Kiana Chapman dreams of becoming a doctor and knows it will be tough. But it isn't just about the grueling hours of a pre-med curriculum at Metropolitan State University of Denver. It’s about the constant worry over financial pressures.
"I know a lot of people are taking more than one part-time job as a full-time student, and it's a lot to manage," Chapman said. "I am in school today because I have scholarships and I wouldn't be at school right now without them".
Chapman, 30, wants to make sure those scholarships —and other campus-based supports that help students stay enrolled — are available to all young people who need them. She’s an advocate for Young Invincibles, a nonprofit advocacy organization that amplifies the voices of young people.
The group is keeping a keen eye on bills at the Colorado legislature that impact youth as they push their own policy agenda.
But with Colorado facing an $850 million budget deficit, young advocates worry that programs students rely on the most, like scholarships, could face cuts. The state already ranks poorly in the amount of support it gives to higher education.
Supporting basic needs
The group’s agenda highlights the harsh reality Colorado's young adults face: stagnant wages, a high cost of living and a lean state budget. Gov. Jared Polis has proposed about $10 million, a 1% increase in higher education funding, far below the $61 million higher education leaders say is needed to prevent significant tuition hikes.
Young Invincibles wants to ensure there are no cuts to scholarship programs for students in need. For many young adults, the policy debates are deeply personal. Khoa Nguyen, a policy fellow who is studying medicine, is the first in his family to attend college.
“Several of my MD colleagues who are studying alongside me are on SNAP benefits in order to be able to access food despite the fact that these are the types of individuals that are doing research for complex illnesses, taking care of others in our student-run free clinic.”
Young Invincibles is backing several bills to protect vulnerable students.
One bill would give colleges and universities a “Thriving Institution Designation” that would create a state-level designation to reward colleges that demonstrate strong student outcomes like whether graduates can find high-paying jobs to pay off their debt, not just enrollment numbers.
“If you’re going to college and you’re putting yourself in thousands of dollars in debt, you want to know what you’re getting out of it,” said Nguyen, 26.
The bill would also reward colleges that excel in retaining low-income and first-generation students. It was inspired by millions of dollars in federal cuts to Minority Serving Institutions. Colorado has fifteen such institutions.
Nguyen is also focused on the hidden costs that can make a degree unattainable. He’s lobbying for HB26-101, which would expand the use of open-access textbooks.
"You shouldn't have to choose between paying $300 for a textbook versus food or insurance or literally any other basic need," he said.
Expanding free mental health sessions to adults
For Chapman, mental health support is an essential part of thriving in today’s high-stress world. She and other young advocates are backing SB26-208, an expansion of Colorado’s “iMatter” program that connects youth 18 and younger with a licensed therapist for up to six free counseling sessions. The bill would provide free counseling to adults by collecting a surcharge on internet service users.
When Chapman moved back to Colorado without health insurance, she was navigating depression and anxiety after leaving an abusive relationship. A local scholarship program gave her 12 therapy sessions.
“That was transformative,” she said. “I didn’t have health insurance, but I was navigating depression and anxiety… and definitely needed mental health resources.”
Chapman, who is studying integrative health care, said grant-funded therapy sessions could make a difference for others.
Affordable housing for low-income students
In December, as part of the organization’s Shark Tank-style competition, Kaylin Quintana’s group came up with a policy called the SHELTER Act, which stands for Student Housing Equity and Long-Term Education Reform.
The policy, if implemented, would provide year-round housing and emergency support for students facing homelessness and establish student housing navigators.
“Housing is very expensive, and it’s the reason I’ve had to take out student loans,” said Quintana. “If I lived off campus or with my family, I’d probably be debt-free. I would not want the expense to be a reason someone can’t pursue higher education or be able to graduate.”
The young advocates are shopping around the proposal in front of legislators and other policymakers as they begin the long process of getting an idea into law.
Medical debt
High on Nguyen’s list is a bill that impacts many Coloradans, not just young adults. It would curb predatory medical debt collection practices. It’s personal for Nguyen because of his own family's experience after his father suffered a heart attack.
The bill before insurance was more than $500,000. Even after insurance, his family was left with $20,000 in debt. Proposed legislation would establish protections so families don't face "losing their homes over unpaid medical debt," Nguyen said. It would also require companies to work in good faith on sustainable payment options.
Heading for the Capitol
As the young advocates circulate the hallways of the Capitol over the next few months, their main message to legislators is to focus on eliminating roadblocks preventing young people from getting where they need to be in the workforce.
"I do want to give back to the Colorado health care workforce as a provider one day," said Chapman.
