Striving for Equity in College Access and Completion

Joanne Reyes knows firsthand how important a college education is in building opportunity and wealth in immigrant and disadvantaged communities.

Born in Manila, Reyes, chief executive officer of Fulfillment Fund, was the first in her Chinese-Filipino family to complete college in the U.S.  During her time at a high-performing magnet high school in the San Fernando Valley, Reyes noticed that some of her classmates felt supported and found their way to college, while others did not. 

“Education is a public good. We all benefit from having a more educated workforce,” Reyes says. “So why aren’t we putting greater resources toward more students having equitable access to postsecondary education?”

Fulfillment Fund, one of Los Angeles’ oldest and largest college access and completion nonprofits, helps students from low-income communities and first-generation households — primarily students of color — get into, finance, and finish college. 

It targets high-need high schools and serves some 3,000 students in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area each year. 

With an eye toward equity, the nonprofit is open to every student at each school they serve without restrictions on students’ GPA or their family’s financial or documentation status. Unlike other college access organizations, Fulfillment Fund not only helps students get into a best-fit college, but helps them graduate while becoming career ready. 

“So many students graduate college with little to no job experience in their chosen career field,” Reyes explains. “We want our students to land softly in the job marketplace so that they can take the next step to uplift themselves and their families.”

Fulfillment Fund alumnus Johnny Ruiz was a first-generation college student that the nonprofit worked with throughout high school. He received one of the organization’s scholarships, was accepted to and graduated from UCLA, interned with the nonprofit, and ultimately served on its Alumni Association Board. He was recently inducted to UC Davis’ Medical School donning a white coat and stethoscope. 

“To me, he is a huge success story,” Reyes says. “Our impact on him and his family is lasting. He has a younger sister that went through our program as well, who also graduated from UCLA. And, he will go on to be an incredible role model for many other students from similar backgrounds.”

The nonprofit doesn’t only push a four-year college agenda; it also supports those interested in starting out at community college. Since the start of the pandemic, more of their students have had financial pressure to earn money for their household or take care of younger siblings as their parents take on more jobs. 

In the next year, Fulfillment Fund will ramp up efforts to rebuild connections with students and reignite their dreams despite their ongoing pandemic losses.

“I think that’s what gets lost in the shuffle of survival,” Reyes says. “For young people, it’s so important that they dream. It’s our role to help them re-engage in their dreams and help pursue them.”