October 2022 — Breast Cancer Awareness Workshops & Info, Virtual Conversation Club, Community Events & Resources, & more
Dear Upward Scholars students,
The recent news about the blatantly racist remarks of Latino political leaders in Los Angeles left us disheartened. The Latinx diaspora is a beautifully diverse, culturally rich community, and we strive to make it welcoming and inclusive of everyone. We must continue working together to eliminate racism in our community and push for racial healing, social justice, and power building. Upward Scholars remains committed to celebrating our community's diversity and dismantling the oppressive systems that hold us back from achieving our full potential. We hope you will join us.
That said, we hope you are all having a good semester so far and that you are managing to stay on top of your workload this midterm season. We know you will do great!
Please read through this newsletter, which includes the Breast Cancer Awareness workshops and information, the Upward Scholars Conversation Club, community events and resources, job openings, upcoming scholarships, and more.
Upward Scholars Announcements
Breast Cancer Stories: Surviving and Thriving Workshop
It's the last week of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month, but Breast Cancer Awareness Month is just beginning. Our community must be knowledgeable about the risks we face to remain as healthy as possible. Recently, multiple community members have shared their breast health experiences, underlining the importance of awareness and early detection. To this point, we invite you to attend the Breast Cancer Stories: Surviving and Thriving workshop hosted by our partners at Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council this Saturday, October 15, at 10 am.
Hear personal stories of recovery and resilience from a diverse panel. Learn through their experiences the journey of surviving and thriving. Spanish interpretation will be available. All attendees will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card!
To register, click here.
BACHAC Community Mammograms
Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council (BACHAC) in partnership with Mills Peninsula and the Peninsula Health Care District is honored to offer free early-detection mammograms to uninsured women in the community.
If you would like to register to receive your mammogram through this program, please call Evelia Chairez at 650.483.9663 or Julio Campos at 650.888.6071. Whether or not you have health insurance, you may qualify for financial assistance.
An early-detection mammogram is for you if:
You have not had a mammogram in the past year,
If you do not have symptoms such as pain, lumps, or redness in the breast area,
If you are over 40 years old.
Learn more here.
Undocu-Advocate Luncheon Mixer and Resource Fair
Join Upward Scholars at the Undocu-Advocate Luncheon Mixer and Resource Fair on October 18 at noon! The event is for undocumented students to get familiar with and meet their advocates at Skyline College. We will be there, joined by the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, which will share local legal services and campus support for students. We hope to see you there!
Platiquitas con Reverendo Gerardo García Palacios
Para continuar apoyando la salud emocional y espiritual de los estudiantes de Upward Scholars, el Rev. Gerardo tendrá una Platiquita o conversación virtual sobre la "Fé dudosa pero esperanzada" el 21 de octubre a las 5 pm para estudiantes hispanohablantes en el Condado de San Mateo. Conéctate con tus compañeros y el reverendo y discute lo que la "Fé dudosa pero esperanzada" podría significar para ti.
Para participar en la Platiquita del 21 de octubre a las 5 pm, guarda este enlace de Zoom: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/99661314326?pwd=ZnU0QkEzbVppQzlEQU83V3MvRkh3Zz09
Save the Date: Final Conversation Club of 2022
The Upward Scholars Conversation Club is an opportunity for you as students to build confidence in your English conversation skills via a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment.
Our next virtual Conversation Club:
Friday, November 4, 2022
6:30 – 7:45 pm
RSVP by October 21 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
Filipino Folk Dancing at NFO Library
The North Fair Oaks Library invites you to celebrate Filipino American History Month with a live performance of traditional Filipino folk dance presented by the Parangal Dance Company on Saturday, October 15, at 11 am.
For more information, click here.
Undocumented Student Action Week at Cañada College
You're invited to Undocumented Student Action Week (USAW)—a week-long series of events happening from October 17 to October 21, 2022, that aim to celebrate and provide resources for undocumented students.
The events being hosted at Cañada, College of San Mateo, and Skyline are open to all students and community members and will be a mix of virtual, hybrid, and in-person. USAW is part of a statewide effort led by the California Community College Chancellor's Office to advocate for undocumented students and create systems that will lead to their success.
More information can be found here.
Pal-o-Ween
Join Redwood City PAL's haunted forest event on October 28 and participate in a scary trail, candy, and photo station. This is a free family event!
Día de los Muertos at Friendship Park
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos on November 4 at Friendship Park with stories for children, ofrenda offerings, music, arts and crafts, and more! Information about community resources will also be available.
Cañada College English Conversation Group
The Cañada College English Conversation Group is back! Join them weekly or whenever you can using this Zoom link on Thursdays from 4–5 pm to practice your English conversation skills.
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
Grassroots Ecology Project Lead
Grassroots Ecology is hiring a full-time Project Lead to engage local community members in public land stewardship projects in Redwood City. This position will be mainly field-based, with some remote work. They are looking for someone excited to connect with others in an outdoor setting!
Applications are due on Friday, October 28. Learn more and apply here.
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.
¡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.
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