Initiative

College and Career Plaza began as a pilot initiative that emerged through community conversations and the successes of the New Mexico Simon Scholars Program, a college preparation, transition and completion program that provides strategic support for students who demonstrate resilience in the face of economic and life challenges.

In 2016, with the support of the high school administration, CCP opened a space in the Santa Fe High School library and began providing walk-in college and career preparation services, workshops, lunches, parent nights, career fairs during the day and evening.

Growth

In 2018, CCP opened a second location in the library at Capital High School to provide 1:1 college and career guidance services for all 9-12th graders enrolled at Capital High School and their families during the day and evenings.

In January of 2020, CCP organized a governing board of directors and became an independent non profit organization.  The founding group designed a strategic plan, conducted a high school needs assessment, and began fundraising to better meet the needs of students and families in NNM.

In 2022-23 CCP began college and career programs at our third and fourth partner schools, Santa Fe Indian School and Monte del Sol Charter School.

Today

In October 2023, CCP began work at a fifth location at Espanola Valley High School. CCP now employs 5 staff who work diligently to support hundreds of students and their families at CCP’s 5 partner schools in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico.

The CCP Board of Directors and Executive Director are engaging in community outreach, fundraising, and capacity building to ensure that the organization continues to thrive, along with our students and families, for many years to come.