Hi, I’m Mario Portillo – a current sophomore student at Stanford University – and Pomona, California, is my home. This city is home to vibrant car shows, chalk art contests, and festive Christmas parades that bring the community together. Growing up, I noticed that Pomona starkly contrasted with nearby cities like Diamond Bar, Claremont, and Walnut. Its sidewalks were cracked and uneven, and there was a noticeable lack of urban greenery. In contrast, the neighboring cities boasted smooth and pothole-free streets creating vibrant and well-maintained neighborhoods. Socioeconomic differences were clear even if I couldn’t fully understand them as a kid.

As a child my mom signed me up for every free program she could find—even if it meant traveling outside Pomona. Many of these programs were in Claremont, and my parents often made sacrifices to get me there. It was in these spaces that I discovered new worlds: STEM, coding, and other subjects I’d never seen before. While being exposed to these programs I did not know it at the time but I was becoming even more curious and began aspiring to learn more. My parents, neither of whom completed college, taught me that education was the key to a fulfilling life. I held onto that, determined to become the first in my family to graduate college.

When I entered Diamond Ranch High School in Pomona, I started falling in love with learning. I joined activities from robotics to student led activist groups, immersing myself in experiences that expanded my view of the world. While I wasn’t sure of my exact career path, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to learn and grow in a STEM field. Education was becoming my path to bridge the gaps I saw between the wealthy neighboring cities and my own. As I began competing against other schools through programs such as robotics I began realizing that my team and I had the ability to compete with neighboring cities regardless of socioeconomic backgrounds; this realization further pushed me to believe in myself. 

I was a curious, driven student who poured my energy into robotics and social justice causes. But my high school lacked advanced programs, and finding opportunities where I could have access to more math tutoring, learn how to code, or take more Advanced Placement courses was not an option. Then, the Learning Collaborative Institute (LCI) came along and changed everything.

When I was a Senior in high school, Pomona Unified School District (PUSD) partnered with the Learning Collaborative Institute (LCI) out of Claremont Graduate University, to significantly improve the educational outcomes of PUSD students so that all would be prepared for college and career. Before LCI partnered with the District in 2015, there were limited options for high school students to earn college credits. If you wanted college credits, you had to attend a local community college—a difficult option for students like me whose families couldn’t manage the transportation and time demands. But LCI worked alongside PUSD to introduce a new model for dual enrollment where community college professors came to our high school to teach college level courses that gave us access to earn college credits in high school. As a result, we now had a greater number and more types of dual enrollment courses to choose from, right on our own high school campus. Suddenly, dual enrollment was accessible to me and many of my classmates, giving us a head start I never imagined possible.

The impact was immediate. Because of LCI, I could now take college-level courses, and for the first time, I felt confident about succeeding in higher education. LCI helped bridge the gap between high school and college, preparing me for the academic rigor I’d soon face in college while exposing me to new opportunities.

LCI is more than just one educational programmatic tactic; it’s about creating the conditions at a school that allow for equity in access to college preparation and competitiveness. LCI brings opportunities, like dual enrollment, peer mentoring, financial literacy, parent engagement tools, and college readiness know-how to students and communities that have been underinvested in and overlooked, leveling the playing field between low-income and wealthier communities. 

For example, affording college was perhaps the biggest driver of where I would go to college but I didn’t know what resources were available to help me financially or how to go about securing them. LCI’s support for our district helped my parents and me complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a daunting form but the key to unlocking the aid I needed to go to college. LCI supported us to complete the FAFSA, understand the results, and ultimately navigate and choose the options I had for financing my college education. LCI was a true partner to us. By giving students and families the tools, knowledge and support they need to succeed in high school and beyond, LCI invests in future leaders, innovators, and change-makers, helping to build a more educated, empowered society.

I am convinced that LCI’s model holds transformative potential for students across California, especially in underserved communities. LCI uniquely brings together schools, colleges, and communities to create lasting change—a level of collaboration that remains rare today. If every high school had access to the partnerships LCI facilitates among K-12 systems, higher education, local businesses, and community organizations, implementing high-impact practices like dual enrollment, we’d witness a dramatic rise in the number of students excelling in high school and thriving in college and careers, particularly among underrepresented students.

Imagine a generation of students entering higher education fully prepared to succeed academically and socially—the possibilities would be endless. For students like me, LCI has made all the difference. It’s not just a program; it’s a pathway to a brighter future.

I encourage you to learn more and stay up-to-date on the transformative work LCI is doing in communities. You can learn more and get engaged with LCI by following LCI on Instagram and LinkedIn.