Sergio Contreras sees education as the great equalizer. Raising the county’s high school graduation rate and helping students find their calling has been his mission for several years at the Orange County United Way, where he leads the education initiatives.
“It’s the path out of poverty,” Contreras said. “And that’s why every student in Orange County deserves an opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
A recent report from the Orange County Business Council indicates a person needs to earn $40.63 an hour to afford a one-bedroom apartment in much of the county, he points out. So getting students through high school and onto the path to sustainable careers is especially important for Contreras because the cost to continue living in their community is so high.
“Housing is not getting any cheaper,” Contreras said. “We want to make sure students have options and opportunities that go from college and career.”
He develops programs through the United Way to help students navigate the often Byzantine process of accessing college and get them exposed to well-paying careers they might not know about, whether a degree is required or not. Just this year, more than 3,000 high school students participated in the nonprofit’s programs and, today, more than 90% of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds graduate from high school in Orange County.
Contreras has been with the United Way since the nonprofit set its goal 10 years ago to cut the county’s high school dropout rate in half. With Contreras’s efforts, the United Way hit the mark in five years, said CEO Sue Parks.
In 2016, just 84% of students in the communities the United Way targets were graduating. Now the nonprofit is closing in on a goal of 95%.
“Sergio brings his whole being into his work,” Parks said. “He’s focused. He’s driven, but he has a huge heart that comes through.”
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