The “Abriendo Puertas” (Opening Doors) Parental Communication Initiative is a South Texas grass-root, community-based initiative that works with local agencies, educational entities, municipalities, and corporations to provide a parental support system that will assist Hispanic students in high school completion and college graduation. It does this by providing the tools and training necessary to empower parents to support their children’s college access and participation efforts.
Abriendo Puertas is built on the foundation that (1) every parent regardless of race or socio-economic status desires a better life for their children, and (2) educating our future leaders is a familial and community responsibility.
Within its three years of existence, approximately 500 volunteers have completed the Abriendo Puertas training program and provided outreach to approximately 8,000 families.
What makes the program’s participants so extraordinary is that they do not fit the traditional portrait of volunteers. The typical volunteer:
Dr. Ida Acuña-Garza
Program Specialist
E-Mail: i-acuna@tamu.edu
Ms. Veronica Perez
Volunteer Coordinator
E-Mail: vvperez@ag.tamu.edu
