Community Updates

Each One Teach One

Pathways to Higher Education at the Glendale/Mountain View Community Learning Center

Jarred Martinez, Community Learning Center Education Pathway Coordinator, University of Utah Office of Engagement

Everyone asks themselves at some point, ‘what am I going to do with my life?’ In my little wisdom, this is something continually asked and answered throughout life itself. As I think about where I am at in my own journey, much of my work is wound up in how the communities and people I come across are also answering this question, not only for themselves, but also for their families and their neighbors.

My part in this as an Education Pathway Coordinator at the Glendale/Mountain View Community Learning Center (CLC) comes through the support of the Office of Engagement from the University of Utah. In working with University Neighborhood Partners and various other organizations, I have begun engaging with adults and parents about not only their children’s education, but their own as well, whether it be connecting resources like language classes, or offering advise for their studies at a college or university. But genuine support for space and people that make education and higher learning more accessible also brings to light the reality that many already know. This work goes well beyond navigating schools, applying for admission, doing scholarship essays, etc. Relationships must be built constantly, and respect for community ownership is a process for shaping a legitimate pathway for adults and youth to build on their experiences.

In a community with so many equally valuable stories, experiences and languages, there is much to learn from and with one another. To me, this is the beauty of a place like the Glendale/Mountain View CLC. It is the cultivation and recognition of the belief that education, for both adults and youth, is enriched and ultimately created by these very same parents, students, staff, teachers and community members who have been working together.

In speaking to a parent about their current classes at the University of Utah, and what comes next in order to obtain a degree, I also learn about their son in Glendale Middle School, and their concerns and hopes. Because of this, I am able to begin building a relationship with this student and others in his class. Elementary students on a tour of the CLC not only see that someone from the university works here to talk and listen to them, but learns that there are free language classes and information they can take home to their parent(s).

The above is only a small snapshot, and how a place like the CLC creates powerful connections and possibilities. Additionally, I believe it progressively challenges an educational system on how community effectively connects with local schools and resources, and in part also changes the relationship that people have with institutions of higher learning

Even in my short time working with the community learning center as an Education Pathway Coordinator, I have also been called a community counselor, a teacher, and other labels. Whatever it is called and for whoever does this kind of work, it matters most when you are able to see your own cousin’s face, or hear your own tia or tio in the voices of the people who you speak with and listen to. There are many bridges that can connect us with where we may want to go, and many that can still be built, and it is a great privilege to do this with amazing parents, students, and community.

For more information on the kinds of educational resources and opportunities at the Community Learning Center, please contact Jarred Martinez at 801.974.8359 or jarred.martinez@utah.edu.

Getting Another Foothold in the Community

A College Lounge Opens in the Salt Lake Center for Science Education

Lisa Purcell, Teacher and lounge co-creator, Salt Lake Center for Science Education

At the Salt Lake Center for Science Education, we want college to be accessible to every student. An important piece of this is exposing students to colleges and college admissions requirements from when they arrive in 6th grade. To this end, we developed the SLCSE College Lounge. University Neighborhood Partners met with us to brainstorm our vision for the space. From there, interns worked to secure furniture, paint, and gather college information. Our goal was to have an inviting space, full of materials on college. And, they definitely succeeded in making that vision a reality. We want discussions about college to feel exciting and our new space reflects that. In addition, the space is used to hold small meetings related to college. For example, our College Counselor through the Utah College Advising Corps, Sydney Mitton, meets with students in this space. In the future we plan to host college recruiters and invite individuals to come speak about their careers.

Community Advocates Building Bridges

Almaida Yanagui, Community Advocate Coordinator, University Neighborhood Partners

The Community Advocate Partnership increases parent involvement in west side schools by creating strong relationships between school administrators, teachers and parents. School provides a space for all parties to come together and share ideas and issues to be addressed. It also provides the opportunity for parents and families to connect with the necessary resources and information needed for their functional family shapes. As all parties are building relationships and working together, parents begin to identify and address the needs of their families.

Community Advocates, as we like to call them, participate in school activities, class volunteering and school administrative decision-making. Parents become empowered to take action in the decisionmaking process about their student’s education. Strong community advocacy is the desired outcome of working with parents and families in school sites of west side neighborhoods. Parents are exposed to a safe space where they can increase their knowledge, skills and strengths for a functional family shape to their own reality. This empowers parents to become leaders in their community and advocates for their families within the educational system.

Christina Gonzales began her participation due to an invitation to a parent focus group that was being held at Neighborhood House, the child care center where her children attended while she was at work. She learned how teachers at Neighborhood House dealt with her son’s ADHD in the class room and of their qualifications. She had many questions that where often unanswered because of a language barrier and not knowing a contact within the institution. Because of her participation with the focus group, she created several relationships at the site. The skills and knowledge she obtained soon became very useful when she had questions about her child’s needs. Soon after, she participated as a community researcher in a University of Utah research study coordinated by parents, administration and teachers. The focus of this study was to learn the roles of administration and the roles of teachers in the classroom setting. 

This gave parents the opportunity to have insight on the quality of education their children were being exposed to. Parents received classroom policy and procedure training before actively volunteering in classrooms at Neighborhood House. Individual participation became more family oriented. It is now four years later and Christina and her family continue to participate in other UNP Partnerships. She is also a part of the PTA Committee at DIA Academy where her children currently attend school.

Jose Valenzuela, father of three became involved with UNP partnerships seven years ago, with the goal of providing his children with the guidance for higher education. He was excited to see his son graduate from high school in June of 2013. Carlos Valenzuela started his college education at Salt Lake Community College in the Spring of 2014. Carlos Valenzuela is the first to attend college in the Valenzuela family. Jose continues to work with UNP partnerships at school sites sharing with other parents his own experiences and providing guidance to others in his community.

Community Advocates from different UNP partnerships participate in group meetings throughout the year, in their efforts to achieve sustainability and accomplish their goals of higher education for themselves and their families. They continue to work together, as well as individually, taking on the roles of leaders in their communities creating access of higher education.

New Partners at Partners in the Park

Ray and Harriett Gesteland, Wolf and Meritus Scholarship Donors

Our experience with UNP has been both rewarding and educational for us as a family. We are honored to be a part of an organization that provides so much to our community.

It was so exciting to meet with the young scholarship recipients and some of their families. We look forward to an ongoing relationship with UNP. As a member of the scholarship selection committee I (Harriett) became aware of the talent these young people have and the hardship that many have endured to reach this level of achievement.

Promoting educational opportunities seems especially important since the world seems to be in an increasing state of chaos. It is only through education of the next generations that solutions can be found that will lead to a more compassionate worldview that can lead to solutions. We are proud to help even in this small way.