[The following final update was written by the organization and then sent to us for further sharing.]

The Social Justice Learning Institute (SJLI) proposed to advance education, foster economic opportunities and build careers for 80 students through our Higher Pathways program. SJLI provided services that supported students’ college persistence, career readiness, and development toward opportunities for economic growth. Higher Pathways supports youth in college and career readiness by providing wraparound services to ensure positive, healthy engagement with their experience, as well as access to additional resources as needed. SJLI incorporates rigorous academic training, and college preparation and career readiness activities to ensure that participants achieve the following outcomes: persist through college; build relationships and resources for internship/externship opportunities and/or entrepreneurial pursuits; graduate from college with an identified career pathway; become critical leaders capable of knowledge transfer to other incoming alumni; and transition to adulthood with the knowledge, skills, and resources to advance economic opportunity for themselves and their greater community. With the support of the LA2050 Grants Challenge, SJLI successfully provided services, events, workshops, individualized sessions, and supportive services to increase students’ college and career pathway development.

Through the College Pathway to Success program services provided through Higher Pathways, students received college preparation and persistence services and participated in community building events. As a result, for the 2023-2024 academic school year:

• 163 out of 172 seniors graduated high school resulting in a 95% graduation rate.
• Students submitted over 450 college applications, which resulted in 275 acceptances.
• 32 incoming college-going students and 24 high school seniors participated in a college immersion experience, which we call A Different World, where they spent three days on a college campus to learn about time management, understanding a syllabus, healthy study habits, and accessing campus resources for academic advising and community building. The purpose of this experience was to help students acclimate to college life and prepare for their higher education journey. Other topics covered included imposter syndrome, DREAM-SMART, A-G requirements, and more.
• SJLI’s alumni basketball tournament took place in January 2024, and we had over 50 alumni show up to play in the 3 on 3 tournament.
• The Alumni Retreat took place in March 2024, with almost 20 alumni in attendance to finalize a Youth Participatory Action Research project.

The Higher Pathways Career Readiness track includes workforce skills training, professional coaching, internships, externships, mentoring, and career exploration. Through these services, SJLI achieved the following:

• Provided the opportunity for 50 high school sophomores to participate in the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) business and entrepreneurship workshop series.
• 22 young adults received resume, interview, and job search support.
• 12 young adults completed our BagBuilders program, a career guidance and workforce development program serving young men between the ages of 18-25.

Through Higher Pathways Supportive Services, SJLI provided scholarships, emergency assistance, and wrap-around counseling sessions to ensure positive, healthy acclimation to young adulthood. The wrap-around services and activities also include activities that enrich the students’ school experience, including college tours, field trips, guest speakers, retreats, and community service. Outcomes of these program services include:

• FAFSA Workshops were held in February 2024 to assist 133 college-attendees with completing the FAFSA.
• Scholarship Workshops assisted 19 seniors with scholarship applications.
• Monthly Academic & Wellness Check-ins were held for 135 college-attendees, ensuring emotional well-being and academic success.
• Higher Pathways team made College Campus Visits to Cal State Long Beach (8 scholars), Cal State East Bay (1 scholar), UC San Diego (4 scholars), and UC Riverside (3 scholars) to provide academic and wellness support to college-attendees.​​
• 60 college-going students received care packages that included school supplies, gift cards, and wellness supplies.
• Higher Pathways hosts monthly programming to promote college success, and in September we facilitated a Scavenger Hunt to help our scholars acclimate to their college campuses by identifying campus resources and services. We had 10+ participants and 5 winners who completed the checklist.
• 6 college-going students received laptops.
• During the Spring 2024 semester, SJLI provided $136,500 in scholarships to 107 college-attendees, with amounts ranging between $500 to $3,500.
• During the Fall 2024 semester, SJLI provided $173,500 scholarship dollars to 132 college-attendees, with amounts ranging between $500 to $3,500.

During the grant period, the Higher Pathways team experienced communication challenges with our alumni due to missing contact information. We are working towards re-engaging our alumni whom we have lost contact with. Due to college fit, career goals, or financial/legal reasons, some students have decided to transfer from four-year colleges to two-year colleges. With support of our College Success Counselors, students have persisted and are receiving services to help them with navigating the higher education system.

We have exciting activities to look forward to that support the education and economic advancement of SJLI students and alumni.

• This December, SJLI will distribute College Care Packages to all of our college students (135). These care packages will include gift cards, school supplies, and wellness supplies.
• SJLI’s Winter Homecoming will take place this December as well, which features a picnic including food, games, and music to celebrate all Urban Leaders in their higher education and/or career journey (projected 100 attendees).
• SJLI plans to make campus visits this November and December. Our Higher Pathways team will visit scholars at local community colleges (Santa Monica College, El Camino College, LA Trade Tech, and more), Cal State LA, and potentially 2 HBCUs (Tuskegee and Miles College).
• A Different World 2025 will take place next summer at UC Santa Barbara to provide a college immersive experience to a projected 120 high school juniors and seniors, acclimating them to college life and preparing them for their higher education journey.

SJLI is grateful to have been a part of the LA2050 Grants Challenge. We appreciate the support with the continuation of the Higher Pathways program to advance education and economic opportunity and to build careers for youth of color in Los Angeles. Thank you for helping SJLI foster a more inclusive and just society where everyone has the chance to thrive regardless of their background.