Our University Prep (UP!) program supports Latino youth from sixth grade through high school through intensive afterschool academic programming. The program focuses on students earning B and C grades, including English Language Learners and youth from very low-income families with recent immigration experiences. These students often fall between traditional academic support systems—they do not qualify for intensive interventions or advanced programs—yet continue to face systemic barriers that impact their academic success. With strong potential to achieve, they benefit from increased access to academic support, mentorship, and meaningful educational opportunities.
Through targeted academic instruction and social-emotional support, we help students strengthen their skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential — including progressing to A-level performance. Many UP! students are the first in their families to graduate from high school and pursue higher education.
Canal Alliance provides instruction in core subjects, weekly tutoring, small-group workshops, and daily homework assistance. Students also benefit from social-emotional learning, behavioral health services, outdoor enrichment experiences, and family engagement activities. After graduating from high school, UP! students are automatically enrolled in our College to Career (C2C) Program, which offers continued academic support, social-emotional and behavioral health services, scholarship guidance, and individualized case management throughout their college journey.
We are thankful for partners like Kaiser Permanente, whose renewed support since 2018 plays a critical role in strengthening student well-being and academic success. Through this partnership, we can expand access to essential resources, provide holistic support, and ensure that students have the tools they need to thrive — both in and beyond the classroom.