We’re so proud of Izzy Hasaballa and Lizbeth Marte, who took the stage at the Grantmakers for Education 2024 conference with Co-Executive Directors Lori Chajet and Janice Bloom, and our partners from The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Together, they presented on “Peer-to-Peer Postsecondary Advising Programs as Apprenticeships.”

Izzy and Lizbeth each shared their personal stories with passion and insight, showcasing how peer advising not only expands support for students but also opens up professional pathways for the advisors themselves. Lizbeth, who currently works with incoming students at Queens College and is pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Baruch College, shared: “Being a peer leader has been such a rewarding experience. It strengthened my passion for education equity and made me even more committed to ensuring all students have the support they need to succeed.”

A huge thank you to Grantmakers for Education for helping to elevate youth voices, and to Cass Conrad from The Petrie Foundation and Farhad Asghar from Carnegie for inviting us to present alongside them. Their support allows us to continue providing meaningful opportunities for our peer leaders to grow, lead, and share their stories in spaces where they can inspire change.

We left the conference feeling more energized than ever, ready to keep pushing for education equity and expanding access to postsecondary success. To learn more about the career outcomes of peer leaders like Izzy and Lizbeth, check out our Triple Impact Report here.