2025 Inaugural Parenting Student Conference

Empowering Parenting Students: A Future-Focused Approach to Education

Date:  Friday September 26, 2025

Time: 8:30am - 4:00pm

Location:  OAB Auditorium

Free Breakfast & Lunch Provided

About the Event

Join us for the First Annual Fall Parenting Student Conference—a special one-day event created to support, uplift, and celebrate parenting students on their college journey.

Hosted by the Fresno City College CARE Program, in collaboration with EOPS, NEXTUP, and CalWORKs, this event is packed with resources, inspiration, and real-world guidance to help you succeed.


What to Expect?

  • Engaging Workshops on topics like:
    • Work-life balance
    • Financial wellness
    • Navigating college with children
  • Inspiring Guest Speakers who understand your journey

  • On-site Community Resources and student support services
  • Networking opportunities with other parenting students

Why Attend?

Whether you’re looking for practical tools, community connection, or a boost of motivation, this conference is your chance to recharge, refocus, and get the support you deserve.


Registration Required

Spots are limited—secure your place today!

Register Now

Let us celebrate you—because parenting students belong, and you are not alone on this journey.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Agenda

Time Session
7:00am - 8:00am Set-up & Conference Prep
8:15am - 9:15am Check-in (front of OAB) & Continental Breakfast - OAB 251
9:15am - 9:30am Welcome /Team Intros / Land Acknowledgement (Auditorium)
9:30am - 10:15am Keynote Speaker – Dr. Lisa Mitchell
10:30am - 11:15am Session 1 - Workshops
FPD MAGEC- Keeping kids safe in today's environment
Student Parents are Transfer Parents - Learn the Basics for Transfer
Focus Forward - Nurturing Parenting Skills for Teen Parents
West Fresno Resource Center - Learn About Community Resources Available to You
11:30am - 12:15pm Session 2 - Workshops
Narrative Journaling - Learn how to journal to share your story with your kids
EECU - Understanding Credit Reports & Scores
Fatherhood Program - Workforce Connection
Central California Recovery - Trauma & Resilience
12:30pm - 1:45pm Lunch (OAB 251) & Resource Fair (west courtyard) / Clothing Closet OAB114
2:00pm - 2:45pm Session 3 - Workshops
Physical & Mental Wellness - Why they are important
Finding Your Roots - using creative writing to identify your heritage / tell your story
ScholarShare 529 & CalKIDS – The First Step to College
CalFresh Healthy Living - MyPlate Guidelines and Kid Friendly Recipes
3:00pm - 3:45pm Student Parent Panel: Ashley Gartin, Analyse Ledesma, Andrea Verrette, Sonia Lopez, Genet Tesfai
3:45pm - 4:00pm Closing, Staff Recognition, Survey Collection & Opportunity Drawing

parent holding up baby

Keynote Speaker

Dr. Lisa Mitchell

Dr. Lisa Mitchell Dr. Lisa Mitchell is the Executive Director of Fresno Unified School District’s African American Academic Acceleration (A4) Department, dedicated to advancing the academic success of African American and Black students. With over 14 years in education, plus prior experience in child welfare and medical social work, she has devoted her career to supporting underserved communities through advocacy, academic initiatives, and social-emotional support.

Deeply engaged in community leadership, Dr. Mitchell has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Fresno EOC, Marjaree Mason Center, CASA, Black Students of California United, First 5 Fresno County, and others. Her work has earned recognition such as the “Passing the Torch” Trailblazer Award, ACSA Administrator of the Year, and the Marjaree Mason Center’s Top Ten Professional Women & Leading Business Award.

Session Details

Keeping kids safe in today's environment - FPD MAGEC will present on child safety, focusing on the common tactics perpetrators use to lure youth into gangs or human trafficking. Parents will gain insight into current trends, warning signs to watch for, and practical strategies to help protect their children. This session will provide valuable tools and knowledge to strengthen family safety and awareness.

Interested in Transferring? Learn the Basics of Transferring: By attending this workshop, you will understand the basics of understanding the transfer process while attending Fresno City College. The Transfer Center will present transfer requirements needed to attend a California State University (CSU), University of California (UC) or Private/Independent Universities. The Transfer Center offers a host of available services to ensure that when you are ready to transfer, you are eligible to transfer!

Nurturing Parenting skills for teen parents: Strengthening Families, Empowering Parents, and Helping Children Thrive through our Parenting program aimed at system-impacted youth.

Narrative Journaling: In this session, students will be presented with an opportunity to begin a life journal that focuses on creating and telling their story with the idea of sharing that story with their children as a connection point. I will walk them through creating a timeline, as well as identifying key characters in their lives that have made an impact whether positive or negative. There will be an opportunity in the session for students to start creating their journal with materials provided.

Understanding Credit Reports & Scores: A fun and eye-opening workshop designed to teach the basics of credit, credit reports and credit scores.

The Fatherhood Program is a collaborative that provides resources to Fresno County fathers in need of economic stability, employment services, activities to promote or sustain marriage and healthy relationships, and activities to promote responsible fatherhood/parenting. Come learn more about the program and what the eligibility requirements are for the program.

Come and learn about their comprehensive mental health services addressing varying levels of need, including those with more complex treatment challenges. They provide stabilization supports to help clients to reduce symptoms, better cope with life stressors, make sense of their experiences, manage emotions, cope with trauma and make healthy life choices towards long-term recovery.

Mental Wellness & Parenting - This workshop explores strategies for maintaining mental wellness while navigating the challenges of parenting, offering practical tools to reduce stress and build balance.

Finding your roots: Using creative writing to identify your heritage and tell your story. Outline of the activity: Participants will have the opportunity to create a storyboard and/or collage. The participants will be guided to start the process of creative writing to connect to their heritage and tell their stories. Materials: I will provide images, scissors, markers, glue and paper for the activity.

Empowering Futures Through CalKIDS Come learn about CalKIDS! This statewide initiative, administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, provides eligible California public school students with CalKIDS Scholarships worth up to $1,500. 60% of all public-school students in California are eligible for our program. So, check out this presentation to learn about the easiest and fastest scholarship students can obtain today.

Spotlight on MyPlate-Learn all about Fruits and Vegetables: the importance of eating them, how to shop for them while saving money, and kid friendly recipes.

With a purpose of "We are here to serve the community", West Fresno Resource Center has services that include Health Education, Senior Support, Youth Empowerment, Health Insurance Enrollment, Housing Navigation, and Home Visits. Come and learn about all these opportunities, ways to connect, and build your toolbox with community resources.

This Conference was made possible by the following sponsors:

Educational Employees Credit Union (EECU), The Office of the President, and The VPSS Office.