San Marcos Promise, the North County nonprofit founded to help students in the San Marcos Unified School District gain access to college, is growing past its name.
The nonprofit organization is rebranding as Project Next, an effort to reflect its expanding role in communities outside its original borders. “Too many students walk into a future they’re not ready for — or didn’t even choose,” Executive Director Lisa Stout said. “Many students, particularly students from low-income households, first-generation college students and students of color, can end up struggling in early adulthood due to lack of resources and opportunities.”Since its founding nearly a decade ago, Project Next has broadened its mission to serve more students in innovative ways.
“We’re not leaving, we’re growing,” Stout said. “It was time to revamp our name and messaging to reflect the broad range of services we have to offer students in North San Diego County.” The rebrand will emphasize Project Next’s mission to not only help each student find their own ideal post-graduate path — whether that be college, trade school, military or the workforce — but also emphasize the range of initiatives that allows those students to prepare for the future that’s best for them, Stout said.