Summary
Organization name
Positive Paths
Address
1 N. Macdonald #212Mesa, AZ 85201
We believe that empowering women to be key change agents is essential to achieving healthy, stable, and secure communities. Drawing upon the indomitable will and strength inherent in women, we increase the likelihood of success in post-secondary education or training, and thus ensure the financial security and self-sufficiency of families in the East Valley. Positive Paths provides services to support women to achieve their goals for economic stability and independence through enhanced education, mentoring, and personal and professional development. We recognize that when women are supported and empowered, all of society benefits - families are healthier, more children complete elementary and high school and continue on to trade school or college, productivity improves, and incomes increase. In short, communities become more resilient, self-sufficient, and securely independent.
Positive Paths provides scholarships to women as way to address a variety of barriers that inhibit their success, including poverty, violence and/or trauma, substance abuse, and economic dependency. Scholarship amounts are $1,000 each semester, for a maximum of 8 semesters, and can be used for tuition and fees, books and supplies, gas, childcare, or anything the women needs in order to persist in her educational program. Each scholar is matched with a mentor, often in their chosen field of study, to provide additional support and encouragement.
Additionally, Positive Paths provides events and workshops to assist in personal and professional development. These events are open to the community. For example, our "imaging" events allow individuals to access gently-used professional attire and accessories for job interviews and other career related activities.
Positive Paths Impact: Meet Rachel Santana
Rachel Santana came to Positive Paths in the summer of 2020 at the age of 25. When she was in middle school, she went through the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program at ASU. After high school, she started at ASU, but had to leave school to work. She became a flight attendant, and slowly became interested in becoming a pilot. She informed us during her interview that less than 10% of pilots are female.
She enrolled at CGCC seeking an Associate of Applied Science degree with an emphasis in flight. She also wanted to earn instrument and commercial ratings on single and multi-engine airplanes and the certified flight instructor rating. And, as if all those goals weren't enough, she wanted to eventually hold an administrative position in aviation.
You might remember that during the pandemic, the travel industry struggled and Rachel's hours as a flight attendant were severely reduced. She moved back in with her parents to make ends meet, and she applied for our Scholarship and Mentoring program so that she could continue going to school. After the industry reopened, she was overly busy such that her work was interfering with her classes, as there was heavy pressure to be responsive to requests to cover flights. Through all these ups and downs, Rachel continued to balance work, school and family obligations with resilience and flexibility.
Ever the go-getter, Rachel joined two organizations last year, Women in Aviation and the Arizona Business Aviation Association. Meanwhile, she finished her associate degree but was still working on racking up flight hours needed to become a pilot. And she enrolled in a 90-30 applied leadership program at NAU, which allows her to continue taking some classes to fulfill requirements through CGCC.
Last month, Rachel landed a job out of Dallas. She is now a First Officer, flying regional jets, with a company called JSX. She has quit her flight attendant position with Southwest so that she can focus on her new job 100%.
She is no longer in the valley, but she does plan to continue online with NAU's bachelor degree program in applied leadership. She will be the first person in her family to achieve a bachelor's degree, and she will keep us posted on her progress with degrees and job achievements.
She recently wrote, "I am so incredibly grateful for the support you ladies have given me over the past couple years. It would not have been possible without you and I'll continue living every day to make you all proud!"
Organization name
Positive Paths
Address
1 N. Macdonald #212