LOS ANGELES — Point Foundation today announced May 13 as the date for the second annual educate2impact day in support of equitable access to education and to encourage students to complete their high school and college education. The hashtag #educate2impact can be used across social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, to join the campaign. People are encouraged to use the “Selfie Diplomas” and other easy-to-use social media graphics available at the Get Involved page of www.educate2impact.org.
Everyone deserves equal access to education and educate2impact brings special attention to the importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students, a third of whom drop out of high school and do not attend college*, staying in school to get their degrees.
Students are encouraged to join a May 13 Google Hangout at 12:30 p.m. EST about finding and creating LGBTQ friendly colleges. Moderator for the Google Hangout is Jessica Kane, Director of Millennial Outreach at The Huffington Post. Panelists joining the live discussion include Dr. Kim Hackford-Peer, Associate Director of the Gender Studies Program at the University of Utah, Jacob Tobia, writer and genderqueer advocate, Shane L. Windmeyer, M.S., Ed, Executive Director of Campus Pride, and Tim’m T. West, Managing Director, Teach For America LGBTQ Initiative.
To help students and parents find answers to questions about affording college and a higher education degree, Point Foundation is collaborating with Wells Fargo on a question and answer board “Ask e2i: Paying For College.” From May 1 through May 18, people can submit questions to be answered by Wells Fargo team members specializing in planning and paying for college.
“The LGBT college-bound youth segment in many parts of the country is often underserved,” said Shelley Freeman, head of Wells Fargo’s Consumer Credit Solutions. “Educate2impact day creates an opportunity for us at Wells Fargo to collaborate with our nonprofit partner, Point Foundation, and put to good use our financial literacy resources that can empower students, individuals, families, and communities. At Wells Fargo, we believe we can help create a brighter future when we work together with nonprofits and the community to ensure that our emerging leaders obtain the education and skills necessary to achieve their goals.”
“College is an exciting and life changing experience that should be accessible to all young people,” said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director & CEO of Point Foundation. “Unfortunately, so many LGBTQ students, both in high school and college, have experienced harassment and discrimination that has made them consider dropping out of school. Plus the cost of paying for school is a great stress on them and their families. These students need to know people are there to help them, advise them, and are rooting for them to complete their degrees.”
Organizations helping to promote educate2impact include: Bisexual Resource Center, Campus Pride, Hetrick-Martin Institute, PFLAG National, People for the American Way, Quist, Teach For America, True Colors Fund, and Young People For. Additional community partners are encouraged to join with educate2impact!
