USC College Tour For BSP Families
BSP families gathered for a USC campus tour
BSP families in Los Angeles came together with BSP staff members for an organized visit to the University of Southern California (USC) campus. The event was part of BSP’s parent education and engagement program, focused on giving property service workers and their children educational opportunities to support academic success.
BSP’s Parent University initiatives aim to break the cycle of poverty through guidance on navigating the educational system, childhood enrichment opportunities and scholarships. BSP organizes workshops, trainings, and university visits geared towards informing workers about how they can become involved in their children’s education to help make their college dreams a reality. The expansion of these programs was made possible by the Carnegie Corporation.
“It was an amazing opportunity. I came to the USC tour event with my two sons, so they could see the campus and learn that college is for them too,” said longtime BSP Parent University participant Jenny Mejia.
Octavio Avila, Director of USC Dornsife Career Pathways, pictured with Zazil Rojas, BSP Family & Student Engagement Specialist
Families were greeted by several USC Helenes, whose mission is to support their university community. As the 'official hosts of USC,' they strengthen the USC Trojan Family through acts of volunteerism, hospitality and service.
The Helenes graciously greeted all guests and took the families for a walking tour of the university campus. They eloquently spoke about different college classes, discussed how much they enjoy life at the university, and inquired about the future aspirations of BSP children, letting them know that college can help them meet their goals.
Families then congregated at the USC Dornsife building within a university lecture hall reserved specifically for BSP Parent University families. USC Dornsife’s mission is to help align students’ academic interests with individual career and professional pathways through exploration and engagement in curricular and co-curricular opportunities.
Octavio Avila of USC Dornsife spoke to families about how a college education is possible
Families were later greeted by Octavio Avila, Director of USC Dornsife Career Pathways, who spoke to attendees on how higher education is attainable. Financial aid was also discussed.
Later, three current USC students spoke to parents in Spanish, highlighting their own journeys to college & what they plan to achieve in the future through their degrees and careers. In closing, a USC mom then spoke to the parents & children and encouraged them that a college education is possible.
Increasing parents’ knowledge centered on college & career readiness, the college application process, college matriculation, college success, and fostering parent leadership in their children's schools helps create an environment of academic success for families of property service workers from low-wage industries and their families.
A special thanks to USC Good Neighbors grants, who made this opportunity possible for BSP.
Created in 1993, USC Good Neighbors provides financial support to university-community partnerships involving collaboration between USC faculty and staff and local nonprofit organizations that have a visible, positive impact on the neighborhoods surrounding the University Park and Health Sciences campuses.