Policy Changes in Education

Gloria Soto, Metzli Reyes (Future Leaders of America)

This session will provide first-generation college students with an accessible overview of new and proposed legislation supported by the College For All Coalition that directly impacts student safety and well-being in higher education. The presentation will focus on key policy areas including protections for students facing immigration enforcement, expanded access to mental health resources, and changes related to student loans and financial security.

First-generation students, particularly those from immigrant, low-income, and historically marginalized communities, are often the most affected by policy changes, yet are the least likely to receive clear, timely information about their rights and available protections. 

The goal of this session is to empower students with knowledge, reduce fear and misinformation, and encourage civic and campus engagement. By connecting policy to lived experience, this presentation will help students better navigate higher education systems while building confidence to access resources, seek support, and engage in collective advocacy.

Making It Happen: Higher Education and Civic Engagement

Ivan Vega, Carmen Martinez, Karla Rodrigues (Allan Hancock College)

This interactive workshop will explore how students, particularly undocumented and BIPOC youth, can engage in effective civic advocacy while navigating the complex demands of higher education. Drawing from my lived experience as an undocumented student organizer and current work co-leading a countywide youth advocacy campaign, this session centers student leadership as a powerful force for institutional and policy change.

The workshop will share practical lessons from organizing on college campuses to secure resources for undocumented students, as well as from leading a campaign through Future Leaders of America to advance the creation of a Santa Barbara County Youth Fund. This campaign seeks to invest public dollars in youth development, basic needs access, and legal resources, demonstrating how young people can successfully influence local government and budget decisions.

Participants will gain tools to balance academic responsibilities with organizing work, build sustainable advocacy strategies, and translate personal experiences into collective action. Through discussion, reflection, and applied examples, the workshop will equip students, educators, and advocates with concrete strategies to support youth civic engagement, navigate higher education systems, and build pathways for long-term leadership and policy impact.

This session is ideal for students, campus staff, organizers, and educators committed to equity, access, and youth-led social change.

First-Gen in STEM: Learning the Hidden Curriculum Together

Arely M. Guijarro (President of UC Santa Cruz SACNAS Chapter)

First-generation students in STEM often face unique challenges when navigating higher education, including limited access to information about internships, research opportunities, graduate school, and STEM career pathways. Many must learn the ‘hidden curriculum’ of science independently, relying on trial and error and the support of great mentors. This student-led panel brings together first-generation and transfer students who are actively navigating these pathways and are committed to mentoring others through their journey.

The panelists are leaders and members of the UCSC-SACNAS Chapter, a student-led organization dedicated to supporting students in pursuing internships, research, graduate education, and careers in science while fostering a sense of belonging and community. Several panelists are currently applying to PhD and post-bacc programs, while others have experience from transferring institutions, joining research labs, and securing professional opportunities. Drawing from lived experiences, the panel will provide an honest insight into what it means to navigate STEM as a first-generation student.

The purpose of this session is to demystify academic and professional pathways in STEM, empower first-generation students with practical strategies and resources, and provide affirmation that they belong in scientific spaces. Through open discussion and audience engagement, participants will gain the tools, confidence, and community support to thrive in STEM.

Building Your Community of Support: Thriving as a First-Generation College Student

Luis Chavez (President, FirstGen America/Circle of Champions)

First-generation college students bring resilience, determination, and deep community values to higher education. Yet many navigate college without clear guidance on how to intentionally build the relationships that support academic success and career growth. This interactive workshop invites students to shift from “doing college alone” to developing a strong, intentional community of support.

Through guided reflection and a hands-on mapping activity, participants will identify the people who already support them—family, peers, mentors, faculty, supervisors—and clarify what kinds of support they may still need. Students will explore how to strengthen existing relationships, initiate mentorship conversations, and access campus and community resources with confidence.

Grounded in an asset-based perspective, the session affirms first-gen identity as a source of strength and community cultural wealth. Rather than focusing on deficits, we center collective wisdom, belonging, and relationship-building as essential tools for thriving in higher education.

By the end of the session, students will leave with a personalized support map and clear next steps for expanding their network in ways that align with their academic and professional goals.

From Reflection to Action: Leveraging First-Gen Experience for Change

Dr. yeng yang, Dr. Anthony Bencomo (Professorsof Ethnic Studies, Hartnell College)

First-generation students often navigate higher education while balancing family responsibilities, cultural expectations, and systems not designed with them in mind. Often, these experiences are framed through a deficit lens that emphasizes what students lack rather than the strengths they bring. This session re-examines the first-generation journey by centering Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) as a powerful source of resilience, knowledge, and success. Drawing from both scholarship and the co-presenters’ lived experiences as first-gens, the session centers participants’ own lived experiences to collectively explore how different forms of cultural capital have shaped their pathways through higher education and beyond. 

From First-Gen College Student to Confident Professional

Denise Alvarado (Executive Director of Elementary Education, Santa Barbara Unified School District)

This interactive workshop supports first-generation college students as they transition from college into professional spaces with confidence and clarity. First-gen students often navigate career development without access to mentorship, professional networks, or the unspoken expectations that shape career advancement, which can lead to uncertainty and self-doubt.

The purpose of this workshop is to build confidence by helping students identify their strengths, recognize areas for growth, and develop practical strategies for mentorship and networking.

Grounded in lived experience and affirming first-gen identity, the session guides students in translating their academic experiences, cultural assets, and personal stories into professional strengths.

Through guided reflection, discussion, and applied activities, participants will learn how to seek mentors, build authentic professional relationships, and navigate professional spaces with greater confidence. By the end of the workshop, students will leave feeling a stronger sense of belonging, a clearer professional identity, and an actionable plan to support their transition from first-generation college student to confident professional.

Financial Wellness in College 101

Sarahy Torres (Ph.D. Student, UCLA Chicana/o and Central American Studies)

In this workshop, students will gain a clear and practical understanding of financial aid, with a strong focus on scholarships as a key resource for paying for college. Participants will learn what scholarships are, the different types available (such as merit-based, need-based, and identity-based awards), and how scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of higher education. The workshop will guide students step by step through the scholarship application process, including how to find reliable scholarship opportunities, understand eligibility requirements, track deadlines, and prepare strong applications. Students will also learn strategies for standing out as an applicant, such as writing effective personal statements, requesting recommendation letters, and avoiding common mistakes. In addition to scholarships, the workshop will introduce the basics of financial literacy in college, helping students understand budgeting, managing expenses, and making informed financial decisions. By the end of the session, students will feel more confident navigating financial aid resources, planning for college costs, and taking proactive steps toward funding their education in a smart and responsible way.

Transfer Success Planning

Cynthia Diaz (Counselor, Allan Hancock College Puente)

Are you planning to apply to a university but need more information? Attend this session to learn about admissions requirements, programs and majors, different university systems, guaranteed admissions.  If you are at the beginning of your transfer journey or want clarification on the process, this workshop is for you!

Studying Abroad as a First-Gen Student

Mariana Cabrera Figueroa (Program Officer, Fulbright Teacher Exchanges,IREX)

This presentation will cover the process through which any college student should decide to study abroad, find exchange opportunities, finance their semester, manage culture shock, and navigate international education as a whole. First-generation students are among the least likely student groups to pursue exchange experiences during their time in college. This is due to several factors: no prior knowledge of study abroad & its benefits, lack of funds, perceived lack of time, cultural factors, and of course, imposter syndrome. This session aims to demystify studying abroad and provide resources for students to begin understanding and planning an educational exchange experience for themselves.

Medical School/Careers Panel

Jacqueline Dancy MPAS, PA-C

• Professor and Practicing Physician Assistant

Angelo Joseph Bulahan

• Physician Assistant Student

Gabriel Estrada

• Physician Assistant Student

Clareth Mota Beeks

• Physician Assistant Student

Victoria Velarde

• Physician Assistant Student

Industry Careers Panel 

Romero Perez

• Product Manager, PG&E Grad Student, Civil & Environmental Engineering

Maria Salguero

• Senior Attorney, Immigrant Legal Defense Center

Teresa Arredondo

• President and CEO of ArtCraft Paint

Latina to Latina Consejos: First-Gen Professional Pathways Panel

Vania Agama Ramirez, Diana Ortiz Giron (Director, TRIO SSS / Cal Poly San Luis Obispo)

This Latina consejos panel is a conversation rooted in community, lived experience, and collective wisdom. This panel brings together Cal Poly San Luis Obispo higher education staff members who identify as Latinas, spanning entry-level roles to director-level positions, and representing a range of life stages and professional journeys.

Panelists will share their pathways from post-secondary education into the workforce as first-generation professionals, children of working-class immigrants, and formerly undocumented staff members who chose careers in higher education to give back to the next generation of first-gen students. Together, they will reflect on the realities of pursuing higher education and advancing their careers while caring for themselves, their families, and their communities.

The conversation will explore themes such as imposter syndrome, networking, job searching, transferring, relocating, mentorship, grad school, working motherhood, and cultivating empowerment and healing as a first-gen professional. Grounded in the spirit of consejos and collective care, this panel centers the joys, challenges, and resilience that shape first-gen Latina professional experiences.

This event centers on Latina experiences, while remaining open and welcoming to all who wish to learn and listen in community.