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PRESS RELEASE Contact: Carmon Cunningham (617) 728-4446 ccunningham@jff.org      A Future That Works: First-Person Accounts of Community Colleges That Change Lives reveals the profound impact of community colleges on students who must juggle school, work, and family. With personal stories from the winners of the 2002 MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Awards, A Future That Works puts a human face on the struggles and accomplishments of students confronting barriers of poverty, language, or limited expectations of their potential.  "The first night I came down to talk to the counselor, she looked at my resume and said, ‘You have all this experience and you ’re only making this? We can do better for you!’ She brought out her schedule and had me in class that very night, two hours later." —Nora, 33, a single mother, attends Sinclair Community College  A Future That Works reveals the personal stories of students and staff at West Hills and Sinclair Community Colleges, winners of MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Awards. It will inspire and enlighten all who care about helping underserved youth and adults succeed in college and careers.  "At college, when people see the real you, they understand what you’re really doing and how hard you’re working. I always wanted to keep on going." —Juan, 20, enrolled at West Hills Community College through a program for students from migrant families. In April, applications will be available to apply for the 2004 MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Awards. The awards will recognize colleges that are breaking new ground in helping underserved youth and adults succeed in postsecondary education. Two winning colleges will each receive a $30,000 award and national recognition. Click here to download A Future That Works and for more information on MetLife Foundation Community College Excellence Awards. For printed copies, contact Jobs for the Future, 88 Broad Street, Boston, MA 02110, 617.728.4446, info@jff.org.   ###  MetLife Foundation, one of the earliest corporate supporters of community colleges, was established in 1976 by MetLife and has a long history of supporting initiatives that improve the quality of education and help young people succeed. For more information about the Foundation, please visit the Web site at www.metlife.org. Jobs for the Future seeks to accelerate the educational and economic advancement of youth and adults struggling in today's economy. JFF partners with leaders in education, business, government, and communities around the nation to: strengthen opportunities for youth to succeed in postsecondary learning and high-skill careers; increase opportunities for low-income individuals to move into family-supporting careers; and meet the growing economic demand for knowledgeable and skilled workers. For more information about Jobs for the Future, please visit the Web site at www.jff.org.