mean unintelligent; at some point, someone stuck between a rock and a hard place followed ‘conventional’ wisdom, and maybe even doubt, too, and decided that the risk wasn’t worth it. Well, we’re here to say it is worth it, despite everything you may have previously been told.

To back it up, we’ve developed a new page for Adults Returning to School, to help with everything we can to get these folks into a program that will change their lives for the better. There are few things in this world that sincerely have that power, but education does. So, no matter if you are a veteran, or a high school drop-out, we’ve got resources to get you on the right track to a better future. It’s time to leave behind doubt and bad advice, and to do the seemingly hard thing and pursue a credential—and here’s another bit of advice not shared enough: the hardest part is getting in the door, because from there you will have organizations that will do their best to see you succeed, because (for better or worse) they have an investment in you as a student, and—to be frank again—institutions (and the state) have a better ROI (Return on Investment) with graduates, than they do stop-outs. The gatekeeping at the door is intentional for the prestige that universities claim (although refreshingly nonexistent in front of technical colleges), but it’s presented as a formality. Know how to play your cards, and they’ll even pay you to come through the door. Matter of fact: we’ve got some help for you there, too.

Sources

Adams-Prassl, Abi, et al. “Inequality in the Impact of the Coronavirus Shock: Evidence from Real Time Surveys.” Google Drive, COVID Inequality Project, 28 Apr. 2020, drive.google.com/file/d/1JYI4bzQ5ytmml_Vct8o-Zw7BqRsHKzsq/view.

“America's Divided Recovery: College Haves and Have-Nots.” CEW Georgetown, Georgetown University, 7 May 2020, cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/americas-divided-recovery/.

“College Dropouts Cost Cash-Strapped States Billions.” American Institutes for Research, 11 October 2010, air.org/news/press-release/college-dropouts-cost-cash-strapped-states-billions.

“Degree Attainment Profile: UpliftED.” Florida College Access Network, 2020.

“Immediate College Enrollment Rate.” The Condition of Education - Postsecondary Education - Postsecondary Students - Immediate College Enrollment Rate - Indicator April (2020), National Center for Education Statisitics, 2020, nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cpa.asp.

Shapiro, Robert. “The New Economics of Jobs Is Bad News for Working-Class Americans-and Maybe for Trump.” Brookings.edu, Brookings Institution, 17 Jan. 2018, www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2018/01/16/the-new-economics-of-jobs-is-bad-news-for-working-class-americans-and-maybe-for-trump/.

“US Colleges Graduation Rate.” Univstats, IVSTATS, 2020, www.univstats.com/corestats/graduation-rate/.

 

5 Tips for Students Returning Home for Thanksgiving

With November comes the holiday season, first and foremost being Thanksgiving. Usually, this means lots of traveling amid flu season, which used to only occasionally crossover. Now, the two—travel and illness—seem synonymous, with a pandemic tearing its way, across the world. On a smaller scale, closer to home, many will chance trains, planes and highways to see family.

As much as we would much prefer to see social distancing complied with at a Draconian level, we know this is something of an impossibility for Americans. College students, typically of an age that seems to pride itself on the fallacy of imperviousness, will surely be crisscrossing the country spreading COVID-19. This, of course, was predicted long ago. So, with this appearing to be the case, we would like to offer some tips and advice for college students planning to return home for the holidays.

1. Self-Quarantine: Don't head home the Monday before Thanksgiving and plan on sitting at the table Thursday. Either, A) Return home early and immediately quarantine for two weeks in a bedroom, or, B) Quarantine for two weeks in your dorm room/apartment prior to returning home. In short: you will want to be separated from all people and places for two weeks before seeing your family. This is the hardest part, but it may be a matter of life-or-death for your family members.

2. Drive Alone: This may not be an option for everyone, but it is the safest form of travel considering the coronavirus. Consider which travel method will expose you to the fewest people for the least amount of time. Of course if you can’t drive home alone, stay masked and maintain proper hand hygiene: wash regularly and thoroughly, and carry hand sanitizer. The Washington Post has a useful guide to help anyone with their traveling.

3. Get Tested: You need to know whether you are carrying the disease or not. Because tests act like snapshots (they represent moments, not swaths of time), you should get tested more than once. Ideally, you should test negative twice, separated by a period of three days before seeing family.

4. Wear a Mask: It's simple, effective, and not nearly respected enough. Wear it inside, outside; wash your reusable ones; cover both your mouth and nose. It's so insultingly easy that to not do it might start sending some negative unintended messages to your loved ones.

 

5. Table Size: Keep it a small affair this year, delay the gratification until next year; It'll be worth it if you can keep another person around the table next year, rather than have them for this one. Also, consider hosting outdoors where it will be harder for the disease to spread from person to person. A long table that keeps guests distant is another suggestion.

 

Food for Thought with UpliftED

After the recent success of our webinar, "SAIL to 60: A Post-Session Look at Connecting Education & Business Amid COVID-19," we've decided we're going to try something new. So, join us at noon, every other week for our Facebook Live Q&As with local leaders. You can find our Facebook page here.

Held during the lunch hour (noon-12:30), we'll be having conversations with members from every sector: public, private, and non-profit.

Have something new to plug? Want to chat about education and workforce development? Shoot us an email with what you'd like to talk about, and some dates you are available. These will be biweekly editions that air at noon, and we are welcoming anyone and everyone to share some Food for Thought for lunchtimes.

Next Episode: November 11th, 12:00 p.m. Watch here.

Expanding education for a stronger Central Florida workforce.

UpliftED is a collective effort aimed at reducing barriers to post-secondary education for local students.