2021

Jose Rodriguez is the assistant director of recruitment at College Unbound (CU) and an alumnus of the college. College Unbound is a unique college experience; its mission is to reinvent the higher education experience for underserved adult learners, using a student-driven model of rigorous and engaged scholarship. Students of CU graduate with their Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational leadership and change. The Postsecondary Team at the College Crusade sat down with Rodriguez to discuss CU and its impact on students and the community. 

Can you describe College Unbound? What makes your institution unique? 

CU is for those individuals who have dropped out of school reason for one reason or another to help them fulfill their educational journey as well as helping them with their educational gaps. By doing so, we will also make the community thrive.  Sometimes education is not something that might be talked about in some people’s households. Getting into education was not a priority from where I come from. Growing up in my house, if you are working and you are making enough money to pay the rent, you are doing OK. I know a lot of people come from the community that I come from. A lot of folks at CU end up being first-generation graduates, setting the precedent for others as well as setting a role model for their community. They will actually see someone who looks like them become successful in getting an education. 

How would you describe the students who attend College Unbound?  

CU enrolls students who are just fed up with their educational experiences and just want something different. You don’t want to be another number in a system. You want to be part of something bigger. Not all our students made it to high school. Some of our students come in and are not sure of what they want to do with their life. By the time they are done with the program, they are walking out with confidence and with a real plan of what they want to do with their life. 

CU is student focused, so you get the attention you need to be successful. The amount of support that they need varies from person to person, but just the thought of knowing that those supports are available really does make the difference. We offer community meals. If you are a working adult and class starts at 5:30 to 6 p.m., you are most likely coming back from work. You no longer need to stop to grab something to eat. Secondly, most of our students are parents. We partnered with a local daycare so that when you are in class, daycare is provided. Additionally, we provide technological help. We provide free computers to anyone who needs it. So, if you need a computer, we will drop it off. All these extra things are always part of the tuition. Even if you took one class or five classes, you would still get the same service. 

What are some outstanding things students have accomplished while being a student at College Unbound? 

The cool part about being a project-based school is just that – you get to see students pursue their passions. One of the biggest movements that I have seen is one of our students works in the city of Providence and encouraged the mayor to start a group for the BIPOC community, the African American Ambassadors Group (AAAG), which I am proudly a part of. AAAG are tackling things across the city that are not just helping Providence, but also helping move the state in a different direction. AAAG spearheaded the removal of “Plantations” from city and state documents with the support from the mayor of Providence. Additionally, there are subgroups who tackling everything from housing and food insecurity. They really try to balance all the needs to the community and give those who are typically voiceless a voice. 

Could you walk us through the process of people making their own Personal Learning Plan? How do you ensure that these steps are reached throughout the student’s process? 

That naturally happens through working with your lab faculty and your cohort. You identify your learning network. You need a field expert; you identify who that is. If your project is around criminal justice, you’d want to be connected to a lawyer, but you don’t necessarily have access to a lawyer. Your lab faculty will work for you to identify a lawyer who is willing to work with you and mentor you to help you develop your project in that term. A major part into making it into the world that we live in is networking and utilizing that as capital. Networking in some circumstances is more valuable than money. So, it is about who you know.  

What are alumni of College Unbound doing after they graduate? 

A good percentage of folks continue to get their master’s degrees. School was not interesting; it was not feeding your passions. Now you come to the school that wakes up your desire to do more. You become lifelong learners. Alumni are able to follow their passion, and these have led to people creating nonprofits that are successful throughout the society. Those projects have led to small business starting, and some folks have been promoted in their organization and have taken a leadership roles. 

What would you say to a perspective student who is considering applying to College Unbound? 

The very first thing that I’d say is forget what you know about education. We are taking a very untraditional approach. We work with folks who will teach you about the differences between a traditional school and CU. I use traditional very loosely as I think that a traditional school should look like what we look like. In the admission process there is a series of conversations. Each conversation giving you more and more information. We allow you to space out the process, ask questions and really make it a conversation so that you can figure out whether CU is a good fit for you. At the end of the day, it’s up to the student.  

Do you have any final thoughts to share? 

Even going through College Unbound, there were many personal experiences that got in the way that in a traditional school it would have prevented me from being successful. However, I was having difficulties at work. I was not making enough to provide for my family. The thought I must get another job and attend school – that would not have happened. The reason that it worked because everything was designed around my schedule. The faculty helped me to fit things around my schedule to help me get to where I needed to go. Life is going to continue to get in your way, but if you want to go to an institution that is going to support you when life is getting in the way, then College Unbound Is the way to go. I put a strong emphasis on support. 

My name is Wila Matos. I am a College Crusader and will be graduating this May from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in Africana studies. 

I grew up in an Afro-Latinx household in Providence, Rhode Island. My parents migrated to the U.S. for a better chance at life; however, like many, they faced many obstacles in their path to achieve the American dream. From an early age, I was able to observe how the power of language and access to opportunities influences the success of individuals in this country. Despite that, it never occurred to me that these life lessons would direct me on the path that I’m on now. 

When I reflect on the start of my career journey three places come to mind: The Met High School, the College Crusade, and Youth in Action (YIA). I graduated from the Met in 2015 and participated in the College Crusade and YIA throughout my high school career. Each place supported me with amazing mentors, encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and provided me with different opportunities to be on college campuses and speak with college students. It really gave me the confidence to pursue higher education and discover what else the world had to offer. I remember the College Crusade had an opportunity to spend the night at the University of Rhode Island and this was the selling point for me to attend. The College Crusade didn’t just give me opportunities to attend college but allowed me to dream endlessly and envision myself actually being there.  

My college experience was not a straight path. Being the first in your family to go to college can be an exciting and terrifying experience because you are figuring everything out on your own. I had a hard time adjusting to college the first couple of years and made many mistakes along the way. Eventually, I made the hard decision to take a year off from school. During this time, I worked for The Met and the College Crusade CAAP program, which was an opportunity to continue developing my deep passion for education and helping my community. Taking a year off from school gave me the chance to reflect on what I really wanted.  

When I returned, I was determined to participate in a study abroad program in Cabo Verde. I had an incredible time and learned so much about Cape Verdean culture, history, and politics. The connection between Rhode Island and Cabo Verde allowed me to understand members of my community a lot better. I wanted to find more opportunities to explore different countries and learn languages. I applied to Fulbright for these reasons but discovered that I had similar interests and values to the program. I applied for an English Teaching Assistantship position in Brazil to work with college students who would later become English teachers. I am very proud and excited to have won because I want to learn from others around the world and bring it back to the U.S. to show others what I have learned.   

Currently, I live abroad in Cabo Verde teaching English in Praia to continue learning Portuguese and Creole. It has been an incredible journey. I never thought I’d graduate with a Fulbright to teach English in Brazil.  

Erik Rossi is our mobile middle school advisor. He graduated from Central High School in 2011 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human development and family studies from the University of Rhode Island in 2015. Prior to joining our advisory staff, he served as a peer advisor at URI and as a case worker for children and teens with developmental and physical disabilities.

1. What are the most challenging and most rewarding parts of being a mobile advisor?

One of the most challenging things about being a mobile advisor is maintaining student relationships. Some of our students are scattered all throughout Rhode Island and are not around other Crusaders. Every student has their own unique situation and as an advisor, I have to be understanding and meet students at their level. One of the most rewarding things about being a mobile advisor is being able to carry out our mission and allowing it to flourish through students who do not belong to our regular schools.

2. Before the pandemic, your mom opened a restaurant. What’s your favorite dish of hers?    

One of my favorite things that my mom makes is pupusas. It is a cheese-filled tortilla and sometimes it is mixed with meats or vegetables. My favorite kind is one that is filled with cheese and a special kind of edible flower called loroco!

3. What kind of music is your usual soundtrack?

I like to listen to a lot of old school rap such as Tupac and Biggie. Sometimes the occasional Linkin Park is needed for the soul. I also like to listen to a lot of electric dance music when I am working out. When I am trying to be productive with something, I like to listen to a lot of lo-fi music.

4. When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was 10 years old, I wanted to be a video game developer and help create and test new games.

5. Name one thing you knocked off your bucket list and one thing that’s still on it.

One thing that I knocked off of my bucket list was visiting the ancient ruins of Tikal in Guatemala. I always have wanted to visit the pyramids and I finally had a chance to go see them! It was a great experience and I would love to go back because there is still so much more there that I did not get to completely explore. One thing that is still on my bucket list is scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef!

6. What’s your dream travel destination once it’s safe again?

One place that I would like to travel to is Laos, the country where my wife’s family is from! I love the food from there and I would love to try all the authentic dishes.

7. What is one thing most people might not know about you? Any unusual skills or talents?

One of my favorite hobbies is going fishing. I love going to new fishing spots and I think that it is very relaxing and therapeutic, especially being by the water.

8. Is your favorite time of day sunrise, daytime, sunset or nighttime and why?

I like seeing the sunrise! There is nothing like it. During some fishing trips, I would always try to plan to go before the sun rises. I think that it is a great way to start your day.

9. Pick a superpower: invisibility or flight and why?

I would pick flight. I would have the ability to travel anywhere and go at any time.

10. What’s your life motto or favorite saying?

One of my life mottos is to live your life through shared experiences, meaning to create or find unique opportunities to share with friends, family and peers. Life is more enjoyable and meaningful if you’re able to experience it with people who are important to you!

Ashlie Rockwood is our advisor at Nathanael Green Middle School in Providence. Born in Boston, she graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in public health and a minor in education. She moved to Providence and, before joining the College Crusade, worked as a counselor for the Girls Empowerment and Mentoring Support Program conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

1. When it’s safe to travel again, what’s your bucket list destination?

I actually have one of my bucket list destinations booked already – Alaska for 10 days in August! Nature adventures over big city trips have taken over my bucket list.

2. What is one thing most people might not know about you?

I’ve taught a sexual health education class the last two summers to middle school girls in Providence. The MS team actually helped me develop my class name this summer. It was called “OK Bloomer.”  

3. What’s the best advice you ever received?

Invest in experiences over material possessions. Experiences are fleeting, which is a good thing because we don’t have the chance to get used to them. Humans are conditioned to get used to things and that’s why happiness for material possessions fade.

4. What is your favorite food or meal?

Literally anything buffalo chicken. I love it in all its forms – dip, wings, subs, calzones, pizza, literally anything. Also, NO blue cheese, only ranch. When I go to a restaurant, I often have to force myself to expand my horizons and not just order buffalo chicken like I always do.

5. What do you like doing outside of work hours? Any hobbies?

I love exploring new breweries; preferably dog friendly ones so my dog Hershey can come along. I used to work at a brewery in Western Mass in college, which started my love of beer. I’ve since visited breweries in every New England state! I love getting new apparel or brewery stickers from places I really enjoy to remember the experience.

6. If you had to delete all but three apps from your phone, which ones would you keep?

• Google maps, obviously. Only way to navigate to new breweries.  
• Instagram since it’s like Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook all in one.
• Venmo; your girl needs to get paid for dog walking.

7. What is your favorite time of day and why?

I would say sunset because after the time change for spring, I can see the sunset right from my porch every day. I also feel like once the sun goes down, it’s time to fully relax. Daylight makes me feel the pressure to be productive.

8. If you could time travel, would you go back in time or into the future? Any specific point in time you’d like to explore?

Probably back in time because I am too cynical about what climate change will do to our future. Most likely the 1980s because my mom got me to love the style and music.

9. What fictional family would you like to be a member of and why?

The Addams Family, The Munsters, The Cromwells from Halloweentown – honestly, any family in a world with spooky, Halloween-type vibes. It was legit my childhood dream to live in a fantasy world with witches and mystical creatures where it was Halloween all the time.

10. What music is your usual soundtrack?

Anything early 2000s. Basically the music I grew up with as a child. Britney, Green Day, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Bon Jovi, Destiny’s Child. I feel old because I get stressed trying to keep up with all the new music coming out these days.

Sarah Lessard is our program specialist working with the middle school team, where she coordinates our reporting system, oversees student program attendance and service data, and plays a key role in our daily communications with families and students. Before taking on this role, she served as a middle school advisor in Cranston and West Warwick. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Bachelor of Science in human development and family studies from URI and a T.E.F.L. certification from Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Spain.

1. If you could live anywhere in the world for a year (post-pandemic, of course), where would it be?

I would choose to live in Italy (to eat all the pasta!) or I would go back to Spain (I miss the croquetas and flamenco.)

2. What is the best part of your job?

The co-workers! And seeing students enjoy our programs.

3. We heard you and your friends started a book club during the pandemic. What was your favorite book so far?

Right now, we are reading “The Samurai’s Garden” written by Gail Tsukiyama, and it’s good so far! I also liked “How Starbucks Saved My Life” written by Michael Gates Gill.

4. What two or three people would you love to meet for coffee?

My grandfather on my father’s side (he passed away before I was born). I’ve heard wonderful stories about him, and he was also a World War II veteran. Also, Lady Gaga. I still want to know why she thought wearing a meat dress was a good idea.

5. You became an aunt last summer! What family traditions are you looking forward to carrying on with your niece as she grows up?

Teaching her how to make homemade pasta! Every year, my mom throws a “pasta party” and we make ravioli, gnocchi, linguini, and homemade gravy and clam sauce.

6. You have to sing karaoke; what song do you pick?

You would never ever catch me singing karaoke! But if I had to sing a song, I’d choose “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by the Eurhythmics.

7. If you could learn one new personal or professional skill, what would it be?

Mastering the art of public speaking (without turning red haha!)

8. What is something your co-workers might not know about you?

I’m a certified Reiki Master Practitioner! I’m also a claircognizant; I’ve predicted things that haven’t yet happened, and I’ve also seen things for people, yet I wouldn’t have ever known about it. Information just randomly comes to me out of the blue.

9. What favorite food or restaurant are you looking forward to once things open up more?

In general, I miss being able to go out for a drink and sit at a bar.

10. We learned during the HS team Kahoot that you’re a twin. Did you get into any twin mischief growing up? Any “twin intuition” experiences?

This is strange, and we discovered this a few years ago. But whenever I have a headache, my brother gets one the next day! But never the other way around. Poor guy.