‘1 in 5’ Episode 9: Meet Sydney Martens

April 12, 2021 | Aspen Postsecondary Success for Parents, Press Releases

Sydney is currently a pre-law student. She spends most of her free time with her 22-month-old daughter Amiyah, painting, going for walks, and spending time with friends and family.

Sydney Martens is originally from Minneapolis, but moved to Austin, Texas in June of 2020 to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Pre-Law at Texas State University.

Out of high school, Sydney was recruited to Finlandia University for volleyball and basketball, but had to make a career change after injuries halted her plans to pursue a professional basketball career.

In addition to her studies, Sydney is a volunteer legal advocate for incarcerated people facing excessive sentences for their convictions. She is passionate about community organizing related to social justice and racial equity, and is involved with Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, a Minneapolis-based organization designed to support families who have lost someone at the hands of law enforcement.

Listen

You can read the episode transcript here.

Resources

Jeremiah Program offers one of the nation’s most successful strategies for transforming families from poverty to prosperity two generations at a time.

ECMC Foundation is a national foundation working to improve postsecondary outcomes for students from underserved backgrounds.

Developed by the WNY Women’s Foundation, the MOMs: From Education to Employment® model incorporates case management, academic-success coaching, mentoring, peer-to-peer community building, career guidance, internship and job placement support, and campus cultural awareness building.

Student Parent Stories

Related Posts

Ascend at the Aspen Institute released the landmark Building Evidence Together For A Better Tomorrow report today as researchers, state and local admi...
Press ReleasesSeptember 12, 2024
Selection of Ascend Fellows Headshots
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2024 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 22 leaders from across the United States who are transforming systems so...
Ascend FellowshipSeptember 4, 2024
The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or ...
Press ReleasesJuly 23, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute released the landmark Building Evidence Together For A Better Tomorrow report today as researchers, state and local admi...
Press ReleasesMay 29, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute today launched a report, A 2Gen Approach in Wisconsin: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers, which deta...
Press ReleasesMay 16, 2024
Graphic showing Yoslin Amaya Hernandez against the blue arc of Ascend's brand. Left of her is a photo of her with her daughter, and to her right is a photo of her at a policy meeting.
As a former student parent and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor, I have been provided a myriad of platforms to elevate the student parent experience, and I a...
BlogApril 8, 2024
Graphic with text that says "Announcing the 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners" and features Ascend's 2023 Parent Advisors against a blue backdrop.
Today, Ascend is excited to announce our 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners, six organizations and institutions from across the country wh...
Press ReleasesJanuary 23, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute today launched a report, A 2Gen Approach in Minnesota: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers, which deta...
Press ReleasesJanuary 9, 2024
The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or ...
Press ReleasesDecember 6, 2023
Graphic featuring a photo of Michaela Martin, Yolanda Johnson-Peterkin, Ariel Ventura-Lazo, and Dr. Daria Willis.
An episode of firsts! Our first live episode recorded at the inaugural Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, CO in front of an audience of student...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 27, 2023
Headshots of 4 Fellows
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2023 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 20 leaders from across the United States who are transforming systems so...
Ascend FellowshipOctober 10, 2023
Graphic showing a student's hand holding a graduation cap against a blue background.
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute announced that four community colleges from across the United States have been selected as partners to its Postse...
Press ReleasesOctober 3, 2023
Group photo of Ascend Parent Advisors standing outside in Aspen, Colorado with their arms outstretched upward.
Snapshots from the 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 2, 2023
Graphic featuring headshot photos of Dr. Deana Around Him, Julian Thompson, and David Croom.
What does college success look like for Black and Native student parents? This podcast episode sheds light on student parents’ and administrators’...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsSeptember 12, 2023
100 Ascend Fellows will join the Aspen community for two afternoons of conversations aimed at Building Well-Being for Children and Families and Priori...
Press ReleasesJuly 25, 2023