Wichita nonprofit helps inspire Hispanic students to dream big

Yahoo

4 days ago

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Weighing what to do after high school graduation is a daunting task.
For Michele Valadez, she already knew her dream by the time she was 15. She wanted to run her own business.
'Being my own boss, just being able to grow my own business pivot as I wanted to create the brand that I wanted,' she explained.
Valadez had the drive. She just needed help navigating the path.
'I'm a first-generation student, and when it came to the college process, I really wasn't too sure what to do,' Valadez said.
She connected with the Kansas Hispanic Education and Development Foundation.
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'We then become a whole support network for this student, walk them through every step of the process,' explained Pablo Cruz, KHEDF executive director.
The nonprofit has seven programs to help Hispanic students through high school and college, preparing them for their future careers.
'When you look at demographics, already in Wichita, you've seen 136% increase in the Latino population, right? When you look at USD 259, there's 40% that are Hispanic/Latino. That's your future workforce,' Cruz said.
KHEDF offers scholarships and resources to succeed in higher education.
Valadez received two of those, and she says the nonprofit goes beyond providing funds.
'They're putting you through workshops, kind of learning how it's going to be like in my first year of college, and partnering me with a mentor.'
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It also connects students to professional mentors in their field.
'It's motivational. So being able to be someone that looks like me and is in the workforce, I'm like, okay, if they can do it, I can do, and it kind of fuels that seed of like, okay, you know, it's an opportunity, it's a possibility,' Valadez said.
The seeds planted in Valadez are seeing the fruits of their labor. She is nearing her one-year anniversary of opening 'City Girlz Liquor.'
She's thankful that her dream has come true and is ready to help others reach theirs.
'That's the beautiful thing about the organization, that there's someone right there willing to hold your hand, and there's a whole community willing to support you,' she said.
KHEDF's annual Dream Big Fiesta is Thursday, May 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at WAVE. All of the tickets help support their programs. Forty-five scholars will be awarded at the event.
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