"Raising Up: A Student Parent Film Series"
brings national attention to the challenges and aspirations of
student parents in higher education
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Three Frame Media, in partnership with
Ascend at the Aspen Institute and a coalition of philanthropic
leaders in postsecondary education, released Raising Up, a
documentary film series aimed at elevating the lived experiences of
student parents in higher education. Student parents, who represent
one in five undergraduate students in the
United States, have often been overlooked and excluded by
traditional systems of higher education. The new docuseries
explores key issues many student parents face on their path to a
credential -- including childcare, affordable housing, mental
health, and work – providing education leaders, policymakers, and
community partners strategies for supporting this growing number of
learners.
"Parent students are among the most motivated students on
college campuses, and yet they're often invisible in higher
education. If we can get college right for student parents, we have
the opportunity to impact entire families, and generations to
come," said Jaye Fenderson, a former
college admissions officer, award-winning filmmaker and co-producer
of Raising Up. "By elevating the personal stories of student
parents, as well as the ways in which many forward-thinking
institutions are taking action to support students, we hope to
highlight a path forward for policymakers and institutional leaders
eager to ensure that the promise of a higher education is in reach
for parent students, and their families."
It's estimated that there are more than 3.8 million students,
nationally, who are parents of children under the age of 18. Nearly
70 percent of students who are raising children are mothers. But
the numbers may be higher – many institutions lack the resources or
infrastructure to accurately capture data around this (and many
other) marginalized learner populations. States including
California, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas have all made strides to correct this
data gap, passing legislation that requires institutions – directly
or indirectly – to collect parenting status, along with expanding
additional protections for student parents.
From award-winning filmmakers Jaye & Adam Fenderson, the documentary series follows
four student parents on their postsecondary journeys, highlighting
the barriers they face in areas such as childcare, affordable
housing, mental health, and workforce. Each of the short films
delves into each of these issues, providing a poignant portrayal of
the realities faced by student parents. The films will be available
online, released one-by-one over the next five weeks.
- CHILDCARE: The childcare crisis has been a persistent
barrier, particularly for student parents, and with federal
payments used to keep childcare facilities open during the pandemic
dwindling, many campus childcare centers have been forced to close.
This episode provides a look into the lives of student parents at
Howard Community College, and how
they're navigating the challenges of finding affordable, quality
childcare.
- AFFORDABLE HOUSING: Lori
Barr, Co-Founder and CEO of Raise the Barr, shares her lived
experience of dropping out of college when she learned she was
pregnant — she co-founded Raise the Barr with her son, Anthony, on
her mission to help single-parent students overcome the unique
barriers they face in postsecondary education, like having access
to affordable housing. The episode provides an overview of Raise
the Barr's partnership with Long Beach City
College to help student parents access affordable
housing.
- MENTAL HEALTH: A mental health crisis is impacting
students across the country. For student parents who are juggling
competing priorities in life and in school it can be particularly
overwhelming and difficult to access on-campus mental health
resources. Watch as student parents at Sacramento State give voice
to their needs and see how the university is bridging the gap for
its student parents.
- WORKFORCE: The student parent journey doesn't end at
graduation. In order to be truly successful, student parents need
to be confident that their degree will translate to job security
after they graduate. In the final film, the city of San Antonio comes together to support student
parents as they successfully transition into higher education and
ultimately meaningful careers that have the potential to create a
generational impact.
"I was a student parent myself, and I understand firsthand how
important it is to give student parents the support they need to
thrive and achieve their postsecondary dreams," said Dr. Mike
Muñoz, superintendent-president at Long Beach
City College, who will speak at the national premiere in a
panel discussion. "One key step in the right direction is to make
sure colleges and universities are identifying student parents on
their campus. From there, we will be able to build further supports
we need like those we have in place at Long
Beach City College. I'm proud to share my story in
Raising Up, and hope that this film serves as a galvanizing
force for college leaders."
Raising Up will premiere tonight in Washington, D.C., at Landmark's E Street
Cinema. The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring
Abby Bediako, student parent at
Howard Community College; Dr. Mike
Muñoz, Superintendent-President of Long Beach
City College; Dr. Jamila K.
Taylor, CEO and President of the Institute for Women's
Policy Research; and Jaye Fenderson,
director, producer, and co-founder of Three Frame Media.
Produced by Three Frame Media and presented by Ascend at the
Aspen Institute, the series is made possible by joint funding from
Ascendium, College Futures Foundation, ECMC Foundation, and
Imaginable Futures. For more information about the documentary or
to inquire about bringing the film to your campus or city, visit:
https://raisingupstudentparents.com/.
About Three Frame Media: Founded by award-winning
filmmakers Adam and Jaye Fenderson,
Three Frame Media is an independent production company creating
content and engaging audiences through film, television, print, and
digital platforms.
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SOURCE Three Frame Media