The AZ HSI Consortium is pleased to announce the Men of Color Achievement Program as an inaugural AZ HSI G.A.T.E. Funding Opportunities Awardee. After careful review from colleagues across the state of AZ, Men of Color Achievement Program was shown to be an effective program in identifying barriers to and within higher education for Latinx learners, engaging in institutional problem solving, and implementing solutions that support Latinx learner success while successfully documenting how change at their Arizona HSI was implemented.
Please read below to learn more about Men of Color Achievement Program.
Project Abstract:
Research highlights the unique challenges men of color (MoC) face in higher education. Drawing on a 2021 article from the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California, this summary aims to help the committee understand the opportunities and challenges involved in running a program focused on the success, retention, and completion of MoC at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in Southern Arizona.
In Fall 2023, College Success Coaches Pedro Gonzalez, M.Ed., and Francisco Lizarraga, M.Ed., launched the Men of Color Achievement Program (MoCAP) at Pima Community College’s West and Desert Vista Campuses. Grounded in Dr. Tara Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth framework and Dr. Laurie Schreiner’s Thriving Quotient theory, we developed a one-on-one, strengths-based approach to support MoC students. Our work begins by building trusting relationships with the students, allowing us to help them navigate both academic and personal challenges. Through this approach, we aim to utilize evidence based practices to dismantle the inequities that men of color continue to face in higher education.
- Pedro Gonzalez M.Ed., Pima Community College, College Readiness and Student Success
Pedro Gonzalez is an ACTP-certified Academic Coach at Pima Community College's (PCC) West Campus in Tucson Arizona and the 2024 recipient of the PCC Leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion award. Born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, Pedro is a proud alumnus of both Pima Community College and the University of Arizona.
With a background in education, Pedro has served as both a teacher and an Assistant Principal at a K-8 school in Tucson, where he focused on supporting underserved populations and creating equitable learning environments.
Pedro is the founder of the Men of Color Achievement Program (MoCAP) at Pima Community College, launched in Fall 2023. Under his leadership, MoCAP has grown significantly, providing culturally relevant support and leveraging frameworks like Dr. Yosso’s Community Cultural Wealth and Dr. Laurie Schreiner’s Thriving Quotient to empower men of color in higher education. The program has expanded from 20 to 42 students in its first academic year, supported by the Garcia Grant, and has been recognized at both state and national levels for its innovative approach to student success and equity.
Pedro’s passion for educational equity and his commitment to empowering students of color have made him a driving force for change in his community and an advocate for creating opportunities that uplift and inspire.
- Jeff Thies Ph.D., Dean of Student Success, Pima Community College
