Mayor Jim Hahn initiates campaign to expand access to education for LA families

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 17, 2002) Mayor Jim Hahn today unveiled the Los Angeles “Free Cash for College” campaign, designed to expand access to education and career opportunities for L.A. families. A coalition of leaders from business, education, labor, community-based organizations, and government will work with Mayor Hahn’s office in the next six months to implement two major projects - the College and Career Convention and Free Cash for College Weekend.

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“In Los Angeles, we are dreamers and doers, a city molded by the optimism and spirit of the entrepreneurs among us. Ours is a young population with great energy born of diversity, and our future is directly linked to nurturing our greatest asset: our people,” said Mayor Hahn. “We can unleash the potential in our workforce by coupling their extraordinary work ethic with the skills to succeed.”

“Without financial aid, many low- and middle-income families can not afford to send children to college,” said Rusty Hammer, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Mayor’s Investing in People coalition. “We will inform L.A. families about the sources of college funding available and help them to obtain the funds.”

The College and Career Convention will be held Nov. 7-9 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The City will provide free transportation for thousands of high school seniors and juniors and is partnering with Los Angeles Unified School District to make sure students and teachers take advantage of this opportunity.

“When we help our students and their families build a secure and prosperous future, we’re investing in the future of the Los Angeles economy,” said LAUSD School Board President Caprice Young. “LAUSD is happy to partner with Mayor Hahn in this important project.”

Through a combination of exhibitors, interactive career demonstrations, information sessions, and a “college knowledge” game, the Convention will provide students and parents the opportunity to learn more about career choices and the preparation needed to access them, from trade and technical schools to public and private universities.

Students can meet with college representatives, talk to current students about college life, and access financial aid organizations, lenders, and scholarship providers at the event, which aims to help them make the most of the financing options.

“Many families fail to take advantage of the money and services available to them because they’re either unaware these sources exist or they have difficulties with the extensive application process,” said Dr. Harry Pachon, President, Tomás Rivera Policy Institute and Vice Chair of Mayor Hahn’s Investing in People coalition.

The second event, Free Cash for College Weekend, will take place Feb. 1-2, 2003, at 50 local high schools. The LAUSD will invite every high school senior in Los Angeles to attend with their families.

The collaboration of accounting firms, colleges and universities will help students and their families complete the FAFSA—the application form required for California’s Cal Grants, which provide $1,500 to $10,000 of annual education funding for qualifying families.

“The goal of this weekend is to increase the number of successful Cal Grant applications from Los Angeles and bring in new money from Sacramento,” said Councilman Eric Garcetti, Chair of the Economic Development and Employment Committee of the City Council. “The money can then be recycled into our economy and open doors to new opportunities for Angelenos,” he added.

“We in the Los Angeles delegation of the State legislature have fought hard to open up access to education for our families by expanding the Cal Grant program,” said State Assemblyman Marco Firebaugh (D-Los Angeles). “We are excited to partner with Mayor Hahn to make sure that L.A. families can take advantage of this ‘free money’ from Sacramento.”

“This is about families. As a single working mother myself, I know how difficult it can be for parents to finance a college education,” said Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who is Mayor Hahn’s younger sister. “Our grandmother was an immigrant, raised seven kids on a single salary, and could certainly have used the help in putting her kids through school. When your older sibling goes through college and succeeds, it can have a great impact on the younger kids.”

Councilwoman Hahn last year followed her brother, Mayor Jim Hahn, into elected office, and now serves as Chair of the Education and Neighborhoods Committee of the City Council.

“This is about business,” said Charlie Woo, Chairman of the Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board and CEO of MegaToys. “By investing in human capital, we can work together to ensure that Los Angeles has the workforce to build the great companies of the 21st century.”

"Every parent with a child near college age should make plans to attend the Free Cash For College events,” said Councilman Tom LaBonge. “By investing a few hours now, one could generate thousands of dollars of grants in return. Simply put, it's a no-brainer."

The Free Cash for College Campaign is a part of Mayor Hahn’s workforce development initiative, aimed at increasing learning and literacy in Los Angeles. The campaign will leverage L.A.’s abundant resources -- a highly diverse population, a multitude of higher education institutions, and a wide range of financial aid opportunities --to help L.A. families secure a better education and more prosperous future.

“The future of our economy is a subject that concerns us all,” said Mayor Hahn. “I invite all Los Angeles businesses and organizations to participate in this campaign by informing your employees and customers about our upcoming events and the many sources of financial aid available to help them through college.”

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Joy Chen, Deputy Mayor
213 / 978-1965
jchen@mayor.lacity.org

or visit the City webpage:
Free Cash For College