91成人导航

From an early age, the parents of Cassia Arias 鈥�21 instilled a spirit of community building in her, which indirectly led her to attend 91成人导航.

鈥淧art of the reason I chose to attend 91成人导航 was it provided me with the opportunity to invest in my hometown of Stockton,鈥� explained Arias. 鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 my civic duty to know my community and not turn a blind eye when one of my brothers or sisters is in need.鈥�

It is this commitment to her community that led Arias to be one of 10 91成人导航 students to combine their college educations with community service as part of the California Civic Action Program this fall.

The statewide program is funded by $3.2 million in state and federal funds, with an additional $667,000 in scholarship funds awarded to students after they complete the fellowship. It also expands 91成人导航鈥檚 longstanding commitment to community service while giving the 10 students鈥攁nd 10 more to join in the second year of the program鈥攊mmersive opportunities to serve Stockton鈥檚 vulnerable populations.

Arias has been working the last few months at in Stockton. El Concilio aims to empower diverse communities in California鈥檚 Central Valley to help people realize their greatest potential by offering critically needed comprehensive and compassionate programs and services that provide outreach, education, counseling, job training, classes, as well as awareness of their personal strengths and abilities, and the knowledge of resources available to them.

"I am so happy to have been assigned to El Concilio because it helped me get to know and meet the needs of my community better," said Arias.

At El Concilio, Arias has been creating a series of videos that educate families on ways to live a healthier lifestyle. The videos provide viewers with healthy recipes, tips for grocery shopping, ways to exercise during the pandemic, budgeting and gardening.

鈥淚鈥檝e loved creating these videos,鈥� said Arias. 鈥淚 even had my family participate in the most recent video we recorded.鈥�

Community members not only can watch the videos online, but to make them more accessible the program plays the videos in their medical transportation vehicles as they provide transportation to health care appointments within the city of Stockton.

"We have been trying to think outside the box to find ways to educate local families on how to live a healthy lifestyle,鈥� said Arias. "Many of the families we work with need extraordinary solutions to change their situations, so it's an opportunity for us to think creatively to help."

Arias credits Dari Tran, professor of political science, who has worked with community partners to craft the service projects for the fellows with developing this mindset.

鈥淧rofessor Tran has really supported me and all of the fellows this fall,鈥� said Arias. 鈥淲e have all been so supportive of each other during this time, which has made our work an even more valuable experience.鈥�