Christy Arango Kautz was born in Mexico City, however at early age she moved with her family to Philadelphia Area, as a mexican immigrant she remembers at early age celebrating Mexican Independence day in Pennslanding, marching for the immigration reform in Philadelphia and in Washington D.C., eating tacos at the Mexican taqueria “Mexico Lindo” in Norristown, going to the stadium to cheer for Mexico in the finals of Copa de Oro, and visiting her grand parents and family in Mexico whenever the opportunity came up. She started to collaborate at CCATE when she was in high school, a place where she has been able to grow into many positions; from summer camp teacher and after-school tutor, to High School advisor and instructor of college readiness. Christy explains that she has worked with young students that are now in high school, some already graduating and applying to college, some others are already in college, for Christy is like seeing the whole story coming together. Working with High School college readiness started on the summer of 2018 and her role increased during COVID-19. Helping with essays and financial aid forms. Christy sees with great satisfaction how the programs has been growing because sophomores and juniors are getting ready early. One of the students D.L. that she knows for a long time has gotten into 5 of 6 colleges that he applied, and just like him, the previous two previous years she saw D.G. and S.M. being admitted into college too.
Christy with CCATE teachers, 2018
However, not everything has been easy and or successful, there are many obstacles to Latinx students to enter into college, and she notices that one of the biggest challenges is getting the parents aware of the whole process, specially for families whose children are first generation getting into college studies is not easy.
“The parents want to be supportive but don’t know how to do it even though they are so enthusiastic. Helping them with the SAT when it is not made with them in mind is a challenge. Another challenge is figuring out what colleges they can attend because of documentation status, the students and families have to run around a lot more.”
Therefore for Christy, who has been aware of the obstacles and complexities for the Latinx students getting into college, this has been a way to walk hand to hand with the community, and have also gained experience in order to improve the program.
Christy with the High School group in a college trip to New York, 2018.
Christy on the year 2020 graduated from The University of Delaware in Political Sciences and Social Policy with dual degree and just this summer she obtained her Master in Science in Social Policy at the School of Social Policy and Practice of the University of Pennsylvania. Currently she works with student achievement in the school district in Philly to tunnel more resources to latinx students.
Tutoring time at CCATE.
Christy has seen CCATE grow from an small room to the new building, a dream that she heard about since she was a kid, that one day CCATE will be a community center for the immigrant and Latinx community to perform social change and social transformation. For the next ten years, she would like to see the High School program expand and have more options for personal and academic growth. She would like “to see CCATE to have its own research center because it’s important for the community to inform policy makers and talk to them with the knowledge that they produce.” Christy during these years have also found in Dr. Holly Link a mentor and a friend who provides her direction and guidance when she has questions, Christy have found in CCATE a family and a beautiful group of friends.
Strawberry Fields at Central Park NY, during the college tour.
“Take one opportunity at a time. You don’t need to see the endgame just take it as it comes. Don’t forget to do things that you enjoy, find your community and do things that make you happy. She wished she did more of that”.