August 2022 — A Message from the Upward Scholars Board, Taxes and Non-Citizen Residents Workshop, Fall 2022 Application, & more
Dear Upward Scholars students,
The start of a new semester is always hectic, so we hope you take the time to breathe and settle back into the swing of things. To help you feel more prepared, here is this month's newsletter.
Please read through this newsletter as it includes an encouraging message from the Board, our upcoming Taxes and Non-Citizen Residents Workshop, Fall Semester Application, community resources, job openings, upcoming scholarships, and more.
Upward Scholars Announcements
A Message from the Upward Scholars Board
Taxes and Non-Citizen Residents Workshop
Upward Scholars is partnering with Elevate Community Center to host the Taxes and Non-Citizen Residents Workshop! Come learn how filing (or not filing) your taxes can affect your citizenship application, how to apply for an ITIN, and much more about taxes.
To join us on Wednesday, August 24, at noon, register here. Invite your family and friends to join too.
Fall Applications
The Upward Scholars Fall 2022 Application is open! Remember to complete the application as soon as possible for the Fall 2022 Semester. If you have any questions, contact Student Fellow Adriana Luna at adriana@upwardscholars.org or (650) 200-3444.
Virtual Conversation Club
The July Conversation Club has been canceled.
Please join us next month to build your confidence in your English conversation skills via a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment.
Our next virtual Conversation Club:
Friday, August 26, 2022
6:30 – 7:45 pm
RSVP by August 22 to join us.
Spiritual Counseling with Reverend Gerardo García Palacios
Upward Scholars offers all students and their families free spiritual and emotional counseling with Rev. Gerardo García Palacios. The pandemic has affected all of us and we want you to express your struggles and be heard in a safe, confidential, and virtual environment. People of all beliefs are welcome and Rev. Gerardo is English-Spanish bilingual.
Schedule a session with Rev. Gerardo by emailing him at pastorgarcia1679@outlook.com or calling/texting him at (650) 387-9174. Tell him your full name and if a family member schedules a session, they should also give the name of the Upward Scholars student they were referred by.
External Announcements/COVID-19 Resources
The Rosalie Rendu Center has free ESL and citizenship classes (English/Spanish) and is registering students now! Join them at 2345 Pulgas Ave in East Palo Alto to join a community of eager adult learners.
Registration Dates and Times:
August 22 – 25; 10 am – 2 pm
August 24; 4 pm – 7:30 pm
Free Lyft Rides to Cañada College
Cañada College has launched a pilot program that offers current Cañada students one free roundtrip ride per day to and from campus. The program is made possible through a partnership between Cañada and Lyft.
Click here to sign up.
Tax-Aid
Tax-Aid offers free tax help for households that earn less than $58,000. Their expert Bay Area tax volunteers give you the confidence of properly prepared taxes and can offer tax support and advice year-round in your preferred language. They can even help you claim your Child Tax Credit if you haven't already done so. Click here to learn more. Their website is available in multiple languages.
External Employment Opportunities
Back-to-School Walk at Stulsaft Park with Grassroots Ecology
Grassroots Ecology invites Sequoia Union High School District families to celebrate the Back-to-School season with a 2-mile walk led by their naturalists on Saturday, August 27, 2022, from 10 am - 12 pm at the Stulsaft Park lower entrance(Recreation Way, Redwood City, CA 94061).
Registration is required, so register here and use promo code: SUHSD.
Wysa—Free Mental Health App
San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services collaborated with Help@Hand to offer a free subscription to the Wysa app for anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in San Mateo County. With this subscription, you will have access to a message system, tools that build healthy conversations, mindfulness exercises, activity reports, a self-care kit journal, and stories and tools to help you sleep and meditate.
Click here to receive step-by-step instructions and to access a one-stop shop of community resources.
Rosalie Rendu Center Administrative Assistant
The Rosalie Rendu Center is hiring an Administrative Assistant to maintain student, volunteer, and donor databases; provide communication and clerical support to the Executive Director and other staff members; and assist in organizing program-related activities. To learn more about the position and apply, click here.
Jameco Warehouse Associate
Jameco Electronics is looking for full-time and part-time warehouse associates available for order fillers/pickers, restockers, and receivers. They are flexible in setting a workday that benefits everyone, so students are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.
¡Conectémonos! Program Manager at New Voices for Youth (North Fair Oaks)
The ¡Conectémonos! Program allows youth from North Fair Oaks to help parents use technology to connect with schools and other service providers. The Program Manager will work with North Fair Oaks youth to develop strategies that engage and empower parents to gain confidence using technology in their community. To learn more and apply, click here.
New Voices for Youth (NV4Y) Program Manager (East Palo Alto)
In NV4Y, students from underserved communities make videos about their communities. Meeting in afterschool centers, students choose subjects, practice interviews, and create and edit digital narratives. The Program Manager works with members of the Steering Committee to inspire young people to use video for advocacy about their communities. To learn more and apply, click here.
Sequoia District Adult School (SAS) Job Board
SAS has its very own job board to help students like you find jobs. There are a variety of positions in various industries. Visit their website to learn more.
If you hear of any employment opportunities, please contact Jessica at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and she will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Upcoming Scholarships
The following is a list of external scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Click on the links to learn more about each scholarship.
NOTE: If you need help applying to any of these, contact me at jessica@upwardscholars.org to be paired with a volunteer who can work with you one-on-one.
Future Leaders in Tech Scholarship
Application Deadline: August 20, 2022, by 8:59 pm
Some qualifications: Interested in/studying technology, computer science, or engineering; 3.0 or higher
Application Deadline: November 15, 2022
Some qualifications: identify as a woman; primary breadwinner for family
Immigrants Rising List of Scholarships and Fellowships
Immigrants Rising has curated this list of scholarships and fellowships that don’t require proof of U.S. citizenship. The list has general application eligibility requirements, including education level, region/state, and immigration status (e.g. DACA, TPS, in-state tuition eligibility). Only opportunities with due dates within the next 180 days are shown in the list. Use the filters to find scholarships that could be right for you and click on the scholarship to learn more and apply!
Click here to find an array of scholarships specific to your major or area of study.
If you know of any other scholarship opportunities with deadlines in the next few weeks or months, please email me at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and I will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Thank you for reading through this newsletter. I hope you found it helpful. If you have any further questions or want help with anything you read here, please reach out.
Onward and upward,
Jessica & Elías