Kelly King and Katy Cisneros, Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges

Kelly King and Katy Cisneros from the Foundation for the Los Angeles Community Colleges shared insights from BOOST (Building Outstanding Opportunities for Students to Thrive), the largest community college guaranteed basic income pilot in the nation—and the first to include a Randomized Control Trial. Through BOOST, 250 health-career students receive $1,000 a month in unrestricted, unconditional cash for one year, helping them stay in school and complete critical workforce training. Launched in under two months, the program’s impressive participation rates (99% in the treatment group) demonstrate both demand and feasibility. As King noted, BOOST not only supports student success but also fuels the regional economy by accelerating the pipeline of registered nurses. The foundation now plans to expand the model to skilled trades and student parents, including potential partnerships with the local K–12 district.