Collaborative Meetings


Learning Community Meetings

  • The Collaborative learning community typically convenes four times each year, including two in-person meetings and two shorter meetings held virtually
  • In-person meetings are usually held at a local community college or university

Collaborative Business Meetings

  • The Collaborative typically meets twice during the year to discuss Collaborative business (virtually)

recent learning community meetings

February 2025

Location: Japanese American National Museum

Meeting Topic: Maximizing Postsecondary Collective Impact in a Shifting Political Landscape

Panel discussion on emerging postsecondary policy changes with the following guests:

  • Emmanuel (Manny) Rodriguez, Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy, TICAS 
  • Jaclyn Pinero, CEO, uAspire
  • Jessie Ryan, President, Campaign for College Opportunity

Following the panel discussion, participants engaged in small group discussions to explore policy impacts on programs, institutional support needs, and potential opportunities for collaboration.

August 2024

Location: Virtual

Meeting Topic: Building Student Power

The following guests provided brief presentations about their respective organizations and the student leaders shared information about their work as leaders and organizers.

  • Henry Perez, Executive Director,  InnerCity Struggle 
  • Bianca Lopez, Student Leader and Organizer currently at CSU Long Beach
  • Ju Hong, Executive Director, UCLA Dream Resource Center 
  • Abraham Cruz, Student Leader and Organizer currently at UCLA

May 2024

Location: Virtual

Meeting Topic: Learning From Pooled Funding Activities

Presentation and Q&A on the Transfer Success LA grant with the following guests:

  • Dr. Eboni Zamani-Gallaher; University of Pittsburgh
  • Dr. Jose Del Real Viramontes; University of California, Riverside; 
  • Jewel Bourne; University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Presentation and Q&A on the Back-to-School: Re-engaging Students grant with the following guests:

  • Alison de Lucca, Executive Director, SoCal CAN
  • Lina Calderon-Morin, Deputy Director, SoCal CAN
  • Marcos Montes, Policy Director, SoCal CAN

March 2024

Location: Community Coalition

Meeting Topic: Definition of Today’s Student

Level Setting Presentation by California Competes

Fishbowl and small group discussion with the following guests:

  • Danny Murillo, Co-Founder and Associate Director, Berkeley Underground Scholars
  • Debbie Raucher, Director of Education, John Burton Advocates for Youth 
  • Mayra Lara, Director of SoCal Partnerships & Engagement, Ed Trust West 
  • Su Jin Jez, CEO, California Competes
  • Joseline Gonzalez, South Central Youth Empowered thru Action (SCYEA) Alumna

November 2023

Location: Michelson 20MM Philanthropies (Hybrid Option)

Meeting Topic: Financial Aid

Level Setting Presentation by TICAS

Panel discussion about Financial Aid in Practice with the following guests:

  • Jaclyn Pinero, Chief Executive Officer, uAspire 
  • Mary-Pat Hector, Chief Executive Officer, Rise

Panel discussion about Financial Aid Policy with the following guests:

  • Jessica Thompson, Vice President, TICAS
  • Parshan Khosravi, CA Policy Director, uAspire

Panel discussion about The Student Perspective (on financial aid) with the following guests:

  • David Ramirez, UC Student Association & UCLA student
  • Javier Nunez-Verdugo, UC Student Association & UCLA student
  • Ellery Yu, uAspire & UCLA student 
  • Sabrina Woodsum, uAspire & UCLA student 
  • Steven Gallegos, SSCCC, ELAC Student 

August 2023

Location: Virtual

Meeting Topic: Innovative Models of Delivering Higher Education

Presentation and moderated Q&A with the following guest speakers:

  • Jeff Manassero, Executive Director, Rivet School
  • Maria Anguiano, Executive Vice President, Learning Enterprise, ASU
  • Taylor Pineda, National Director, ASU Local

May 2023

Location: Compton College

Meeting Topic: Student Basic Needs 

Highlights:

Panel discussion around perspectives from higher education from the following guest speakers:

  • Dr. Keith Curry, President & CEO, Compton College
  • Dr. Rashida Crutchfield, The Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE), CSU Long Beach
  • Monroe Gorden, Jr., J.D., Vice Chancellor, UCLA Student Affairs

Panel discussion on innovative partnerships from the following guest speakers:

  • Clare Fox, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Everytable
  • Lori Barr, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Raise the Barr 
  • Frances Hardy, Director of Development & Partnerships, Ready to Succeed
  • Jaime Hansen, Executive Director, Swipe Out Hunger
  • Student Representative, Ready to Succeed

February 2023

Location: Virtual

Meeting Topic: State K-16 Investments – ​​Opportunities to Close Equity Gaps for LA County Students

Highlights:

  • Presentation by UNITE-LA where they explored state investments, their connectivity with one another, and opportunities to further develop and increase their impact, with a deep dive on Los Angeles’ K-16 Regional Collaborative.
  • This meeting was cosponsored by SoCal Grantmakers 

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