Healing Justice seeks support to help overseas intern attend Westmont College in Montecito
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A local agency called Healing Justice is seeing an increasing demand for their services among the Black African American community in Santa Barbara.
Now, they're hoping for community support for one of their prized interns who just got accepted to Westmont College.
Chernor Diallo came to Santa Barbara in 2021 to study at Santa Barbara City College as an international student from Monrovia, Liberia.
"What brought me here was to seek education … higher education … I first left Liberia in 2018 where I studied abroad to go to Israel," said Diallo.
Charnor is interning at Healing Justice, a nonprofit agency focused on providing all Black African American support in Education, Outreach, and more.
“All Black and African American identifying people we celebrate and uplift and create an inclusive space for them," said cofounder and executive director Krystle Farmer Sieghart of Healing Justice Santa Barbara.
“In terms of finance they have been my biggest help since my gap year started," said Diallo.
After years of hard work, Charnor’s dream came true.
"I got accepted to one of my dream schools if I decided to stay in Santa Barbara which is Westmont College in Montecito," said Diallo.
While going through the admissions process, Charnor learned international students don't quality for federal financial aid.
"Right now healing Justice is hoping the community will support Charnor so he can go to Westmont College," said Farmer Sieghart.
"That’s why we’re reaching out to the larger community with Westmont wishes. They know we have also created that and support," said Farmer Sieghart.
Chernor said he is the first and only member of his family to get accepted to a college.
“Krystle always says stay positive and believe in yourself and believe in your community," said Diallo.
Chernor said he graduated from SBCC with his Associates degree, and is hoping to start in the Fall of 2024.
Leaders of Healing Justice said they have set up a gofundme fundraiser to support Chernor's hope towards getting his Bachelors degree.
If you would like to support Chernor's goal to attend Westmont Collage, visit: https://gofund.me/d2ae3571.
