Posted on November 6, 2020
Project: My Puksta Project focuses on the racial disparities amongst students of color regarding retention and college completion. I’m currently developing a one-year comprehensive program for full-time African American freshmen that emphasizes experiential learning, research, multicultural engagement, and personal development. It includes a reward and accountability system to track academic performance and encourage students to explore pathways and careers early on. We would be helping students establish their “why” to have the motivation, leadership skills, college readiness, and confidence they need to land internships and be successful in the rest of their academic career.
Inspiration: My personal experiences and data are what inspire me. From my personal life, I am a student who used to struggle in school. I graduated high school with a 1.6 GPA and attended a college that did not help me succeed. It wasn’t until I attended a Community College that led me to a first-generation leadership program that equipped me with the skills to graduate top of my class and speak at graduation. I’ve seen many of my fellow African American students disappear, dropout, and end u lost due to lack of support and information. Schools take pride in their diversity, but some lack the data to back it up from what I’ve seen on the state level. The data shows that African American Studen Retention is down 12% for second years at MSU Denver. It also shows that African American students are least likely to take advantage of school resources, internships, and other programs designed to help them succeed. However, on the contrary, students of color who are engaged in clubs or take a multicultural class, engage in a research project, internship, or study abroad are twice as likely to graduate and stay in school than their peers.
Future Plans: I hope to set a foundation for real equity and student empowerment. I want to create a program that fosters the next generation of MSU Denver Leaders and puksta scholars, doctors, mayors, and lawyers. I would like to see an increase in African American 2nd to 4 Year retention and African American Graduation rates starting the beginning of this program. MSU Denver is one of the most diverse campuses in colorado, with students from all walks of life; it’s time for us to pour into our diverse pipeline so they can pour into our local communities and ultimately back into us. I hope to set a statewide precedent of what it looks like to take an underrepresented group of students and transform them into scholars and leaders in their future industries.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: International Studies and Political Science
Project: For the upcoming academic year, my project entails creating a solid system of workshops that navigate how to make higher education accessible for senior students in ESL (English as Second Language) classes at Fort Morgan High School. The workshops will entail instruction on how to apply for higher education (technical school, community college, 4-year university, etc.) as well as different ways to help alleviate the financial burdens that come with it.
Inspiration: Working with Fort Morgan High School in my first year with Key Communities, I was made aware of the lack of certain amenities that students in the ESL classes were faced with along with the burdens that already came with being minority students (language barriers, legal status, academic history). I resonated with a majority of the students as I had also been in ESL classes before and I was better able to communicate and empathize with them. Whereas I lived in the Denver metro area and was blessed to have many opportunities easily attainable, the students of Fort Morgan lack that. This ultimately compelled me, even more, to work with them.
Future Plans: With my community engagement work, I hope to not only be a resource for the students but also help build their confidence in their abilities and demonstrate that the obstacles they face in their educational journey can serve as an advantage.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: Sociology Concentration Criminology/Criminal Justice and Political Science Concentration U.S Law and Policy
Project: Help families and single-parent households battle homelessness by providing workshops that help them learn about technology, resume building, and job searching, and provide opportunities to build profiles.
Inspiration: Communities around me that are actively making an effort for social justice inspired me to make a change and help others. Poverty in America has been increasing as of late and communities need as much help as they can get.
Future Plans: I hope that in Fort Collins there will be families and individuals that will be positively affected by my project. I would like to see a drop in the percentage of homeless individuals and help people find housing and jobs.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: Human Development and Family Studies
Project: My project works with children experiencing homelessness in the city of Fort Collins. I plan on working with an organization for homelessness, Family Housing Network, as well as CSU student to become mentors and a support system for these children. We will assist the children in the program with school work and do different fun activities to engage with each child.
Inspiration: Key communities at CSU has inspired me to choose my project. During my first year at CSU, I had the pleasure to connect with the Family Housing Network through my Key Cluster(Service). Volunteering at this organization made me want to further my contribution by working with children in homelessness.
Future Plans: Through my project, I hope to involve and educate other CSU students about homelessness. I also hope to accomplish my goal of making the children feel like they are capable of pursuing higher education and have the support of CSU students throughout their journey called life.
Posted on November 6, 2020
Major: undeclared
Project: A mentoring program that will break the barriers to equitable access to education by creating a safe space for students of color and ensuring that they are healthy, supported, and engaged. In this space, we will help them address their mental health, provide more knowledge of higher education (or other alternatives), help them better understand racial and ethnic equality, and better provide resources for undocumented/first-gen students.
Inspiration: Throughout my high school career (even now in college) I sometimes feel isolated and not very well represented. I didn’t see myself reflected in the staff at my school and felt as if there were many opportunities that I was not made aware of. This made me want to offer that to students who may find themselves in the same position I was in. I want to give them hope and show them that everyone is able to follow their dreams ❤️
Future Plans: I hope to create a space where students feel emotionally, physically, and academically supported. While also, providing them with the information and resources needed to plan/achieve an amazing future.
Posted on October 19, 2020
Project: My work with the Puksta Foundation is centered around telling the stories of both current scholars and alumni through written and video profiles. I hope to create honest, captivating, and inspiring representations of the many young leaders in this family.
Inspiration: I get inspiration from young leaders that refuse to accept the current state of our world. Everyday the Puksta scholars remind me that there is always a way to organize and empower each other despite whatever obstacles might be in the way.
Posted on January 3, 2020
Project: This involves educating myself on the history of Asian Americans in the U.S. Understanding how Asians interact with other POCs and more. The goal of this entire project is how we can increase allyship as a two way street.
Inspiration: The issue not only resonates with me but many other students as well who have been my peers and mentees.
Posted on October 2, 2019
Major: Political Science
Project: Helping immigrants from detention centers
Inspiration: Good space and supporting space to be in.
Future Goals: To help my community in any form I can
Posted on October 2, 2019
Major: Leadership and Community Engagement and English
Project: I actually have no idea where to start, but I know that I ultimately want to work with Latinx families on helping them understand what Black Lives Matter really means and why it is important to let go of the anti-blackness that within Latinidad and “Brown Lives Matter Too”
Inspiration: The current political climate has inspired me and has opened my eyes to the fact that a lot of the elderly Latinx folks aren’t educated on why BLM is so important not only to the Black / African-American population but for other people of color as well.
Future Goals: I hope to be able to educate myself and others on social justice issues but also I hope to build connections and friendships with people because they help influence a more positive world. I care deeply about people individually and I hope to help them learn about the importance of the social justice movement that we are living in.
Posted on October 2, 2019
