Campaign to help increase college-going rates among Haitian-Americans

Miami, FL- The Florida College Access Network (ENLACE Florida) announces a new partnership in the Little Haiti community designed to engage and empower local education stakeholders, students, and parents to work alongside schools to improve college preparation and completion rates. In collaboration with Florida International University, the Florida College Access Network (ENLACE Florida) will provide resources, staff training, and tools to Miami Edison High School, Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center, and the Haitian American Scholarship Fund—all designed to cultivate a college-going culture and build the capacity of local youth-serving organizations to deliver college-access programming. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to partner with the Florida College Access Network in promoting and furthering the attainment of higher education in the Haitian Community,” said Gepsie Metellus, Executive Director for Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center.

Beginning in 2011, the Little Haiti community will be part of the KnowHow2Go Florida campaign, a state-wide effort supported by Lumina Foundation for Education. The KnowHow2GO Florida campaign provides students four steps to follow as they prepare for college. The campaign also incorporates television, radio, and outdoor advertisements produced in partnership by the American Council on Education and the Ad Council. The KnowHow2Go Florida campaign also involves integrating campaign curriculum and online tools with local college-preparation programs and activities including college tours, parent and student workshops, arts programs, and community-based projects.

“The faculty and staff of Miami Edison Senior High are working diligently to bring our students the best educational opportunities and experiences. We appreciate the value and importance of having the support of our community members and particularly the resources provided through KnowHow2GO to help transform our school into a college-bound, high-performing institution that can be the pride of our community,” said Dr. Pablo G. Ortiz, Provost for Miami Edison Senior High School.

The KnowHow2Go Florida campaign is part of a larger statewide coordinated effort, led by the Florida College Access Network (ENLACE Florida), to build a community platform that empowers communities to work alongside our schools to improve college-preparation and success rates. The ultimate goal is to increase the percentage of working adults in Florida who hold college degrees to sixty percent by 2025.

“Today we’re at about thirty-nine percent here in Florida,” said Braulio Colón, Interim Director for the Florida College Access Network (ENLACE Florida). According to the Florida Department of Labor, four out of five new jobs created in the state will require some form of postsecondary education. “In order to meet the workforce demand of a knowledge-based economy we are simply going to need more low-income and first generation students entering into and succeeding in college,” said Colón.

Florida College Access Network will work closely with FIU to provide technical assistance to community partners.

“We look forward to helping more minority students make it to college and graduate,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg.

For more information on KnowHow2Go Florida, or for information on how to become a partner, visit www.floridacollegeaccess.org