By Antonia Rivera, Hola Iowa
Iowa City, IA-The topic of post-secondary education can be complicated, especially for Latino high school students navigating a different educational journey from that of their parents. What do you do after high school? How do you go to college? Is college the only path to success?
Lupe Hernandez, a student success advisor in eastern Iowa, knows firsthand how complicated those conversations can be. Hernandez works for the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN), an organization whose mission is to help prepare students for future success. This nonprofit organization doesn’t just push college; they help students find their best path, whether that’s university, vocational training to join the workforce, apprenticeships, or military service. Through ICAN, Hernandez provides free support to students in 55 high schools and more across Iowa. Initially, Hernanez’s work was limited to the Eastern Region and families from all over the state would make the drive to her office in Iowa City to meet with her. With the prevalence of video calls and virtual meetings, Hernandez can help families outside of her region, or outside of the high schools she formally covers.
ICAN has nine staff members throughout the state, each focused on a specific region, but when it comes to Latino outreach, Hernandez is the only Spanish speaking staff. This is important, but not in the way one might expect. Most of the students Hernandez works with speak English fluently. In fact, as Hernandez puts it, “A lot of the Latino students know English so well that they cannot communicate with their parents. Their parents do not know what is going on, so it is a matter of connecting the two parties and explaining what something means, for example, explaining what a funding gap is.”
Hernandez has been building the bridge of communication between Iowa’s Latino students and their parents since 2007, nine years after the nonprofit first originated. ICAN evolved from the College Planning Center for the Iowa Student Loan and became its own entity in 2009. ICAN is now present in 99% of high schools in Iowa. Almost half of the students it serves are first-generation college students, with 21% identifying as non-Caucasian. Impressively, 99% report increased knowledge about topics like college planning and financial aid because of ICAN.
“It is important to acknowledge the importance of networks that make the success of our work possible,” explains Hernandez. When it comes to reaching the Latino population, networks stem from participants in the program who tell younger siblings or friends about it. Word of mouth has proven to be most effective, while some connections are made through Latino advocates. Referrals sometimes come from other non-profits such as DREAM Iowa. Most recently, ICAN joined the Latino College Access Network (Latinos CAN), a statewide initiative created in 2018 to “eliminate the educational attainment gap for Latino students in Iowa.”
Latinos CAN formalized collaboration between Latino advocates of post-secondary education and students looking for resources by creating brochures and guides housed under the Iowa Health and Human Services.
Hernandez expects her new collaboration with Latinos CAN to build on the resources that help her find answers for her students. “Having been through the college process by myself helps me understand what some students are going through. If I do not have the answers, you can rest assured that I will find it. I have been pretty successful at it,” Hernandez explains.
As Latino students across Iowa face decisions about their futures, the partnership between Hernandez, ICAN, and Latinos CAN offers a powerful support system. With personalized guidance and cultural understanding, Iowa’s Latino students can be reassured that no matter what path they choose, they don’t have to navigate post-high school options on their own.
ICAN will be presenting the Future Ready Career & College Fair on Sunday March 30 in Cedar Rapids, IA.
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