Colegio en la Comunidad: A Critical, Community-Based College Fair Model

• In Event: 29.063 - College Knowledge to College Action: (Re)Shaping College Information, Access, and Opportunity in San Antonio

Abstract

The Colegio en la Comunidad/College in Our Community college fair was developed as a way to inspire the underserved, inner city youth of San Antonio. Students in urban settings often miss their window to learn about major universities due to the lack of exposure to information about postsecondary education or the opportunity to interact with universities directly. Locating the college fair in the community, organizers leveraged the confianza (trust) that families and community networks have with one another. Ultimately yielding to a sense of community support and validation for students to pursue a postsecondary education, this model was implemented differently than traditional college fairs that tend to overlook the specific needs of students from less-privileged families and neighborhoods. Therefore, the vision was to offer a college fair in an area close to downtown, in a community setting like a church where students and their families can gain access to information on the college admissions process, programs of study, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities from over 30 college and university admissions representatives. In particular, this model provides access to information on highly selective institutions, such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Notre Dame University that normally would not visit the neighborhoods and high schools in this area. This paper will contextualize the challenges faced by many Latina/o high school students and outline how access to college information, especially highly selective institutions such as Tier-One or Ivy-League universities, can impact the perceptions and motivations of these youth. After outlining the model, we discuss how a Latina/o community network approach was applied in developing and implementing the college fair and how engaging multiple community stakeholders, such as the city council members, high school administrators, the Archdiocese of Bexar County, community-based organizations, and Spanish media outlets, promoted an asset-based sensibility. Finally, the session will offer an opportunity to propose implications to the field, and recommendations for future program use with other Latina/o communities.

Authors

• Enrique Aleman, The University of Texas - San Antonio

• Vanessa Ann Sansone, The University of Texas - San Antonio