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CARA’s co-executive directors, Lori Chajet and Janice Bloom, had the opportunity to attend the National College Attainment Network’s (NCAN) annual conference on college access and success, where they engaged in inspiring sessions and connected with partners nationwide dedicated to helping students navigate the evolving landscape of higher education.

There’s much to be hopeful about—the field of college access and persistence has made great progress in the past several years. Despite concerns about higher education after the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action and questions about the value of a college degree, it was refreshing to be among 1,400 advocates ready to take on these challenges.

Two of the highlights of the conference were sessions on statewide policy efforts in California and a session on supporting rural students. We were inspired by California’s progress and motivated by discussions around expanding postsecondary work in rural areas—an important area of growth for CARA as we grow beyond urban contexts. What truly resonated was the powerful commitment in the room to elevating Black and Brown voices and insisting on leadership from these communities, despite ongoing national resistance to equity. It reaffirmed why CARA exists and reminded us of how critical this work is as the future of higher education continues to change.

We left the conference feeling hopeful, energized, and proud of CARA’s commitment to institutional change and relationship-based approaches. Huge thanks to NCAN for the opportunity to connect with like-minded advocates who share our passion for student success. Opportunities like these remind us of how far we’ve come—and how many are with us in this fight.