Look Ahead Bright Futures is a pathway to open doors for Monterey County students. By Royvi Hernandez F or more than a decade, Bright Futures of Monterey County has been bringing partners together to help local students and families navigate education from early learning to graduation. “Bright Futures is a collective impact cradle-to-career initiative,” Director Tony Amezcua says. The program uses data to identify shortfalls in educational outcomes, then convenes government, public schools and community organizations to address root causes. Rather than provide direct services, Bright Futures works to connect organizations so they can coordinate efforts. “We are a convener, so that we’re all working smarter, not harder,” Amezcua says. The work includes CalKIDS, the state’s college-savings program, and Mi Vida Mi Futuro, a promotora effort that helps families understand early schooling and college readiness. Bright Futures aims to help families access resources, understand their options and plan for college well before a student’s senior year of high school. The initiative tracks seven indicators, from kindergarten readiness to employment, including whether college graduates return to the county for jobs that offer a livable wage. CalKIDS is a major focus. About 78,000 Monterey County students are eligible, but only around 23,000 have so far secured their accounts, leaving more than $30 million available for local families unclaimed. Bright Futures is a program under the Hartnell College Foundation and many Hartnell students learn about the program through the school. Mariah Solis, 19, studying business administration at Hartnell, says Amezcua introduced her to CalKIDS. “I did end up qualifying for a scholarship,” she notes, “so during my internship at Bright Futures, I received a $550 stipend, which allowed me to use that money to buy an iPad for school and I found it very beneficial because I didn’t have one at the time.” Bright Futures is run by a small but mighty team, according to Solis. “Reach out to them for any information because they’re very helpful and very resourceful,” she adds. Because students and families can face language barriers, Bright Futures and its partners share information in families’ preferred languages. “The more buy-in,” Amezcua says, “the more we’re able to spread the word, the more communities are going to be stronger.” At the annual Hartnell Career and Resource Fair, students connect with Bright Futures interns to learn about CalKIDS and how to claim their accounts. COURTESY OF BRIGHT FUTURES SPOTLIGHT Sail into the Future with the Western Flyer! Donate through montereycountygives.com/westernflyer westernflyer.org The legendary Monterey sardine boat that carried John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts to the Gulf of California in 1940 is making waves once again. Restored and returned to the sea, the Western Flyer now connects students and communities with the ocean through hands-on science, exploration, and the arts. Give today and help carry the Western Flyer’s extraordinary legacy into the future! 98 Monterey County GIVES! 2026 mcgives.com
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