VIA FORTIS

MISSION STATEMENT

Via Fortis empowers first-generation, low-income individuals of color from Diamond Bar, Ontario, Pomona, East Vale, and similar communities to achieve four-year college success while becoming advocates for transformative change. We bridge the determination of families and the promise of education, transforming resilience into both individual achievement and collective power to dismantle systemic barriers.

VISION

A future where every student has equitable access to higher education, and where those who navigate broken systems return as powerful advocates who rebuild them for the next generation.

Core Values

PURPOSE

Equity & Justice

We confront systemic inequities head-on and work to dismantle barriers to opportunity.

Community Power

Individual success is amplified through collective action and advocacy.

Cultural Pride

We honor students' identities, languages, and family sacrifices as sources of strength.

Holistic Support

We address academic, emotional, financial, and advocacy needs as interconnected.

Student Leadership

Those most impacted by injustice are the experts in solving it.

THE CHALLENGE WE ADDRESS

EDUCATION

School counselor-to-student ratios exceeding 600:1 (vs. recommended 250:1)

Under-resourced schools with limited AP courses and outdated materials

Inadequate funding for college preparation programs

Policies that disproportionately harm low-income students and families

Geographic isolation from opportunity (especially in East Vale)

Systemic Barriers

Individual Challenges

Parents unable to navigate complex college systems despite deep commitment

Financial anxiety about hidden college costs

Time poverty from balancing school, work, and family responsibilities

Information deserts leading to missed opportunities and deadlines

Cultural pressure to prioritize immediate family needs over education

These challenges are not individual failures—they are policy failures that require both immediate intervention and long-term advocacy.

In Diamond Bar, Ontario, Pomona, and East Vale, high school students face compounding barriers to college access that require both individual support and systemic change: