“It shouldn’t be this hard.”

Those powerful words, spoken by CSUB student Marcilia Diaz, reflect the sentiments of students across the country who are struggling with college affordability. As discussions about possible cuts to Pell Grants and other education funding intensify, the conversation about the true cost of higher education and the impact it will have on working families has captured the attention of media outlets.

On April 23, community members gathered at our Bakersfield office for a roundtable discussion on this critical issue. Co-hosted by the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), Student Borrower Protection Center, and the University of California Student Association, the event provided a platform for local voices to share personal stories and concerns about rising college costs and reduced financial aid opportunities.

Speakers emphasized that cutting these resources would not only impact individual students, but entire communities as well. 23ABC Bakersfield published a quote from Sonia Maria De Leon, Executive Director of PIQE Bakersfield, highlighting the broader economic impact:

“The loss of the Pell grant will impact the economic growth in this area, because fewer students will have access to higher education. If fewer students have less access to higher education, we will less students who will enter the workforce and be able to compete in the workforce.”

In a story published by Kern Sol News, local mother Virginia Ramírez shared the struggles her family faced in helping her daughter pursue a college education. As a working parent supporting her family, she often felt “stuck in survival mode.” Ramírez, a PIQE Parent Ambassador, is now calling on schools to provide more information sessions and workshops to help families better navigate their financial aid options.

Now more than ever, community voices must be heard to protect the opportunities students need to succeed. Let’s continue opening doors to these important conversations.