Announcing Awarded Partnerships to Advance Economic Mobility for Adult Learners

College Futures Foundation, in partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF), is proud to announce the awarded partnerships funded through the Unlocking Economic Mobility for Adult Learners initiative. The selected recipients were chosen from a highly competitive pool of 223 applicants from across the field. Through this initiative, College Futures is investing in learner-centered innovations designed to improve how postsecondary institutions support working adult learners in completing credentials that lead to economic opportunity.

Over the next two years, these partnerships will test, refine, and scale solutions that address challenges related to affordability, flexibility, and the connection between credential attainment and economic mobility. Participants will also engage in a shared learning community to exchange insights, strengthen partnerships, and surface solutions that can inform broader improvements across California’s postsecondary and workforce ecosystems.

“Too many working adult learners are navigating postsecondary systems built on outdated assumptions about who college is designed for,” said Rebecca Ruan-O’Shaughnessy, director of program & strategy at College Futures Foundation. “When institutions don’t reflect the realities of people balancing work, family, and financial responsibilities, too many learners are effectively shut out. These awarded partnerships are advancing institutional changes that make postsecondary education more responsive to working adult learners and deliver real value in their lives.”

Awarded Partnerships* Include:

• Hayward Promise Neighborhood, California State University, East Bay; Partners: City of Hayward, Eden Area Regional Occupational Program (EAROP), Chabot College, and Alameda County Office of Education
• Hartnell Community College District
• FirstGen, Journey GPS; Partners: Gavilan College, WestEd
• San Diego Mesa College; Partner: San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
• Shasta-Tehama-Trinity Joint Community College District; Partners: Sacramento State, and California Competes
• Sonoma State University; Partners: California State University, East Bay; San Francisco State; San Jose State; and Mendocino Community College
• UNITE-LA; Partners: California State University Dominguez Hills, WorkBay, College of Open University, Back2Work, CalTrans, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, LA County Department of Probation, and Project Rebound
• University of California, Merced; Partners: Merced Promise Program, Merced College, and Fresno City College

*A subset of the grant agreements are pending.