CREAR Futuros

CREAR (College Readiness, Achievement and Retention) Futuros is a peer-mentor program that recruits qualified Latinx students in participating educational institutions to mentor, guide, and support younger students, or mentees. Mentors assist mentees regarding tutoring, financial aid, and resources available to them including, Hispanic Federation’s community-based organizations program.

Recent CREAR Futuros data indicates that the college retention rate of participants was 10% higher than that of their peers, proof that the program could help address higher education inequities affecting Latinos. Participating students also had significantly higher GPAs and earned 20 more credits on average

Since its launch in 2012, CREAR Futuros has served nearly 7,000 students, about 85 percent of whom identify as Hispanic/Latino.

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How it works

Participating students are paired with CREAR Futuros mentors who support mentees by helping them navigate financial aid, offering tutoring, connecting them to resources and services that can help students successfully navigate college, and more. Hispanic Federation also creates tailored programming that mentors and mentees participate in throughout the year, including in-person and virtual trainings that cover career readiness, leadership skills building, and more.

Three circles illustrating arranged in a triangle formation with the words peer mentorship, social development, leadership development written in one circle each. There are arrows pointing in both directions between each circle, illustrating the relationship between all three concepts.

Participating Campuses

The CREAR Futuros program is currently offered across 12 different campuses in the United States, serving more than 1,000 mentors and mentees. Participating colleges include:

  • New York
    • SUNY at Old Westbury (new)
    • SUNY Purchase College (new)
    • CUNY Borough of Manhattan Community College
    • CUNY LaGuardia Community College
    • CUNY Lehman College
    • CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
    • CUNY New York City College of Technology
    • CUNY Queens College
  • Illinois
    • University of Illinois Chicago
  • North Carolina
    • North Carolina Central University 
  • Connecticut
    • Connecticut State Naugatuck Valley Community College (Waterbury and Danbury Campuses)
  • Florida
    • University of Central Florida
  • California 
    • California State University

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Get Involved

Whether you’re a student or educational leader, there are many ways you can get involved in the CREAR Futuros program.

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Mentors

CREAR Futuros Peer-Mentors receive a stipend to support the needs of mentees regarding social services, campus resources, leadership development, and/or other available support.

Become a mentor today

Mentees

CREAR Futuros is committed to supporting mentees throughout their college career. A mentor assigned to the mentee contributes to the mentee’s academic and professional needs, as well as their social and emotional support related to their scholastic success.

Become a mentee today

Colleges and Universities

If you are part of a college or university and are interested in partnering with CREAR Futuros, learn more about how we work together and get in touch with us today.

Become a CREAR Futuros campus

College Tips

For many first generation Latino students, the college experience can be both exciting and overwhelming. We’ve put together a few tips to help both student and parent navigate the entire college experience.

Explore college tips

Contact Us

For more information about our education work, contact us below.

Perla Rodriguez

Senior Director of Education Programs

prodriguez@hispanicfederation.org

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