August 22, 2019
San Diego Mesa College to Open New Foster Youth Center
By Office of Communications
San Diego, CA. — On Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., San Diego Mesa College
will hold the grand opening of the Fostering Academic Success & Transitions (FAST)
Center. The new FAST Center will be located at Building D, in Room 102. The FAST Center is a place where foster youth will be able to gather
with other students who were also in care. They can receive supportive services and
have access to computers and specific resources to meet their needs. With the opening
of the FAST Center, Mesa College is able to better support foster youth in accomplishing
their educational goals and developing self-sufficiency.
The project was funded by NextUp, formally known as CAFYES (Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support),
which provides resource support to community colleges. The program offers eligible
current and former foster youth support and services, including help with books and
supplies, transportation, tutoring, food and emergency housing. In 2017, the state
of California announced the expansion of the NextUp program. Mesa College FAST Scholars Program Coordinator Sade Burrell assisted as the lead contributor in applying for the funds
to support foster youth in the San Diego Community College District. In addition to
receiving funds to support foster youth, each college in the district was provided
with start-up funds to support the first year of developing the Program.
San Diego Mesa College is committed to becoming the leading college of equity and excellence. Mesa College
has aligned their Educational Master, Student Success, Title V, and Student Equity
plans to close achievement gaps in access and success for underrepresented student
groups in a way that is intentional, institutional, transformational, and rooted in
access to equitable outcomes for all students.
Tags: Fast Scholars, Press Release, FAST Center, Foster Youth, NextUp
