Student Mentorship Programs Community-based, non-profit organizations, such as MANA de San Diego, played a key role in supporting students through the development and implementation of innovative programs to support Latino students. MANA’s Hermanitas program launched in 1987, targeted at-risk Latina students with an initial goal to decrease drop-out rates. Venus Molina, serving as Chief of Staff for San Diego Council District Two, recalls being an 11-year-old attending Pacific Beach Middle School in 1987, bused in from the Sherman Heights barrio. She remembers MANA members Mary Campos and Elisa Sanchez coming to their school to establish a mentorship partnership for Latina teens.
“That day changed my life forever. Coming from a low-income family, our world was very small: a roof over our heads, something to eat, and go to school. So, the Hermanitas program opened my eyes that I can aspire to make something of myself and make my family proud.” With the mentorship support of the Hermanitas program, Venus went on to graduate from USD and then began her public service career.
PIQE Statewide Classroom Program 2024 (Photo courtesy © Parent Institute for Quality Education)
Parent Mentorship Programs Parents of students also were encouraged and organized to support children and schools for greater achievement. Alberto Ochoa, Ph.D., professor of the Department of Policy Studies at San Diego State University, and the Reverend Vahac Mardirosian, cofounded the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) in 1987, to “integrate low-income parents into the educational arena.” One of their first allies was San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Tom Payzant. An 8-week course was developed at Sherman Elementary School. It empowered parents, showing how to engage with the school system to help their children thrive in school. In all, 95 parents graduated from the program that first year. This educational format continues to the present. PIQE has partnered with more than 550 schools throughout California, serving more than 785,000 families. A 2024 Longitudinal Academic Impact Report, confirmed PIQE’s success, tracking 1,250 statewide students whose families participated in its program. It revealed “that 91% of those students graduated from high school—significantly outperforming state and national averages.” According to PIQE CEO Gloria Corral, “This kind of work isn’t possible without deep partnerships and funding.”
Left to right: Venus Molina and mentors Mary Campos and Elisa Sanchez, 2024 (Photo courtesy ©Venus Molina Archives)
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San Diego Latino Legacy – Timeline • Milestones • Stories
Chapter 6 – Perseverance
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