Empowerment Through Action
Empowering Success and Transforming Futures
Empower San Mateo
An ETA Initiative
Across San Mateo and Foster City, over 1000 High and Middle School students live with the daily stresses and burdens of poverty & are at risk for poor outcomes, including not graduating from high school.
Empower San Mateo is an unprecedented collaboration between the middle school and high school serving San Mateo and Foster City, which will improve outcomes for over 1000 students.
San Mateo Union High School District Supports the Empower San Mateo Initiative by approving a $1,000,000 grant
Empower San Mateo expands the work of Empowerment Through Action’s program at Hillsdale High School to Aragon High School, Bridge Academy, San Mateo High School, and Abbott Middle School. It can potentially expand to the rest of the middle schools in San Mateo and Foster City: Borel Middle School, Bowditch Middle School, and Bayside Middle School. The five-year expansion plan includes providing adult mentors, enrichment activities, academic tutoring, Peace Pantry, Community Closet, Community Garden, and all other programs in Empowerment Through Action to the other schools in San Mateo and Foster City.
Empowerment Through Action (ETA) is a program that supports over 200 of Hillsdale’s historically underserved students. Now, Empowerment Through Action will expand to other schools in San Mateo and Foster City. The program consists of wellness groups, tutoring, enrichment activities, job and career training, parent education, a community closet, and a food pantry. The mission of ETA, launched in the Spring of 2018, is to close the opportunity gap and foster belonging for our students to enhance achievement in the following areas: social and emotional growth, academic growth, development of self-confidence and inner capital, social connection, and job and internship placement.
Our program is designed to develop strong relationships and meaningful connections, giving each student their best chance for success.
Student Voices
“Whenever I’m having a bad day I know I can count on my group leader to help me through it.” ETA Senior
“Feeling supported and to know I am not alone.” - ETA Junior
“...helped me reach my goals...it taught me to open up and show more confidence” - ETA Junior
“now I am more confident …and ask for help when I need it because that’s something important I have to do” - ETA Senior
Thank you to our Community Partners
Michael Faust
Adam Loraine
Benevity Community Impact Fund
Charles Stone
Michelle and Scott Wright
Joanne Curley & Cormac Kissane
Kevin Skelly
David Brown
Marissa Mazzoncini