Education Navigator, Nickerson Gardens & Avalon Gardens 

Alejandro (he/him) is a first-generation college graduate with the experience of re-entering higher education after being removed from the college he first attended. His time away from higher education consisted of working as a gardener with his father and reassessing his plans for the future. He perceived higher education as unattainable and undesirable throughout his time away; however, this mindset was transformed once he completed his first Chicano/a Studies course upon re-entering. Alejandro earned a bachelor's degree in both Chicano/a & Central American Studies and History at the University of California, Los Angeles. Alongside his education, he also has experience working as a College and Academic Success Associate with The Fellowship Initiative (TFI) at Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI), mentoring Black and Latino male students in public high schools across Los Angeles.

Contact Alejandro at alejandro@socalcan.org

Education Navigator, Gonzaque Village & Jordan Downs

Carlos Franco (he/him) is an educator with nearly two decades of experience helping students thrive in and beyond the classroom. He is a first-generation college graduate who received his BA in Liberal Studies and multiple subj ct teaching credential from CSUDH and a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Educational Equity and Social Justice from CSULB. Carlos is passionate about making higher education more accessible and inclusive; believing that higher education can be used as a tool for self-empowerment (especially for those who have historically been left out of these spaces).

Prior to joining Project SOAR, Carlos worked at Cal State Fullerton, supporting graduat students through academic advising while also teaching career readiness courses to undergraduate business students.

Carlos draws inspiration from the writings of bell hooks and Paulo Freire, and believe education should be liberating, transformative, and rooted in care & community. Outside of work, you might find Carlos exploring local coffee shops, reading books, or taking part in a Zumba class.

Contact Carlos at carlos@socalcan.org 

Education Navigator, William Mead Homes & Ramona Gardens

Maria (she/her) is a first-generation college graduate from South Central Los Angeles, CA, with a strong commitment to advancing college access and educational equity. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Franklin & Marshall College, where she navigated the challenges of being a first-gen Latina at a predominantly white institution. This experience inspired her commitment to mentorship and helping students feel supported and empowered in academic and professional spaces.

Maria has worked with students across the East and West Coasts, facilitating workshops on FAFSA, college planning, and executive functioning. Additionally, she’s provided internship and job search assistance, helping students with searching, applying, and securing meaningful work opportunities. Before joining SoCal CAN, she supported community college students at LACCD campuses as a Career Coach with the Los Angeles College Promise Works program. She also coordinated student internship initiatives in partnership with the Office of LA Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration, including securing paid internships for students across multiple City Departments of Los Angeles.

She is committed to helping students not only access post secondary education but thrive, graduate, and use their voices to create positive change. 

Contact Maria at mariac@socalcan.org

Education Navigator, Pico Gardens/Las Casitas & Estrada Courts

Tania (they/them) is a first-generation college graduate hailing from Southern California. Tania initiated their academic pursuit at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC), fostering a foundational passion for Political Science, which seamlessly transitioned into an enriching academic experience at UC Santa Barbara where they completed a Sociology degree in 2021. Throughout their undergraduate tenure, Tania demonstrated unwavering commitment to advancing student equity and championing the success of first-generation college students, manifesting through active participation in mentorship programs and counseling initiatives. Post-graduation, Tania has been dedicated to various roles within education and counseling, contributing significantly to diverse student communities.

At the core of Tania’s professional ethos lies a profound commitment to mental health advocacy, a passion that has evolved from personal experiences and a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges faced by marginalized communities, including People of Color, those from low-income backgrounds, and the LGBTQ+ community. Looking forward, Tania aspires to complete a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, and help establish a therapeutic environment where rigorous research and hands-on counseling converge to specifically support People of Color, low-income individuals, and queer clients.

Contact Tania at tania@socalcan.org

Project SOAR Program Director

Niña brings over a decade of experience in the educational nonprofit sector, where she has led the design and expansion of enrichment programs for youth ages 6–18 and championed college access and early career development initiatives for young adults. Her work reflects a deep passion for student empowerment and community service, with a commitment to equity and innovation at the core of her approach.

As the Program Director of Project SOAR, Niña drives the strategic direction of a multi-site initiative supporting public housing residents across Greater Los Angeles. She oversees a mission-aligned counseling team, leads cross-sector partnerships, and develops scalable, high-impact programs that improve educational access and outcomes. She is dedicated to transforming systems and advancing opportunity through inclusive leadership, strategic innovation, and visionary program design.

Niña holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Elementary Education, and a Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University. 

Contact Niña at nina@socalcan.org 

Deputy Director, SoCal CAN

Lina is a native of Los Angeles, born and raised in East LA and Pasadena, CA. She is passionate about community wellness, education equity, and all things college access and success. Informed by her personal experiences as a first generation college student and her years spent providing direct support and counseling to diverse communities, Lina is continually motivated by the belief that postsecondary education should be a viable option for everyone. 

As Deputy Director of the Southern California College Attainment Network (SoCal CAN), she serves as an executive leader dedicated to SoCal CAN’s organizational development, sustainability, and strategic growth. In her role, she also strives to amplify the network’s mission of ‘advancing education equity for all’ by building and deepening partnerships, cultivating connections & resources, developing impactful programming, and identifying opportunities for cross-sector collaborations on behalf of our 118+ member organizations.

Since its inception in 2017, Lina has lead, guided and supported the overall implementation, expansion and success of Project SOAR. As Deputy Director of SoCal CAN, she continues to manage SOAR's sustainability and cross-sector partnership with HACLA and provides direct support and supervision to SOAR's Program Director. 

Contact Lina at lina@socalcan.org 

Executive Director, SoCal CAN

Alison’s passion for higher education attainment was sparked as child growing up in an agricultural region. Her mother provided college guidance services to those who could afford it, while offering pro bono support to those who couldn’t – namely the children of migrant workers. Within a decade, she witnessed how her peers and community were transformed by the influx in college degrees. 

As the Executive Director of SoCal CAN, Alison works with more than 118 organizations to expand college access and completion for low-income students in the region. The network plays an important role in the field by bringing together direct service organizations to exchange effective practices, address existing service gaps, and weigh in on policies and practices that help or hinder students’ ability to smoothly reach their goal of college graduation. For the past six years, Alison has led Project SOAR's sustainability and fundraising efforts while also providing executive leadership, oversight and support. 

Contact Alison at alison@socalcan.org