CREA Foundation, Inc. (CREA Foundation) announces expansion to California in collaboration with academic partner California State University, Northridge (CSUN). The partnership with CSUN will support 20 incoming students during each of their four-year tenures, beginning in the Fall of 2023. This is CREA Foundation’s second cohort of CREA Scholars following the inaugural class of 2026 at Indianapolis University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), comprising 10 students.
“We are elated to partner with California State University, Northridge in awarding scholarship funds to students from affordable housing communities to ensure they are able to attain a postsecondary degree,” said Arvetta Jideonwo, Executive Director of CREA Foundation. “CREA Foundation was built upon a goal to break the cycle of poverty among individuals and families in our communities by helping students cross the finish line; our partnership with CSUN is indicative of this goal.”
The CREA Scholars program is tailored to provide students from affordable housing communities with scholarships, resources, multi-faceted programming and wrap-around services designed to overcome common barriers to success. This structure extends educational opportunities to CREA Scholars and assists them in obtaining a post-secondary degree.
“These funds will allow historically low-income, educationally disadvantaged, first-generation college students from affordable housing communities to stay focused on school rather than working more hours than they should,” said Shiva Parsa, Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at CSUN. “EOP caters our services to these students – a population that not only reflects the diversity of CSUN’s feeder communities, but also the diversity of the university itself. Through this generous gift and close collaboration with CREA Foundation, we will work together to make a difference in students’ lives and their communities.”
CSUN’s commitment to providing opportunities that serve low-income communities aligns with CREA Foundation’s mission to ensure students have access to quality education and the opportunities that come with it. CSUN is uniquely positioned to serve students from affordable housing communities and those with financial barriers, evidenced by the 57% of students receiving Federal Pell Grants and the university’s membership with the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities.
"As a proud CSUN alumnus and CREA Foundation board member, it is a great privilege to be a part of its expanded commitment to education for students within historically disadvantaged communities," said Charles Anderson, Co-President at CREA. “Understanding the role education plays in improving economic outcomes, CREA Foundation's scholarship and service platform will provide CSUN CREA Scholars with the resources necessary to achieve a transformational college degree.”
This exciting new scholarship opportunity will be available in April, and open through May, for incoming freshmen residing in affordable housing throughout California. Please visit creallc.com/foundation to learn more about CREA Foundation.
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