Share Your Story!

College Access

The Community Engagement for College Success Network (CECSN) in Los Angeles is excited to invite YOU to share your unique stories about college access and success! Your stories and experiences will be used to uplift a college-going culture that benefits students but also contributes to the collective growth and prosperity of the community. Whether you face challenges, triumphs, or unexpected turns, your narrative can make a difference!

The stories submitted will be used in a communications campaign to uplift the challenges and triumphs of individuals in their pursuit of higher education. So, you may see your story on any of the participating organization’s websites, social media accounts, newsletters, or beyond. By sharing community stories, we aim to inspire and motivate others facing similar obstacles, demonstrating that with determination, support, and access to resources, college success is possible. 

Who Can Submit? College students from Los Angeles, California, with a preference for student stories from East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, and Southeast Los Angeles (SELA). You can be attending a college or university outside of Los Angeles.

Here are questions to consider when telling your story:

1. What inspired or motivated you to pursue higher education?

2. What were some challenges you faced on your journey to college access and success? How did you overcome these challenges?

3. Who or what supported you along the way?

4. Can you share a memorable moment or experience during your college journey?

5. How has pursuing a higher education opened the door to opportunities you may not have had otherwise

6. How do you envision your college experience contributing to the growth and prosperity of you, your family and your community?

7. In what ways do you believe a college-going culture can improve economic and social mobility for Latino/a students and their families? How do these changes ripple out to benefit the wider community?

8. What resources or programs do you think would benefit students in their pursuit of college access and success?

Format Requirement: Submit your story in written format in the submission box provided below, This can be a poem, essay, or an informal letter. Feel free to get creative! Alongside your written submission, provide a photo that compliments your story. In addition, we encourage you to share your story through a brief video–90 seconds or less. Instructions for submitting a video that compliments your story are here.

Submission Deadline: June 15, 2024

Selection and Use of Videos: Submissions will be reviewed by ABC staff and partner organizations. Your story may be featured across digital platforms, toolkits, and pitched to media to raise awareness about college access and success. Our partner organizations will also have access to ensure wide visibility and engagement!

If you have any questions please contact Bonnie Amos, Communications Manager, at bonnie@afabc.org. 

MLL Storybank

Alliance for a Better Community (ABC) is excited to launch the Multilingual Learner (MLL) Storybank, a curated collection of narratives designed to highlight and address the unique needs of MLL students in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). If you’re a MLL student attending an LAUSD school, a parent of an LAUSD MLL, or an advocate we want to hear from YOU! Unsure if your school is part of LAUSD? Check the school directory!

Who Can Submit? LAUSD MLL students, parents, and advocates

Format Requirement: Submit your story in written format in the submission box provided below, This can be a poem, essay, or an informal letter. Feel free to get creative! Alongside your written submission, provide a photo that compliments your story. In addition, we encourage you to share your story through a brief video–90 seconds or less. Instructions for submitting a video that compliments your story are here.

Here are questions to consider when telling your story:

(For Students)

• Personal Journey
  • Can you share your story about being a multilingual learner?
  • What languages do you speak, and how has that impacted your learning experience?
• Challenges
  • What unique challenges have you faced as an MLL student?
  • How have these challenges affected your academic and social life?
• Support Systems
  • What support have you received at school to help you overcome challenges?
  • Have you received support outside of school that has helped you succeed academically and socially? If so, what kind? 
  • Can you share an example of a time when you received significant help or support?
  • What support was not available to you but could have helped you overcome challenges?
• Successes
  • What achievements are you most proud of as an MLL student?
  • Do you think knowing two languages is beneficial? If so, how?
• Digital Equity
  • How important is the internet for students today?
  • What type of school activities do you use the internet for?
  • Have you or your family faced any challenges trying to find affordable internet services or devices (laptops, tablets)?

(For Parents / Advocates)

• Personal Story
  • For parents: What has your experience been like in supporting your child’s language development and education?
  • For advocates: What is your role, the name of your organization, and how do you advocate for multilingual learners?
  • Do you think knowing multiple languages is beneficial? If so, how?
• Challenges
  • What unique challenges do you think multilingual learners face?
    • How do these challenges affect their academic and social life?
• Support Systems
  • What kind of support does your local school provide for multilingual learners?
  • What additional support do you think would help multilingual learners thrive both academically and socially?
• Successes
  • Can you share a success story or achievement of a multilingual learner you know?
• Digital Equity
  • How important is the internet for students today? 
  • What type of activities do you or your student use the internet for?
  • Have you or your family faced any challenges trying to find affordable internet services or devices (laptops, tablets)?

Submission Deadline: November 11th

Selection and Use of Videos: Submissions will be reviewed by ABC staff and partner organizations. Your story may be featured across digital platforms, toolkits, and pitched to media to raise awareness about Multilingual Learners. Our partner organizations will also have access to ensure wide visibility and engagement!

Thank you for your participation and for helping us advocate for the needs and successes of multilingual learners at LAUSD! If you have any questions please contact Bonnie Amos, Communications Manager, at bonnie@afabc.org.