Vivian Becerra is a role model. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she grew up in Bell Gardens, a city that is mostly Hispanic and where many of the young people don’t finish high school. Vivian was determined to buck that trend. The oldest of three, Vivian saw her family was struggling to make ends meet. “I knew that continuing my education was the only way to help my parents out,” she explains.
After graduating from high school, she pursued her education at Mount St. Mary’s College with the goal of teaching school-aged children and helping them advance. With financial assistance from the Cal Grant program and the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), she was able to earn her Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies and now works for Alexandria House where she coordinates volunteers and the after-school program. Alexandria House doubles as a transitional shelter for women and children and a community center.
“The Cal Grant program can open many doors for people like me, especially those who think that they cannot pay for school. It’s very important that we invest in education because for some people it means becoming a scholar but for some people – like me – it means becoming a role model to their family and community.”
Stand with women like Vivian. Don’t close the door to higher education, the pathway to opportunity for generations to come. Cal Grants, CalWORKS and subsidized child care and have been cut enough. Tell the legislature to come up with wise revenue solutions, and NOT balance the budget on the backs of women and children.