Expanding Income Equality through Education Access

Income inequality

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Long-term financial stability is especially difficult to achieve for young women of color from low-income backgrounds. In July 2018 the Pew Research Center found that income inequality for these young women has not changed much since the 1970’s—and newer data suggests that this pervasive challenge has worsened in the last few years. A major barrier to income equality is access to higher paying jobs, many of which require a college education. Starting in middle school—a critical stage—MOSTe helps girls envision themselves as future college graduates and career professionals. Through mentorship with women in professional roles, real life exposure to higher paying careers, information about college and financial aid, internships, and access to networks, students learn to capitalize on their strengths and chart their path to a financially secure future. They graduate college with well-developed “soft skills” and little to no debt, prepared for positions of leadership and economic mobility.

We serve young women from seventh grade until they graduate college through ongoing programming interventions that dramatically increase career earning potential, and ultimately serve to lift families and communities out of poverty. We offer workshops, mentorship from professional women in the community, career exploration, career fairs, college visits, financial aid and college counseling, and social emotional development programming, tailored for the different age groups that we support. Our model is designed to empower students in our programs through hands on learning, exposure to diverse career and college options, organizational leadership opportunities, focused mentorship from women in the community, soft skills development, as well as college application and financing support. We aim to give our students the tools, connections, experience, and exposure needed to succeed and to see themselves as changemakers in their own communities. We address not only the financial and academic barriers that can prevent our students from succeeding in higher education, but also less-visible barriers to higher paying careers. In addition to programming that helps students succeed academically, access new career opportunities, and sustainably finance their educations, we also employ a support system that helps students develop perseverance and grit, confidence, leadership, articulated personal values, and a network of caring mentors.

MOSTe supports more than 200 girls each year through our comprehensive program. In the long run, it results in greater college and career access, opening limitless possibilities for the young women we serve. The kind of economic parity that we seek to achieve creates ripple effects throughout families and neighborhoods. The young women in our programs are largely first-generation college students and women of color. They are ambitious, bright, dedicated, caring, and resilient. They are poised to drive positive change as the next generation of leaders in Los Angeles communities and beyond. We envision a future where historically marginalized voices lead an inclusive LA that benefits everyone. Graduates of our program attend elite schools with scholarships, earn advanced degrees, and return to mentor and lead as professional women within the community. By empowering these young women, we aim to foster a new era of leadership and opportunity in LA County.

We have served over 2,000 girls through our comprehensive college and career access program. Compared with peers of similar demographics—first-generation students of color from low-income backgrounds—our students graduate college at vastly higher rates. More than 75% of our students graduate college within six years, compared to 11% of first-generation low-income students, per Pell data. Despite many challenges, 100% of our 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 high school graduates are enrolled in college with substantial financial aid.
In 2022, we used the Measurement Resources Company to enhance impact measurement. They conducted stakeholder interviews, program analysis, and strategic planning, resulting in a theory of change, logic model, new data collection, and revised student surveys. We measure impact through graduation rates, evaluation surveys, participation rates, and academic outcomes. We recently began tracking alumni long-term career and income outcomes.