4th Annual Pathways to Higher Education Conference Agenda 
Monday, November 18th, 2024
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The Center for Healthy Communities Los Angeles at The California Endowment
1000 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration and Breakfast, Location: Redwood Room

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM: Conference Kick Off, Location: Redwood Room

  • Conference Emcees: Yefry Mata and Matt Pratap, Student Leadership Cohort Members, Youth Law Center
  • Pathways Conference Video Presentation

Welcome Remarks

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • Jennifer Rodriguez, Executive Director, Youth Law Center
  • Katie Bliss, Directing Advocate, Youth Law Center
  • Kellie Nadler, Regional Coordinator, Rising Scholars Educational Services and Support at the CCCCO 
  • Chelsea Esquibias, California Community College Rising Scholars Network

Impact of Higher Education Pathways

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • MJ Hart, Project Coordinator, Pathways to Higher Education, Youth Law Center
  • Jacqueline Rodriguez, Student, Stanford Law School, Project Change Alum
  • Matt Pratap Member, Student Leadership Cohort, Youth Law Center
  • Nick Jasso, Program Director, Project Change, College of San Mateo
  • Yefry Mata, Member, Student Leadership Cohort, Youth Law Center

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Morning Plenary
Topic: Statewide Program Model for SB 178 and Rising Scholar Grants: Project Change, San Mateo County Community College District

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • Nancy Magee, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools  
  • Nick Jasso, Program Director, Project Change, College of San Mateo
  • Stacy Nojima Gutierrez, PhD, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Planning, San Mateo County Community College District
  • Miriam Mosqueda, Project Coordinator, Project Change Cañada College

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Breakout Sessions

Morning Session A: Creating Powerful Change for Juvenile Justice- Impacted Youth Through Higher Education Programs: Key Stakeholders and Program Beginnings (Big Sur Room)

  • Location: Big Sur Room
  • Moderator: Kellie Nadler, Regional Coordinator, Rising Scholars Educational Services and Support at the CCCCO 
  • Cindy Aguilar, Juvenile Justice Center Initiatives Coordinator, San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department
  • Emily Fox, Principal Program & Policy Analyst, San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department
  • Rebecca Marcus, San Francisco Public Defenders Office
  • Sylvia Lepe, Principal, San Francisco County Office of Education 
  • Yvette Vargas, Program Director, Rising Scholars Program, San Francisco City College

Morning Session B: Transformative Opportunities through Dual Enrollment for Juvenile Justice Impacted Students: Pedagogy and Practice

  • Location: Tahoe Room
  • Moderator: Chelsea Esquibias, California Community College Rising Scholars Network
  • Dr. Finausina Tovo, Professor of Ethnic Studies, Project Change Faculty, College of San Mateo
  • Jeramy Wallace, Professor of English, Project Change Faculty, College of San Mateo
  • Dr. Shani Shay, Director of Incarceration to College, UC Berkeley Underground Scholars Program 

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM:  Lunch and Networking, Location: Redwood Room

1:00 PM – 4:45 PM: Youth Law Center Student Leadership Cohort Exhibit, Location: Sequoia Room

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Student Leaders Panel: Youth Law Center and Rising Scholars Statewide Student Leadership Panel

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • Moderator: MJ Hart, Project Coordinator, Pathways to Higher Education, Youth Law Center

2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: What’s Working in Alternatives to Youth Incarceration and Postsecondary Pathways: Perspectives from Philanthropy

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • Angela LoBue, Senior Program Officer, Foster Youth, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
  • Jeffrey Kim, Program Director, The California Wellness Foundation
  • Lisa Small, Senior Director, Youth and Transformative Justice, Liberty Hill Foundation
  • Miguel Leon, Senior Director of Programs and Strategic Initiatives, The Michelson 20MM Foundation

2:55 PM – 3:45 PM: Alternatives to Court and Community Schools through Pathways to Higher Education Presentation
Stanford Law School Youth Education and Law Project Policy Lab (YELP)
San Mateo County Office of Education Gateway Redesign Team

  • Location: Redwood Room
  • Abigail Trillin, Clinical Supervising Attorney, Youth Education and Law Project at Stanford Law School 
  • Jacqueline Rodriguez, Student, Stanford Law School, Project Change Alum
  • Joey Chen, Student, Stanford Law School
  • Kris Shouse, Associate Superintendent, Educational Services, San Mateo County Office of Education

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM: Closing Remarks, Special Presentation, and Reception

  • Location: Redwood Room and Patio
  • Katie Bliss, Directing Advocate, Pathways to Higher Education, Youth Law Center
  • MJ Hart, Project Coordinator, Pathways to Higher Education, Youth Law Center
  • Youth Law Center Student Leadership Cohort Members