The 411 on FAFSA: Project H.O.O.D.
Event Details
Event: The 411 on FAFSA
Hosted By: Project H.O.O.D. Resource Department in Partnership with Cornerstone University
Date: Tuesday, November 12
Time: 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM
Location: 6620 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL
Who Should Attend: High schoolers, traditional and non-traditional college students, parents, and guardians
Purpose: To help families understand and complete the FAFSA process while connecting them to college readiness resources and scholarship opportunities.
Where Access Meets Opportunity
On the South Side of Chicago, opportunity does not just happen. It is built through collaboration, faith, and education. That is the heartbeat behind Project H.O.O.D.’s The 411 on FAFSA, a hands-on workshop created to make the college financial aid process feel less intimidating and more achievable for students and parents alike.
In partnership with Cornerstone University, the Project H.O.O.D. Resource Department turned what is often a confusing government form into an evening of empowerment, clarity, and community connection.
Making Sense of the FAFSA Maze
For many families, FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, might as well be written in another language. Between tax forms, dependent status questions, and funding categories, it is easy to get lost. But at this workshop, attendees did not have to figure it out alone.
Financial aid advisors, educators, and trained volunteers guided each student and parent step-by-step. They explained how to apply for federal grants, avoid common mistakes, and explore scholarships that many families did not even know existed. Each attendee walked away with tangible next steps and renewed confidence that college is within reach.
A Space for Learning and Belonging
What stood out most about The 411 on FAFSA was not just the practical advice. It was the environment. Inside the Project H.O.O.D. Resource Center, the vibe was relaxed but focused. There was no judgment, no jargon, and no pressure, just community.
Parents leaned over worksheets, students compared notes, and volunteers moved from table to table offering help. The energy felt more like a mentorship circle than a seminar, proving once again that information lands differently when it is shared by people who care.
More Than an Event, It Is a Movement
Project H.O.O.D. has built a reputation for tackling the barriers that often stand between young people and opportunity. This FAFSA session was not just a one-time event. It is part of a much bigger strategy to equip students for success beyond high school.
From leadership programs and workforce training to mentorship and entrepreneurship, Project H.O.O.D. continues to invest in Chicago’s future. Events like The 411 on FAFSA remind families that they are not navigating these systems alone. There is a team behind them, ready to help at every step.
Turning Knowledge Into Power
When the session wrapped, the feeling in the room was bigger than relief. It was hope. For many, this was the first time college felt like a real possibility, not just a dream. Students left with forms in hand and confidence in their hearts, knowing they were one step closer to the next chapter of their lives.
On a night when learning met love and structure met support, Project H.O.O.D. showed once again why it is more than a name. It is a mission.
Because when a community decides to educate its own, the future changes. And at Project H.O.O.D., the harvest of hope keeps growing, one student at a time.