Milan, 24, is a California native and grew up in LA’s San Fernando Valley. Currently a student at UC Berkeley, Milan has overcome many obstacles in their young life, including housing insecurity. 

“I did not have many opportunities just set up for me and faced housing insecurity,” they said.

After graduating high school in 2019 and without additional support, Milan began taking random classes at a local community college. Living in a room within the Treehouse organization in Hollywood, they were working multiple jobs and were unsure how to support themselves in the future. They discovered it was not a sustainable way of living for the future and economic security. 

“I wasn’t really sure what to do with my life,” said Milan when reflecting on the past. 

It was after a chance meeting with Garrett Underwood, Executive Director of the Seed House Project, things began to change for them.

“In 2021 and 2022, Seed House Project helped me get my life together,” said Milan. “It turned things around for me.”

During the nonprofit’s two-year residential program, all of members’ basic needs are met, meals are provided; and the organization offers life skills training, mental health services, financial literacy, college support, and an array of personal development activities to uplift members to lives of personal success. 

A large component of their programs is college support, provided by Seed House Project Case Managers who guide the members through their collegiate process, understanding that they are on their journeys to future career success and giving them guidance with that goal in mind.

Milan was close to quitting classes at their initial community college. They were not getting the support or direction they needed on their academic journey. 

When they met Garrett, he connected them with Seed House Project case manager, Alex who helped turn the tide for Milan and their perspective on higher education. 

“The Seed House Project encouraged me to go to college,” said Milan, who then enrolled in LA Valley College, which offered them a better fit for their needs, unlike the original school they were attending.

“Seed House helped me to discover my talents and where I could go with them.”

At Valley College, Milan worked as editor and chief for the school newspaper Valley Star for two semesters, and was simultaneously the layout editor for the school’s Crown Magazine. They also created illustrations for the publication, displaying their innate talent for art.

Milan thrived in the Seed House Project home environment, which offered community, educational programs, purpose therapy, and planned activities. With a stabilized home environment, they were able to excel in school.

Synergizing with Seed House Project’s Life School approach, the organization helps members reimagine what education was meant to be: young people don’t  memorize facts but acquire the tools to live, lead and thrive. It is a place where they can feel safe and focused enough to enroll in college and succeed in their classes. It is a circle of belonging where resilience becomes wisdom, creativity becomes leadership and learning becomes liberation.

After obtaining their associates degree from Valley College, Milan obtained their dream of attending UC Berkeley, where they are currently a junior majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Journalism.

Continuing their journalistic work for the UC Berkeley newspaper and magazine, they are currently on periodical’s design team, and also integrating their artistic talents incorporating their illustrations.

“Seed House Project taught me how to seek out resources for myself,” said Milan. 

“I didn’t know what existed, how to find them, or how to ask for them. I learned that these resources do exist and sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. Sometimes, within low-income communities…you are taught not to ask for help, that if you are better off than others, you might not be deserving of help or support,” they reflected.

“Finding resources on my own – housing, education, financial aid, health; has helped me navigate my education at Berkeley and helps sustain my future.”  

Milan’s dreams for the future include working for an arts and culture magazine and being open to life and whatever it may bring to them. 

With a smart and steady head on their shoulders, they know that they can overcome trials that come, and is focused on continuing to create an artistic life of success.