Luis Yépez

Luis Yépez

The investment in earning a college degree takes many forms – money, time, effort, sacrifice. For Luis Yépez, family and community are just as important when investing in higher education.

 

Luis’ mother and father came to the United States from Ecuador. His father worked as an envelope machine mechanic, and his mother opened up a small business. Growing up in Worcester, MA, Luis and his brother Juan benefitted from their parents’ belief in higher education.

 

But despite this commitment, Luis’ parents worked hard. They struggled to make it in the United States. Nothing was a given. They were fully unselfish in making sure that they could provide for Luis and Juan.

 

As for Luis, he made sure to take full advantage of the education he earned. In high school, he found his passion in academics and excelled in athletics. Luis received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy and gave back through service to his country, where he participated in several deployments to the far East, South America and the Caribbean where he was involved in counter-narcotics operations. In 2003 he was deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

After his service in the Navy, Luis turned to business. He earned a degree in management, then joined Juan in starting Mainstream Global, Inc. They decided to operate their business in Lawrence. As a city with some of the highest unemployment in Massachusetts, Luis has felt that by establishing the business in Lawrence, he would also be investing in the people who live here also. Luis’ efforts have been recognized which include an invitation to the White House and a personal invitation by the First Lady to attend the State of the Union Address in 2010.

 

Luis believes that an education is a key to unlock unlimited doors of opportunities. He has been active in organizations such as Groundwork Lawrence, Habitat for Humanity and Lawrence General Hospital, sharing his philosophy of empowering the community through education.

 

Education:

BS, Systems Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy (1993)

MA, Management, University of Redlands (1999)

Christy Torres

Christy Torres

Occupation: Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator, Springfield Community Center

Christy has seen many obstacles in her life and overcome them all to set a shining example for her children and for the young people she works with every day. Christy grew up with a father who was in and out of jail and a mother who was a functioning alcoholic. Despite this instability at home, she states that she always saw college as her ultimate goal. She wanted to break the chain of poverty in which her family was held and provide a better life for her children. Unfortunately, finances kept her from pursuing her degree right after high school and she began working right away. She made her first attempt at college at Holyoke Community College, but, due to a lack of support at home, finances and a busy work schedule, she was forced to drop out. After having her children she tried again, but with children added to her already difficult situation, she was unable to keep up with the work and once again dropped out.

That would be it for most people, but Christy was determined. She was going to provide a better life for her children, she was going to set an example, she was going to graduate. A few years later she set herself to the task of applying to schools. She was all on her own and didn’t have anyone in her life who had been through the process before to ask for help. She says that that was perhaps the hardest part of re-enrolling in college: being an older student who didn’t know the first thing about applying to schools and especially how to find financial aid. She recalls that her uncle, who was more like a father to her, said that he wanted to see her graduate from college, chiding her, “I don’t ever want to see you drop out again. You’ve done that enough!” Unfortunately, he passed away prior to Christy receiving her Bachelor’s this past December. After a childhood of growing up in the projects, eating bread and butter sometimes because that’s all her mother could afford, she remembers looking out on the audience during her graduation day, seeing the smiles on the faces of her mom and children and feeling like, that day, she was worth a million bucks.

Christy loves children and teens especially, stating, “They are our leaders of tomorrow! If we don’t help them to develop into leaders we won’t have a world!” She lives this commitment in her work as a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coordinator at Springfield Community Center where she works with at-risk youth every day. There she serves as a role model, working with teens who are in the same position she once was, telling them, “If I can do it, you can too.” She enjoys working with them to plan for college and make career plans and sees ACCESS as an amazing organization and a wonderful – and much needed – resource for the young people of Springfield.

Kathy LeMay

Kathy LeMay

Occupation: Chief Executive Officer, Raising Change

Kathy is the author of the acclaimed The Generosity Plan, which helps individuals work within their means to make a difference in the world. She is the founder, president & CEO of Raising Change, a Northampton- based company that works with social change organizations and donors from all walks of life to empower women and girls and improve conditions around the globe. She has raised more than $100 million for women’s human rights, hunger, and poverty relief and has directed an additional $150 million in philanthropic dollars to social change organization. As a national and international social justice fundraiser and philanthropic expert, Kathy is using her global influence to bring to bring in 2012-2012 some of the leading philanthropic change agents to western MA, in support of the Women’s Fund of Western MA and women’s giving and philanthropy.

Kathy has spoken to a wide variety of civic organizations throughout Western MA and CT including the Aurora Foundation for Women & Girls, the YWCA of Hartford, Women in Philanthropy of Western MA, the Girl Scouts of Western and Central MA, and the Women’s Fund of western MA.

She also serves on the Advisory Board for Bay Path College’s Masters in Philanthropy Program.

In 2009, Kathy received the highest number of votes and was the winningest recipient of Business West’s 40 Under 40 Award.

University of Massachusetts, B.A. in History and Women’s Studies, Class of 1992           

University of Seattle, 5th Year Women’s Studies, Class of 1993       

Heriberto Flores

Heriberto Flores

Occupation: Executive Director, New England Farmworkers Council

An effective leader possesses qualities that make those around him have respect, loyalty, and dedication.  He inspires others to listen because he is persuasive and knowledgeable and they realize that he has their best interest at heart. Heriberto Flores, Chairman/President/Executive Director of the New England Farm Workers’ Council, is an example of a strong leader in the community and someone that I greatly admire.

Mr. Flores, or Herbie as he prefers to be called, is a very influential person in the community because he wants to afford everyone the opportunity to be educated, grow economically, and contribute to the growth of their communities.  He does this not only through the programs his organization, the New England Farm Workers’ Council provides, but through tirelessly advocating for the rights of citizens in his community.

After completing a tour of duty in Vietnam, Herbie completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts -Amherst.  He then became part of a team that was instrumental in putting together the idea of a community organization that would provide quality services to seasonal and migrant farm workers. Herbie advocated for education and health services for these workers and soon was able to start the New England Farm Workers’ Council. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has been awarded Doctor of Public Service degrees by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Westfield State University.

Herbie quickly realized that there were others in the community that needed a helping hand to achieve a better quality of life and had firsthand knowledge that education was the key.  It wasn’t long thereafter that the New England Farm Workers’ Council started to grow and today, together with Corporation for Justice Management, Corporation for Public Management, and Partners for Community (which he also serves as Chairman/President/CEO), is an operation managing over $60 million with more than 250 staff providing needed services in communities throughout New England and Puerto Rico.

Herbie has high expectations of his staff and will not tolerate employees that are insensitive and arrogant.  He meets regularly with his staff and has motivational conversations that make staff want to work even harder.  This means he knows his staff by name and looks for leaders within the organization and encourages them to move forward in positions of leadership and provides the necessary support and training for these positions.  

Mr. Flores is an effective leader who has earned the respect of many in the community.  He does not look for glory but instead is determined to provide the assistance his community needs.  He is tenacious, has chosen a strong team to lead his employees, respects his staff and community, and most importantly, is responsible.  Herbie is an effective and strong community leader who leads by example and has the ability, education, and skills to inspire others to make the necessary changes to improve future outcomes.  

Sen. Gale Candaras

Sen. Gale Candaras

Occupation: State Senator

For twenty years, Gale D. Candaras has been a stalwart and tireless champion of a myriad of programs and activities that are integral to the fabric of civic life in the greater Springfield area, and throughout the Commonwealth.  As a local official, as a state representative, and as a state senator, Senator Candaras has fought for support for parks and libraries, for courthouses and for hospitals.  She has worked to rein in drunk driving and curtail drag racing, and to obtain funding for programs serving the elderly and disabled.  Education and schools have been a particular focus of Senator Candaras’s work, with emphasis on equalizing educational opportunities as the way to break the cycle of disadvantage holding many of our children back.  From the first creation of the Springfield Promise program, Senator Candaras has advocated strongly for stable funding to help our youth access higher education and open a path to a positive future.  She is always there for her constituents and for people who need a helping hand.  No one has worked harder or more reliably to enrich the life of our community than Gale D. Candaras, which is why it is my pleasure and honor to nominate her to receive the Access First One award.

Fairleigh Dickinson University, B.S.

Western New England College School of Law

Steven Bradley

Steven Bradley

Occupation: Vice President, Government, Community Relations and Public Affairs, Baystate Health

In his role as Vice President of Government, Community Relations and Public Affairs, Steven is responsible for developing and implementing Baystate’s legislative and political strategy at the federal, state and city levels.  He serves as Baystate’s day-to-day contact with local, state and federal elected officials, government agents and other interested parties. He also represents Baystate Health in the areas of Community Relations and Public Affairs by providing oversight to relationship building with community and neighborhood representatives and the local, regional and national media.

Steven has been with Baystate health over eight years. Prior to this, he was the State Chief of Staff for the Massachusetts State Senate Committee on Ways and Means. Steven also served as Regional Director of the Western Massachusetts State Department of Mental Retardation until 1996. In this capacity he established the departments first Regional Cultural Competency Initiative.  He served as a Selectman for 9 years in the Town of Pelham.

Masters of Science Degree, University of Massachusetts, Amherst – 1977
Bachelor of Science Degree, University of Massachusetts, Amherst – Cum Laude – 1975
Bristol Community College, Fall River, Massachusetts – 1971

ACCESS was very helpful in getting me the financial aid package that I needed. That was great. I wasn’t expecting help, but ACCESS helped me out a lot. High school students just starting to work with ACCESS should remember to just follow up. They are going to get you there, are going to get you what you need, and will get you a fair package. They will assist you as much as you can, which means you have nothing to lose! You can always give it a try as long as you have help.
Mohammed Zeroual, former ACCESS Boston student and Wentworth Institute of Technology graduate

Student Stories: Asia Medley

Asia Medley: ACCESS Last Dollar Scholarship Winner 2011.  City on a Hill, Regis College Class of 2015.

My family is very proud of me, because most of my family started college but didn’t finish, or applied and didn’t go—it’s not a lot of pressure, because I know that I can do it, but it feels like a lot of pressure sometimes! I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for a very long time, so I knew that I had to go to college. I knew that I had to strap up and get ready for the ride of all this school ahead!  But I see all the schooling as completely worth it once I get my J.D. 

I first saw a brochure for ACCESS on our guidance counselor’s bulletin board.  My guidance counselor was great, but she had so many students that I couldn’t always get all the help I needed, and so I had to find other people who could help me and who I could get support from.  That’s where ACCESS came in.  If I couldn’t meet with my guidance counselor, I’d immediately go set up a meeting with my ACCESS advisor, and they really helped me wade through all of the financial aid decisions I had to make.  In the end, I got all the money I needed, which is a lot better than other people I’ve seen who haven’t worked with an advisor on financial aid.  For students starting out, it’s important to remember that G.P.A.s and grades matter—but you also need to have a good sense of what you’d like to accomplish down the line after you’re done with school, so that the process of picking colleges won’t be as hard.  Getting all the information from your parents at the end of your junior year, and making sure your parents know that they need to be a part of your financial aid process, really helps, too: it lets you avoid the last-minute scramble of trying to get your information together right before it’s due.  Thinking ahead is a life-saver!

Navigating the financial aid process is where my support system became helpful. I had worked with my ACCESS advisor on determining which colleges were offering me the best aid, and this support system was crucial to my success in college. Whether it be family, an advisor, or a teacher, it is helpful to have someone to refer to about difficult circumstances, and ACCESS was my go-to for financial advice—and now, as an advisor, I work hard to provide that same kind of assistance for a new generation of students.
Elsa Martinez, former ACCESS Boston student and current ACCESS Advisor in Boston and Lawrence, MA

Student Stories: Loan Ly, ACCESS Springfield

Loan Ly: ACCESS Springfield Scholar.  Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services Class of 2014.

I think ACCESS is a great program, because when I first started thinking about college at the end of my senior year, my family barely spoke any English, and they didn’t know anything about the process, and so my advisor was a huge help.  Jeanne, my advisor, helped me research colleges, and she gave me so much information I didn’t know—like what types of tax forms I needed from my parents to fill out my financial aid, and how to go through the process smoothly.  We had some complications with confirming my American citizenship, and so she helped me through that, too—because citizenship is required if you’re applying for the types of federal aid I wanted and needed to get. She helped me out a lot! 

I’ve known since middle school that I’d like to be in the medical field, specifically in Pharmacy, but I wanted to go to a school where I could pursue other options in medicine if I change my mind. Jeanne understood that, and we found that Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services in Boston would be a good fit that would also be affordable.  She also made sure I had a backup plan, though, in case my favorite schools didn’t work out—I was planning to go to community college and then transfer out after a couple of years, because it was cheaper and I could afford it.  I’m the first person in my family to go off to a four-year college, not to mention in Boston, which is a big thing—I really needed a lot of help!  My parents are sad I’ll be far away, but they trust me, and they’re proud that I’m going off on my own and building my future the way I want it. 

There was always no question that I wanted to go to college; one way or another, I just had to go!  When I was younger I wanted to be a teacher, or a doctor, but then in my middle school years I found out about pharmacy work, and I knew it was what I wanted to do—and my ACCESS advisor was the one who made it possible.  I couldn’t get a financial aid package until my U.S. citizenship was entirely cleared up, and my advisor helped me every step of the way.  I tried using websites to help at the beginning, but there’s so much information out there, and it’s not always organized in a way that makes sense!  It was such a relief to have a person I could go to whenever I had questions.  My parents are thrilled that I’m going to school, but they had no idea how to do any of this—they trusted that I could handle it, and so I was pretty much on my own with the college process until I connected with ACCESS.  I’m so glad I had someone to help me out.