Boyle Heights Program 14 High School Graduation Rates Demonstrate Program Results

In 2002, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles (IHADLA) sponsored a class of first graders at Murchison Elementary School. These students (“Dreamers”) graduated high school in 2013. Now, we have the privilege of watching as they journey through college. 86% of our Boyle Heights Dreamers graduated high school on time, and 96% of those students entered post-secondary education. The Dreamers achieved this in an area where high school drop out rates are high.

Daisy Barrios, Program 14 alumni, graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a major in English Literature. — Daisy Barrios, Program 14 alumni, graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a major in English Literature in June 2017.

IHADLA alum Daisy Barrios with her family at her college graduation — Daisy Barrios with her family at her college graduation

Kassandra Valdovinos, IHADLA Program 14 alumni, at her graduation from UCLA with a Sociology major — Kassandra Valdovinos, Program 14 alum, at her June 2017 graduation from UCLA with a Sociology major

IHADLA P14 Giselle Burciaga graduating from Pasadena City College with a transfer to California State University Los Angeles — Giselle Burciaga Program 14 alum graduating from Pasadena City College with a transfer to California State University Los Angeles

As the following photos demonstrate, high school graduation was a very happy time for the Dreamers of Boyle Heights Program 14. Their high school graduation rates demonstrate the effectiveness of our program.

IHADLA P14 High School graduation with diplomas — P14 High School graduation with diplomas

IHADLA P14 graduates showing off their diplomas — P14 graduates showing off their diplomas

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IHADLA P14 High School Graduation hug — P14 high school graduation hug

Graduation music by Boyle Heights IHADLA Program 14 graduates

Mentor with mentee at P14 graduation brunch celebration

“The best thing is that [“I Have a Dream” Foundation – Los Angeles] is always there for us good or bad … and [they] don’t judge our thoughts or who we are. They have become a second family to me.” ~ Class of 2013 student Dreamer

Preparation for SAT’s and College Field Trips with IHADLA Led to 86% of This Class Believing They Will Graduate from College

During high school, our Boyle Heights Dreamers were able to prepare for the SAT, visit college campuses, and attend the “I Have a Dream” Saturday Academy with their Dreamer cohort to prepare themselves in every way for higher education. In fact, IHADLA was the primary source of college information for our Dreamers, even more so than their teachers, families, and school counselors.

Boyle Heights IHADLA Program 14 College Tour — Boyle Heights Program 14 college tour

For our East LA Dreamers, college visits included trips to East Los Angeles College, Claremont McKenna, University of California – Irvine, USC, and more. Dreamers in East LA also actively participated in their community. They served food at the Los Angeles Mission and also painted playground equipment and planted flowers at Daniel Freeman for the Martin Luther King Dreamer Day of Service. Eighty-six percent of them believe they will graduate from college.

Program 14 alumni at DreamUp Conference 2017