CREAR FUTUROS: HISPANIC FEDERATION EXPANDS COLLEGE PEER-MENTORSHIP PROGRAM TO ILLINOIS, NORTH CAROLINA
For Immediate Release: August 18, 2023
Contact: media@hispanicfederation.org
NATIONAL—Hispanic Federation (HF), the nation’s premier Latino nonprofit membership organization, announced it will expand its Latino-serving student mentorship program, CREAR (College Readiness, Achievement, and Retention) Futuros, to Illinois and North Carolina for the first time. In addition to expanding into two new states, HF also announced a new partnership with New York State universities, adding two schools to the program: SUNY Purchase and SUNY Old Westbury.
The expansion of CREAR Futuros comes as the college completion gap continues to widen for Latino students, and as the recent Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action is expected to lead to a sharp drop in Latino student enrollment. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic hindered the educational careers of Latino students and amplified inequities in our nation’s educational system over the past three years.
Recent CREAR Futuros data indicates that the college retention rate of participants was 10% higher than that of their peers, proof that the program could help address higher education inequities affecting Latinos. Participating students also had significantly higher GPAs and earned 20 more credits on average. With the expansion of the program, nearly 1,000 mentors and mentees will participate in the 2023-2024 school year across 12 campuses. For comparison, the program served more than 600 students across eight campuses in the 2022-2023 school year.
“Hispanic Federation is expanding the CREAR Futuros program to ensure that Latinos have the support they need to excel in higher education. Together, with our mentors and mentees, we’re investing in our students, creating networks of support, and reshaping their educational future. We look forward to working with the latest cohort of CREAR mentors and mentees, inspirational leaders who are going to empower the next generation of students,” said Frankie Miranda, President and CEO of Hispanic Federation.
“CREAR Futuros creates and strengthens support networks in colleges across the country, reminding our Latino students that they belong and can build communities on their campuses. More than 7,000 students have been a part of our program, helping reshape graduation and retention rates. We’re excited to reach even more students in four new schools while deepening our relationship with our existing partners,” said Perla Rodriguez, Senior Director of Education Programs at Hispanic Federation.
Hispanic Federation launched CREAR Futuros in 2012 as a free peer-mentorship program that recruits Latinx students in college to mentor, guide, and support younger students. Since its launch, CREAR Futuros has served nearly 7,000 students, about 85 percent of whom identify as Hispanic/Latino. CREAR Futuros seeks to bridge gaps in education by creating support networks that help students access college, improve retention and graduation rates, and shape better academic outcomes.
To that end, CREAR Futuros mentors – who are paid a stipend for their participation – support mentees by helping them navigate financial aid, offering tutoring, connecting them to resources and services that can help students successfully navigate college, and more. Hispanic Federation also creates tailored programming that mentors and mentees participate in throughout the year, including in-person and virtual trainings that cover career readiness, leadership skills building, and more.
As of the Spring of 2023, 95 percent of CREAR Futuros mentees strongly agreed that their mentor was an asset and a benefit to them. 96 percent of CREAR Futuros mentors strongly agreed or agreed that their professional skills improved as a result of this program.
Schools participating in CREAR Futuros include:
New York
- SUNY at Old Westbury (new)
- SUNY Purchase College (new)
- CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
- CUNY LaGuardia Community College
- CUNY Lehman College
- CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- CUNY New York City College of Technology
- CUNYQueens College
Illinois
- University of Illinois Chicago (new)
North Carolina
- North Carolina Central University (new)
Connecticut
- Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury and Danbury Campuses)
Florida
- University of Central Florida
ABOUT HISPANIC FEDERATION
Hispanic Federation (HF) is a nonprofit membership and advocacy organization, founded in 1990, committed to empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, with a focus on low-income, marginalized and immigrant Latinos. With offices in New York, Connecticut, Washington, D.C, North Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Puerto Rico, and additional programs in 41 states, its program focus areas include immigration, economic empowerment, civic engagement, disaster relief, philanthropy, education, health, and the environment. HF also maintains ongoing public education campaigns and meets the organizational development needs of its member agencies through grant-making and capacity-building assistance.
ABOUT CREAR FUTUROS
CREAR Futuros is a peer-mentor program that recruits qualified Latinx students in participating educational institutions to mentor, guide, and support younger students, or mentees. Mentors assist mentees regarding tutoring, financial aid, and resources available to them including, services offered by Hispanic Federation's community-based member organizations.
