College Access Plan

Who We Are

Founded in 2006, College Access Plan (CAP) is an independent 501c3 nonprofit that prepares underserved and underrepresented students to succeed in college. Through partnerships with area school districts and local agencies, CAP provides no-cost college readiness advisement and topic-specific workshops for high school and middle school students, families, and to graduates that attend college. Services range from assisting students and graduates with college applications, financial aid, and other forms of essential college preparatory access and success support.

Vision and Goals

We are student-centered and foster meaningful interactions to assist students and their families through any and all college readiness and success steps, supporting them as they navigate the postsecondary and financial aid journey from middle school through college graduation. We strive to ensure that students consider all their options because we believe that college should be accessible to everyone regardless of academic achievement, citizenship status, or income level.

There are no limits to what students can accomplish, and the key pillars that lie at the center of our work are:

Increase four-year degree attainment for underserved and underrepresented students
Ensure students have financial access to college
Nurture students’ personal and professional growth, encouraging broad exploration of the career and civic landscape
Advocate for college access and success with and for underserved populations at all governmental and institutional levels

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Students

CAP supports all students by emboldening them to opt-in to our programs and develop their own relationships with CAP’s staff, volunteers, and other students, and by fostering organic opportunities to connect students to both the fundamentals of college access and success as well as the complexities of making life’s big decisions like which college to attend.

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Students

Attend or have graduated from public schools in Pasadena and Hacienda La Puente, California, and surrounding communities
Are the first in their family to attend college and/or come from low-income households
Are not homogenous – they come to CAP with no specific grade point average or requirements, only the desire and drive to achieve their dreams
Are self-accountable and self-motivated
Create peer communities and inspire each other to succeed
Attend local community college campuses, all 9 of the UC campuses, 21 of 23 CSU campuses, and numerous other public and private institutions. Alumni have gone on to graduate school in education, social work, acting, sociology, and more.

We are so proud of all of our students and celebrate their accomplishments and bright futures. They are #CAPFamilyForever!

CAP co-founders Kathleen Parent and Mo Hyman at CAP’s 15th-anniversary celebration

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History

CAP was founded in 2006 by two educators, Mo Hyman and Kathleen Parent, who wanted to address a gap in college knowledge and matriculation among low-income and first-generation college-going students in Pasadena’s public schools. Working closely with counselors and teachers, CAP developed a comprehensive program that works in partnership with schools. Since the beginning, CAP’s programs have sought to embolden students of all ages to envision themselves with an affordable college degree from an institution that best fits their unique interests, personalities, and needs.

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Commitment

We are committed to helping students overcome institutional barriers to college access and success and to leveraging our organizational power and privilege to advance equity in higher education.

As an organization, we are committed to ensuring that everyone is respected and valued regardless of their race, national origin, gender identity status, age, reproductive health beliefs, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, abilities, disabilities, or any other factor.

We actively promote a culture of equity, diversity, and advocacy and are dedicated to creating an environment where our staff and communities thrive.