The Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program, HMDP, has been helping first-generation students prepare for college since 1984. While holding on to what it stands for, the program has changed a few things.
“The name is a little misleading. The Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program is open to anyone of any race, any background, any ethnicity. They can participate if it is a parent and student duo,” Elizabeth Evaristo, who works for the program, said.
The program was originally founded to “address the shortage of women and women of color in higher education,” according to the program’s website. Now, all first-generation students with a 2.75-grade point average or higher within cooperating school districts can apply. Applications for current 8th and 9th grade students opened on Aug. 9, 2021, and close on Oct. 22, 2021.
The application is accepted in both English and Spanish and includes the student’s basic information, a letter of recommendation, a student essay and a parent or guardian essay. Evaristo said the letter of recommendation may come from any adult who can speak on the student’s behalf, but they typically suggest teacher recommendations.
Once accepted into the program, participants agree to a 5-year commitment. The website says this includes one advisory session with an HMDP representative each semester and free “online workshops beginning the student’s 8th grade year through to the completion of 12th grade.”
“Each grade is allocated to what they’re going to need to know. For starting high school, we look at how to read a transcript and what is a GPA. It’s tailored to getting to know what their high school experience will look like. In 11th and 12th grade we focus on SATs, FAFSA, and what they need to prepare for college,” Evaristo said.
According to Evaristo, the program provides students with resources to start dual enrollment, sign up for college courses at Arizona State University and community colleges and connect with programs based on their career interests.
She also said that HMDP can “provide resources for DACA and undocumented students.”
Lily Sanchez, a representative of Aliento, said that they are not currently partnered with the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program but are looking to collaborate on projects in the future. Aliento is a youth-led organization that works to help undocumented, DACA, and mixed immigration status families build and educate communities and promote advocacy. In collaboration with ASU, Mesa Community College, and Mesa High School, Aliento has created “hubs” for students to participate in workshops and trainings.
According to their websites, both organizations cover things like leadership skills and social and emotional well-being. The HMDP website says it can further help students “obtain information regarding enrichment programs, employment, internships and scholarships” and “network with professionals.”
HMDP’s latest data shows that the program “has now served over 2,357 parent-student teams” since its creation; however, Evaristo said this information isn’t up to date, and that the figure is now much higher.
Contact the reporter at mfreeze@asu.edu.
