Many students at NorthWest Arkansas Community College have experienced the well known LIFE program on campus at some point in the fall semester, whether that be the Dia De Los Muertos event, Halloween Lifeline, LIFE Summer program, etc. As director of the LIFE program and Hispanic and Latino outreach at NWACC, Juanita Olivares Franklin heads the program and creates a notable impact on the community college and the region. Her compassion for helping those who want to know more about the higher education route for students and parents is one of the many cores of Franklin’s work at the college.
Franklin is a first-generation American. Being the first in her family to be born in the U.S, she comes from immigrant parents who both migrated from Mexico, along with her five older siblings who were born in Mexico. Franklin’s parents grew up without furthering their education, her father only completing up till middle school and her mom not completing second grade. Yet, Franklin’s parents gave their kids the expectation of doing better than they did, although Franklin knew she wasn’t going to college after high school, she still aspired for higher education. Starting college at 41 years old, Franklin aimed to provide the guidance future students and families need that she didn’t have. “I want to be for these students and their families the person that I and my family did not have when I was growing up,” stated Franklin.
She has worked for the college for 18 and a half years, starting off as the executive assistant to the vice president of student services for Todd Kitchen. Franklin is now the Director of the LIFE program at NWACC, the program connects and supports local high schools in the area and communicates with high school students who are looking to pursue higher education. The program started off as an idea by Kitchen, they looked into forming some sort of outreach for the area and sharing the resources available for future students and building bonds within the community. The LIFE program is an acronym for “Learning, Improvement, Fun, and Empowerment.” Franklin works alongside student LIFE mentors and coordinators to run the program, along with hosting events at the campus and visiting local high schools in the area to speak to younger students.
Miguel Palacios, former LIFE mentor and now LIFE program coordinator and Hispanic outreach, spoke about how Franklin’s impact on the program has impacted many students during their time at NWACC, current or past. “When I first attended the LIFE Program, she welcomed us with such a warm smile and a great energy to make us feel like we’ve known her forever. It’s hard to explain that feeling, but it made us, the high school students, feel like we needed to be there,” Palacios said.
Along with the advice and leadership Franklin gives to those around, she is known for inspiring those around her and embedding words of encouragement and guidance into those she impacts. Palacios stated, “ Ever since then, she’s been a great mentor, in addition to colleagues, and a life long friend.”
Jessica Chronister, Dean of Community and Student Engagement at NWACC, shared how Franklin provides meaningful connections with people and is committed about helping them achieve their dreams. “Juanita is passionate about meeting people where they are and helping them achieve their dreams, both at NWACC and beyond. She inspires others, builds meaningful connections, and works tirelessly to be a changemaker in Northwest Arkansas,” Chronister said.
As Director of Hispanic and Latino Outreach, Franklin guides students and their families through the often-confusing higher education process. Helping them understand the merit of college, simplifying the enrollment process, and supporting their journey all the way to graduation, she is seen as a monumental figure in many students’ and people’s lives. Chronister shared, “There’s a quote with dubious authorship that goes something like this: ‘At the end of the day, people won’t remember what you said or did; they will remember how you made them feel.’ Juanita makes people feel seen and heard. In a world where we’re all rushing to the next thing, her genuine care stands out. She reminds me to pause and focus on what truly matters – the people we share life with.”
