"ENCORE seeks to develop and implement effective college readiness outreach programs to improve the education attainment of Hispanic students and provide their families with the knowledge and tools needed to prepare and guide their children for academic success"

Our Vision:

"ENCORE seeks to develop an infrastructure of support that allows every Hispanic student to become college and career-ready by working in collaboration with community-based organizations, school districts and elected officials to improve the educational attainment of all Hispanic students"

About ENCORE:

Engaging Communities for College Readiness (ENCORE) is a program developed by Texas Valley Communities Foundation with the support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to promote the importance of higher education and college readiness in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. ENCORE works in partnership with grassroots community-based organizations, higher education institutions and K-12 schools to implement college and career readiness programs that make a difference across communities.

ENCORE has created a strategic direction and a community engagement framework to serve as a support system to promote college and career readiness to Hispanic students and parents. ENCORE has developed and conducted interactive trainings adopting the train-the-trainer approach, empowering community leaders and organizations with the knowledge and tools they need to become active and vocal constituencies in favor of college and career readiness.

The overarching goal of the ENCORE program is to increase social capital throughout the Rio Grande Valley and develop a culture that proactively seeks to improve organizing efforts in the area of education and community engagement.

ENCORE Community Partnerships:

La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), South Texas Promotores Association (STPA), Valley Interfaith, Valley Alliance for Mentorship Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS), Llano Grande for Research and Development, Home for Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), UTPA Valley Outreach Center, Edinburg CISD, PSJA ISD, Donna ISD and Rio Grande City CISD.