Project HOPE is currently petitioning to keep its program alive at Cerritos.
ASCC Vice President Jason Macias has started handing out petitions to students and asking them to write letters saying that they support the program. Petitions can be turned in to the Public Affairs office.
Macias said that the only reason the program is being shut down is because of a lack of funding. He also revealed that those who have been in the program knew that it was in its final year.
Technically, the funding for the program ends on Aug. 31.
Project HOPE is dedicated to increasing the number of Latinos and other underrepresented groups entering in, matriculating and completing health careers.
The project aims to create an academic pipeline facilitating the success of minority students in this competitive field. Program activities include:
- Student services geared toward health careers
- Workshops, conferences and research opportunities
- Community service venues
- Peer and professional mentoring
Macias said that with the petitions, students will hopefully express the importance of keeping Project HOPE at Cerritos.
Other than the lack of funding, there has been no other explanation for the program’s closing, according to him.
The program has been able to maintain as long as it has because of fundraising from the group and donations given from the school.
Currently, as the petitions have been distributed, he commented that he hoped that petitioning for wanting to keep Project HOPE will become a high-profile matter.
As of right now, he plans to make Cerritos students aware of the issue one person at a time.
