Live from Neuberger Berman, LIFT-NY hosted our Spring LIFT & Learn – Educational Persistence: A Conversation with Student Parents – as part of our elevating parent voice speaker series.
Our moderator, Dr. Candis Best, facilitated the conversation between LIFT-NY member and student parent, Giselli Veloz, and CUNY Dean of Early Childhood Initiatives, Sherry Cleary. Panelists shared the experience of student parents across multiple campuses and how nonprofits, education institutions, and the private sector can work together to provide better support for this population. Below are a few key recommendations:
- Student parents/caregivers represent intersectional identities, and therefore, the support we provide needs to be responsive and inclusive
- Parents need a supportive community like LIFT to have thought partners and a social network to help them advance in their goals
- Student parents/caregivers need greater financial support, access to reliable and high-quality childcare, basic needs, and wraparound education/career resources
- Educational institutions need to scale up financial aid, cash assistance, campus childcare, and advocacy opportunities to center student parents in decision making
- Expand internship opportunities as internships increase the chance of having a job upon graduation by 90%
Candis Best closed by thanking Giselli for sharing her inspiring story. We congratulate Giselli on her upcoming graduation from her dual master’s and bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology and hope to share more stories as LIFT partners with student parents.
To support LIFT-NY parents like Giselli, learn about ways to partner for future speaker series events, or about how LIFT partners with the education sector, reach out to Hannah Wood, Development Coordinator, at [email protected].
Stay tuned for additional opportunities to tune in for our quarterly LIFT & Learn events!
Watch the recording of the event: