A Step Forward (ASF)
ASF introduces UC Santa Cruz, the Bayanihan community, and college life to newly admitted students.
ASF focuses on connecting students to peers with similar experiences on this campus and advocating the pursuit of higher education,
A Step Forward’s mission is to help Pilipinx students find a community upon coming to campus, making that transition between high school and university just a little bit easier.
ASF is also housed under Bayanihan, the Pilipinx Student Organization here at Santa Cruz. Bayanihan aims to be a support organization, a cultural resource, and a gathering space for folx to discuss the Filipino and Filipino American experience. By connecting ASF participants to the larger Bayanihan community, we help students find a family on campus and help them network to expand their future opportunities.
More information on Bayanihan can be found on their website at bayanihanucsc.org.
ASF 29 SIO Coordinator & Alternate Intern
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Jessica Mae Tolentino
Third year, Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology (she/her)
As e²'s ASF Coordinator, on behalf of Bayanihan, I work to uplift the voices of students in underrepresented communities and let them know that they have a space in higher education. We want to encourage high school and community college students to continue higher education even with the struggles we face as students of color on our campus and it also shows resilience against the struggles of attending a predominately white institution. In my free time, I love playing instruments and singing, going to the beach, shopping, and reading.
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Kash Mejia
Third year, Global and Community Health (he/him)
As ASF's Alternate Intern, I am involved in the assistance of campus coordination, stepping in for open staffing needs and opportunities to assist lead SIO coordinators, and an overall assistance in leadership for our general outreach programs. This leadership involves organizational duties with databasing, establishing and retaining a consistent volunteer network, and of course assessing and guiding SIO tours. All of my leadership is carried with the motivation of encouraging a space in higher education that guides students of color to culturally significant resources. To carry on ASF's history within our community, I hope to retain many Filipinx volunteers and cater to the prospective Filipinx community! In my free time, I enjoy singing, playing guitar, cooking, and going to the beach or picnicking!
Connect with ASF
✉️ E-mail: asf.ucsc@gmail.com
📸 Instagram: @asf.ucsc
🔗 Linktr.ee: linktr.ee/astepforwarducsc
🔗 Discord: https://discord.gg/PVGfSnA787