Photo L to R: Ismaray Govea, Sheila Cuba, State Rep. Ashley Gantt (D-109), Isaac Washington, and Katherine Leiva.
Since 2021, the Florida College Access Network’s Student Advocacy Fellowship program has been elevating the voices of Florida students in Tallahassee. The program is an opportunity for students to learn about education policy, engage with state policymakers, and provide legislative staff the opportunity to hear directly from students about their concerns.
“Being part of the Florida College Access Network was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” said Sheila Cuba, a student from Hillsborough Community College. “This fellowship allows you to share your story by advocating for an important cause. I talked about how FAFSA helped me.”
This year’s 2023-24 cohort of 13 students worked closely with community coalition leaders who served as mentors to help student learn how to their experiences as students can inform policy improvements. They focused key education policy issues such as adopting a “universal” FAFSA completion policy with an opt-out option to ensure students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA), expanding emergency and need-based aid to students facing economic barriers while pursuing postsecondary education, and increasing awareness of career and technical pathways so that students can have continuous options for attaining credentials and degrees.
“Students turned their vulnerabilities into powerful advocacy stories, showing remarkable growth and confidence,” said Kathleen Leiva, a mentor at Graduate Miami-Dade. “By interacting with state representatives, sharing data, and making their cases, their confidence grew, transforming them into advocates capable of driving significant change.”
Leiva’s team advocated for a “universal” FAFSA policy, which unlocks aid for students who want to attend college or technical school. This step is critical for low-income students needing financial aid to plan for their future career. According to the National College Attainment Network, seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to immediately pursue an education beyond high school. The State University System of Florida’s enrollment numbers dropped according to data available on the Florida Board of Governor’s data analytics dashboard.
Photo L to R: Ismaray Govea, Sheila Cuba, State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-40), Isaac Washington, and Katherine Leiva.
A Universal FAFSA policy would ensure high school seniors complete the FAFSA, as a graduation requirement, and increase access to federal grants, institutional scholarships, and other sources of financial aid making it more affordable.
“I passionately advocated for Universal FAFSA, specifically emphasizing the inclusion of the Federal Work Study (FWS) program in the FAFSA application,” said Ismaray Govea, a student at Florida International University. “As a low-income college student, the opportunity to work on campus through FWS was invaluable, allowing me to deepen my involvement in campus life while supporting my family financially.”
This policy would enhance Florida’s SAIL to 60 initiative, which aims to increase the percentage of working-age Floridians with a high-value postsecondary certificate, degree, or training experience to 60% by 2030.
“I believe if a Universal FAFSA was mandated it would help achieve even the Governor’s initiative of Sail to 60, resulting in more educated and more career-ready Floridians,” said Isaac Washington, a student at the University of South Florida (USF).
The Miami-Dade team practice their power pose to build confidence before entering a meeting with a state representative.
The fellowship experience benefits both students and participating community coalitions in practical and impactful ways. For students, it provides an opportunity to voice their perspectives and see their input valued, building confidence and advocacy skills. They also gain hands-on leadership experience and professional growth by actively participating in meaningful advocacy. For LCANs, involving students ensures they receive direct, relevant feedback, helping to align their initiatives with students’ actual needs. This collaboration allows LCANs to test theories and refine programs based on real-world input, leading to more effective and student-centered solutions.
Graduate Miami-Dade is the local college access network (LCAN) of professionals dedicated to bridging the inequity gaps in education across Miami-Dade County. With the backbone organization being the United Way Miami, they in partnership with other key stakeholders focus on serving special populations, increasing FAFSA completion rates, education policy and advocacy, and creating pathways to postsecondary success. By fostering strong connections, providing ongoing resources and guidance to the community, Graduate Miami-Dade has become a trusted leader in addressing educational inequities.
Their partnership with FCAN’s 2023-24 Advocacy Fellowship program further underscores their commitment to empowering students and promoting educational advancement.
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