Harvest of Hope Leadership Academy stresses college for children of migrant workers
As the daughter of migrant workers, Alejandra Hernandez-Castro knows how difficult it is to be the first in the family to attend college.
So when she works with migrant families and their children throughout the year to stress the importance of college and help inspire the students to continue their education, she has proof it can be done.
Hernandez-Castro is among the staff that facilitates a residential academy at KU that brings such students to campus to show them that not only can they attend college, they can excel and go on to work in a profession they love. The Harvest of Hope Leadership Academy recently brought 47 children of migrant agricultural workers from across Kansas to KU for three weeks of classes, leadership training and good times. This was the camp’s second year.
The academy, a state-funded Educational Opportunity Program within the Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, doesn’t cost families a dime. The academy identifies students who are eligible and brings them to campus. Stacy Mendez, project coordinator for the institute, said it’s not uncommon for the students to be nervous at first about leaving home for three weeks at a new place.
“For the most part, none of these students has ever been on a college campus, and their parents have not attended college,” Mendez said.
The camp’s goal is to inspire and support the students, age 13 to 18, showing them that they can graduate high school and go on to college, familiarize them with college and encourage them to take leadership positions in their communities.
While on campus, the students stayed at Templin Hall, ate their meals at Ekdahl Dining Commons and took classes across campus. From Monday through Thursday, the students took classes in civics, language arts, math and science during the day and attended a leadership seminar. A study hall was in the evening. On Fridays they toured other campuses in the state, including Emporia State University, Johnson County Community College and Washburn University. On the weekends they took cultural field trips, taking in events such as a Kansas City Wizards soccer game and a classical music performance.
“We try to expose them to things they might not normally get to do,” Mendez said.
Parents were invited to visit on weekends and were welcome at an awards banquet during the closing weekend. The academy provided travel stipends and helped arrange hotel accommodations for the families.
“There are so many barriers already in place, with language issues and other factors. We try to remove as many of those barriers as possible and get the parents involved,” Mendez said.
Faculty and staff members from across the university taught classes and sessions and were joined by a teacher from Free State High School as well as several graduate students. The instructors were selected for their ability to reach the students and relate to them.
“We try to find staff instructors who have similar backgrounds or who are bilingual or have experience teaching at-risk or underrepresented students,” Mendez said. “We also invited current KU Latino students, members of HALO and our Latino fraternity and sorority to lead a student panel. Those students did a great job. They were very open and honest.”
The efforts of those involved in the camp were not only appreciated by the young students, they also have gained recognition across the university. Hernandez-Castro was recently named Unclassified Staff employee of the year for her efforts in working with the students and families who take part in the camp.
Hernandez-Castro serves as the recruitment coordinator for the academy during the academic year. She then travels across the state doing pre-college workshops and helps students apply for the academy. Once the selections are made, she meets with every student and family selected to ensure they know what to expect and are comfortable with the program. She also teaches the leadership seminar when the camp is in session.
“She’s definitely a role model,” Mendez said. “She’s very passionate about her work and feels a real connection to the students.”
More information about the Harvest of Hope Leadership Academy is available online.
