Bridges to Make A Path

Rita Miller, Migrant Liaison Specialist for Omaha Public Schools, understands the importance of the Heartland CAMP Program. This program serves as a bridge to connect students from migrant backgrounds in the Omaha Metropolitan area to postsecondary opportunities.

Rita is closely involved with the migrant community through her work providing not only academic supports such as tutoring and academic planning but also social supports such as employment assistance and connecting families with healthcare options. “We do whatever they need us to do to keep them in school.” Many of these families have been in the United States for 5–10 years, and are beginning to explore the postsecondary process and send their children to college.

Rita’s commitment to migrant students is complemented by the Heartland CAMP partnership, which began in 2015. When asked about the support given by Heartland CAMP, Rita exclaims, “I get goosebumps just thinking about it! CAMP is going to bridge the gap. The students have the ability, determination and drive to succeed. CAMP is the bridge to get them there. This way we will see more professionals in their community.” Without the help of the CAMP program, Rita believes that students would be left on their own, many being English Language Learners, to navigate college admissions and classes. The decision to go to college is a difficult one for many students who hold significant financial and personal responsibilities within their families.

With one students’ decision to attend college, Rita has seen other family members gain confidence to also work with the CAMP program and follow in older siblings’ footsteps. This program becomes a beacon of hope for many students who do not see their cultures or other English Language Learners represented in the college setting. The access allows a change of trajectory for many migrant students in the Omaha area.

The Heartland CAMP Advisor, Deb LaHoda, at Metropolitan Community College (MCC) works closely with Rita through the entire college admission process by providing support in the scholarship application phase, as well as the generally complex college application process. “Deb goes 100% out of her way to make sure every [migrant] student knows about CAMP and to get them the help they need to complete essays. She makes sure that if they have the desire, they will have just as much of an opportunity as anyone else to fill out an application and to go to college.”

Rita has seen students grow tremendously through the help that they have received because of the collaboration between the Migrant Education Program and Heartland CAMP. “Many are in leadership roles now and are speaking publicly about their experiences. We even have our first Karen nurse and teacher!” It is clear that the Heartland CAMP Program has built a bridge to success that is being accessed by many migrant students within the area.