This year marks a considerable milestone as we celebrated the graduation of the third cohort from our AVANCE to College program. This achievement reflects our families’ academic dedication and AVANCE’s strategic commitment to addressing the social determinants of health through education. Anna Lisa Williford, the new Director of the AVANCE to College program, shared her first impressions, noting, “This program is powerful and can positively impact the participants and their families by empowering them with the skills, resources, and confidence they need to pursue their postsecondary goals.”
As a refresher, the social determinants of health (SDOH) refer to conditions in the environments where people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These circumstances are shaped by various forces, including economics, social policies, and politics. AVANCE recognizes that education is a critical determinant, and its impact ripples across these conditions. Improving education access and quality can improve other health and well-being outcomes and nurture thriving communities. Through AVANCE to College, participants like Denise Enriquez, who earned a degree in Criminal Justice, find academic empowerment and access to essential resources to enhance their living conditions and overall health. Denise’s success story illustrates how targeted educational interventions can significantly improve social determinants of health.
Anna Lisa emphasizes the unique aspects of the program that contribute to its success: “AVANCE to College is housed on a college campus, which allows participants to become immersed in a college-going culture. It establishes a sense of family, friendship, and a strong support system for participants, making it much more than a typical educational program.”
As the program expands, its alignment with our strategic goals becomes increasingly apparent. We are actively extending the program into new areas and adding support services like career counseling and health education, which are strategic steps toward mitigating the adverse effects associated with poor social determinants. By addressing educational disparities, AVANCE to College is instrumental in creating pathways to economic mobility and strengthening community health resilience.
Juana Medina, a PCEP Coach at El Paso Community College, reflects on the program’s evolution and impact: “Seeing how confident and comfortable AVANCE participants were walking around the college campus made me realize the great benefit of this setup. It was awe-inspiring to hear our participants say that they never thought they would be walking around a college campus, let alone pursuing further education.”
The success of the third cohort of AVANCE to College graduates highlights the profound potential of education as a transformative tool for social and health equity. Looking forward, Anna Lisa is optimistic about the program’s expansion: “I hope to see the AVANCE to College program grow to many other college campuses in Texas and beyond so that many more families can experience the program’s benefits.”
At AVANCE, we remain dedicated to nurturing educated minds and healthy, thriving communities, reflecting our deep commitment to holistic development. This holistic approach is at the heart of AVANCE’s mission as we continue to celebrate academic accomplishments and embrace education’s broader, transformative impact on health and well-being.