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Student Parent Joy

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Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Afternoon Keynote

ATI CalWorks

Tina Cheuk, PhD

Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo

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What do you think happened to this plant?

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You might be thinking….

Not enough water.
Poor soil.
Too much heat.
Not enough sunlight.

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But what most of us don’t say is:

“There’s something wrong with this plant.”

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We don’t say….

‘This plant just isn’t trying hard enough.’

‘This plant isn’t persistent enough.’

‘Maybe this plant just doesn’t belong here or is ready to grow.’

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What about the environment needs to change so this plant can THRIVE?

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What if the real question is….

What about our campuses, our policies, our systems– that need to change so students and families can actually thrive?

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If they’re struggling, it’s not a failure of resilience.
It’s a signal about our systems, our policies, our environments.
Like the plant, they need an ecosystem that supports growth — not one that punishes survival.

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Who am I? A mother, an educator, an advocate, an organizer and a former student parent. Twelve years ago, my fellow student parents and I formed a campus-level “Student Parent Alliance”, little did we know, seeds were sown for something bigger. I want give a shout out to Maya and Max who co-lead the California Alliance for Student Parent Success— I urge all of you to join as coalition members growing our supporters for student parent success.

Stanford Report: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2019/05/motherhood-at-stanford

Inside Higher Ed: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2018/11/06/importance-advocacy-efforts-behalf-grad-student-parents-opinion

The state of pregnant and parenting students in CA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqH4A_YvOmY

The California Alliance for Student Parent Success: https://castudentparentalliance.org/

Small Wins: A Mothers’ Group in the Academy: https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2017/07/06/doctoral-student-organizes-network-mothers-academe-essay

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Agenda

Part 1: Name the story we’re up against…

Part 2: Offer a different frame…

Part 3: What moves change…

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Part 1

The story we are up against

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$12.99 / dozen eggs

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Quiet fatalism: Will anything actually change?

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Zero-sum & Othering

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Turn and Talk: How might your students feel at your institution?

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From Othering and Belonging Institute.

parental status

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Part 1 takeaway:

Nothing will change…

and helping them might take something from me.

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+

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Part 2:

How to tell a different story...

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Why them?

Why not all of us?

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Belonging-a feeling

Think of a time where you experienced belonging,

What did it feel like?
Where was it?

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From Othering and Belonging Institute.

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Children and Families

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We’re talking about families.
We’re talking about workforce development.
We’re talking about the next generation of Californians.

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Multigenerational Outcomes

Our vision

Higher graduation rates
Increased family income
Better outcomes for children

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This is an economic strategy.

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This is the future of California.

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The question isn’t just what policies to we pass, but what kind of society we are building together.

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Are we building systems where people have to prove they deserve support?

Or systems where people are understood as already belonging—and worth investing in?

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From scarcity

Shared investment

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From ‘them’

‘All of us’

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Part 3

What moves people to act

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Data answer questions

But stories…. change hearts & minds.

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“I want my kids to have a father they are proud of.”

Gabriel L.

Cal State LA Graduate

#StudentParentJoy

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Ecosystem for Thriving

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Community: Family Study Room & Family Resource Center

WWW.STUDENTPARENTJOY.ORG

In May 2022, Cal State Monterey Bay opened a family study room in the Tanimura & Antle Library, following months of student advocacy.

Credit: Monterey Herald

CSU-Long Beach

That might look like something as simple—and as powerful—as a family study space at Cal State Monterey Bay, or a Family Resource Center at Cal State Long Beach

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The opening of the CSUMB family study room was student led and driven, by student parent advocates that joined together and effected change, with the help of community crowdfunding and university investment. The study room offers a host of games, educational activities, books and toys plucked for young children. At the opening of the family study room, a student shared, and I quote--

“I just feel so heard and seen and validated." My daughter has come to campus with me before, but she never wanted to come. … Now, she’s going to ask me to bring her here. I’m excited that she’s excited. I can’t even describe what that means (to me)." For me, this quote neatly encapsulates the community component on this framework and its role in belonging and thriving.

https://www.montereyherald.com/2022/05/19/family-friendly-study-room-opens-at-csu-monterey-bay/

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Community (CSU Long Beach)

WWW.STUDENTPARENTJOY.ORG

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Shared access to opportunities

WWW.STUDENTPARENTJOY.ORG

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Did the environment allow the plant to grow?

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“You are not just educators or administrators — you are gardeners of belonging.

Let’s cultivate campuses where parenting students don’t just survive — they thrive.”