This Nonprofit Helps Millions of High Schoolers Get to College
For students living in poverty, staying on track in school is more than a matter of hard work-it means overcoming barriers to success, like poor nutrition or having to work to support their family. By 8th grade, students living in poverty are, on average, three years behind their more affluent peers, half as likely to graduate from high school, and one-tenth as likely to graduate from college. In Los Angeles alone, 84 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.
But organizations like Communities In Schools are working to prevent dropouts, increase high school graduation rates, and get students into college. Working directly in more than 2,300 low-income schools in 25 states and the District of Columbia, CIS serves 1.5 million students who are at risk of dropping out and successfully helps 99 percent of their students stay in school. This week, the Los Angeles branch (CISLA), which serves 9,000 students in 8 schools, will mark its 13th anniversary.
Their annual event will also honor the work of three women: L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis (the former Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama); Deborah Marcus, the director of the Los Angeles branch of CIS who is leaving after a nine-year tenure; and Elaine Wynn, the billionaire co-founder of Wynn and Mirage Resorts empires, who serves as the CIS National Chair as well as the co-chair of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
T&C spoke with Marcus and Wynn about keeping kids in school, the graduation gap, and why this new generation of students inspires them.
What makes you most proud to participate in this kind of work?
Deborah Marcus: I am proud to be part of national movement that is committed to doing whatever it takes to promote the health and well being of our children. I believe that this is the key to everything. We will not be able to solve for any future challenges if we continue to marginalize our most vulnerable children by not investing in their education.
Elaine Wynn: The CIS mission of impacting the next generation by providing programs for disadvantaged school children works! It brings me great joy to see and hear of innumerable alumni reach new heights as a result of CIS.
What makes you optimistic about the next generation?
Marcus: I find them to be so much smarter than my generation. They have access to so much more information than we have. Historically, underserved children of color are beginning to see themselves represented in positions of power. They know that it's possible for a black man to be president and a Somali-born Muslim woman to serve in Congress; that there are many definitions of what is beautiful-I think these symbolize progress and empower our young people to see themselves in positions of influence.
What can everyday people do to help low-income students?
Marcus: They can donate money or time to organizations like CIS who have proven track record and impact. They can volunteer their time to mentor students in schools. And for those who live in big cities, I would encourage people to explore the neighborhoods that they don't live in-eat in restaurants, shop in local stores in communities that are different from yours. Many of us live in silos-we should challenge ourselves to build bridges that connect us.
Can you talk about a particularly compelling student story?
Wynn: Rey Saldana's journey always gives me a lift. His father dropped out of school in eighth grade and his mother dropped out in sixth grade. Through CIS programs Rey was able to be shown a potential he or his family had never known! After high school graduation he attended Stanford University and is currently City Councilman in San Antonio. Rey is helping ensure the next generation is afforded the same support he was given as a National CIS board member.
Marcus: Everyday I hear another story that inspires me. Despite the obstacles they may face, the trauma they may have endured, our students are resilient advocates and burgeoning community leaders. This is what drives me.
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