Humans of Green Dot
College Readiness is a Family Affair
When my oldest son came to this school he was struggling academically and was very timid, but the teachers helped him grow several grade levels and boosted his self esteem and confidence.”
Read More >>How Robert Helps Freshmen Navigate The First Year of College
As a freshman and a commuter student, Robert Cunningham struggled with establishing connections on campus and adjusting to the culture at his college. Now a sophomore, he mentors recent Green Dot graduates and helps them discover the best path to academic success.
Read More >>Tiana Diggs: Leading with Love and High Expectations
Few people are surprised that Tiana Diggs is now a principal at the school where her teaching career began. Though if you asked Diggs if she ever imagined that she’d be a principal the answer might surprise you. “Absolutely not, I don’t know if that sounds crazy but I didn’t,” laughed Tiana Diggs, Principal at Ánimo James B. Taylor Charter Middle School (AJBT).
Read More >>Sandra Estrada: My Road to College
In her junior year at the University of California, Los Angeles we spoke with Ánimo Leadership Charter High School alumna Sandra Estrada about her road to college and where this journey might lead her once she graduates.
Read More >>Peace Ikediuba: Don’t Knock Yourself out of the Game
“At a certain point in my life I stopped thinking about college because I knew I couldn’t afford it and it didn’t seem logical to even put myself through the process,” reflected Peace Ikediuba, an Ánimo South Los Angeles Charter High School alumna.
Read More >>Why This Alumna Became a Counselor at Her Alma Mater
“When I became a counselor many of my friends and even family members would ask me, ‘Do you have a couch where you ask students how they’re doing while you scribble notes in a notepad?’” chuckled Stacie Cruz, a counselor at Ánimo Leadership Charter High School.
Read More >>Why This Founding Green Dot Student Came Back to South LA
Daisy Estevez, a social studies teacher at Ánimo Mae Jemison Charter Middle School, became a teacher in hopes of changing the lives and trajectories of students. Estevez was inspired by her teachers at Ánimo Ralph Bunche Charter High School (ARB) who helped change her life when she was a founding student in 2006.
Read More >>How Math Will Help This Future Nurse Practitioner
“People always joke that the Pythagorean theorem isn’t going to help you in the real world,” chuckled Ashley Perez, a 2019 Ánimo College Prep Academy alumna.
Read More >>How Marching Band Changed This Alumnus’s Life
“The Locke band has given me a purpose,” reflected Danny Velasquez, Alain LeRoy Locke College Preparatory Academy alumnus. “It’s made me more appreciative of music, taught me a sense of responsibility, and has really shown me the importance of collaborating with others.”
Read More >>Ánimo Compton Reignites Students’ Love for Learning
“When Brianna Chavez began attending Ánimo Compton Charter School in her seventh grade year she was shocked at how different it was from her previous school. “I was in world history class and I was stuck on an assignment and my teacher just came up to me and said ‘Do you need help?’
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