Guardian Scholars

Guardian Scholars Mission Statement

Guardian Scholars’ purpose is a support network for students who identify with the term foster youth, come from non-traditional family backgrounds, and/or otherwise have differing levels of familial support. We believe that all students should be able to pursue their academic and broader life interests without fear of lacking the academic, social, or financial support that comes with more traditional families and home backgrounds. Our ultimate goal is to offer a space where community members can convene, discuss, and break down both our shared and unique lived experiences. We leverage our sense of identity to propel ourselves and our community through our years at Stanford and beyond. 

There is no single experience that defines being a Guardian Scholar; we hold space for and embrace the intersectional experiences our members offer. As such, the following definitions encompass our community members’ experiences:

• A current or former foster youth is someone who is currently in foster care or someone who has since been emancipated from the foster care system.
• Students experiencing housing insecurity are individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate housing situation or whose housing is dependent on enrollment in school.
• Students from non-traditional living environments include students who do not identify with traditional narratives of family and/or home, whether they are living with relatives other than their parents or with close friends. 

These are the students we serve and whose lives we aim to provide stability and care to.

What We Do

• Direct access to campus social worker
  • Trauma-informed guidance and support
• Basic needs support and connection to housing and food resources
• Priority consideration for year-round housing
• Social events and close-knit community meetups
  • Game nights, family dinners, and group trips
  • Peer and alumni mentoring
  • Birthday and special anniversary presents
• Facilitate space and reflect on our unique experiences
• Address community needs such as:
  • Understanding Cardinal Care and CAPS
  • Holding workshops with CareerED and FLISSC that focus on growing personal, academic, and career-building skills
  • Developing critical life skills such as knowing how to do taxes, cook, and plan for life after Stanford