CAPITAL REGION CARES
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Future Sacramento
When schools closed , Future Sacramento remained open .
Students have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic . School closures have created challenges , especially for low-income , first-in-family students . Campus closures , social distancing and stay-at-home orders have disconnected students from peers , educators , tutors and support services , which directly affect academic performance and educational opportunities .
Pandemic obstacles extend beyond the loss of the classroom setting . Students have also faced household income losses , canceled graduation ceremonies , and missing other highly anticipated student activities that bring communities together and mark major life events .
Class of 2020 high school graduate Monica Rodriguez says , “ My world changed on Friday , March 13 , 2020 . … As I tried to absorb the news , the school bell rang , signaling the end of what would become our last day in high school . There were no preparations , no lesson plans and no opportunity to say goodbye . I grew emotional as my track season , prom , graduation and final months in high school would be canceled .”
With a mission of providing volunteer mentoring and scholarship funding to local financially qualified students in support of their college education , Future Foundation of Sacramento helps low-income , would-be first-generation college students gain admission to and graduate from college . Even without a pandemic , students lacking family precedent , individual guidance and financial means can find the college dream seems unattainable . Future Sacramento identifies students who , despite these obstacles , show motivation and the ability to excel and provides an array of resources to overcome the challenges .
“ Students from low-income homes are normally able to rise above their disadvantages by attending school where there is more equity and equal access to resources ,” says Elizabeth Marlow , executive director . “ With the pandemic keeping them home , disadvantages were reimposed — they ’ re isolated without college role models , academically minded peers , and school supplies and support .”
Future Sacramento students , however , have persevered . “ I ’ ve been so impressed with our students ,” says Marlow . “ They ’ re
58 comstocksmag . com | October 2020