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The CYDL community and our youth participants celebrated a summer of impact and inspiration last Friday evening, in our online graduation ceremony. Because of support from all of you – mentors, donors, internship hosts, volunteers, community partners, and program alumni – we launched another group of diverse and talented leaders, who are building a future in which people of all backgrounds belong, thrive, and have opportunities to lead.
In the ceremony, our 2021 graduates shared their reflections and hopes for the future:
“I’m so grateful for this program. I don’t know where I’d be if I didn’t get this chance. Thank you to everybody that was there to support me and help me! It was amazing!” ~ Nasya
“Before this, the future scared me.… This program has definitely calmed my soul because I know that I have the support of Nancy and the other teachers, which I am so grateful for.” ~ Cho
“Being a family lawyer is something I want to pursue because it melds together my passion for public health and legal work. I was inspired by the work the family lawyers did at the Family Violence Law Center, helping people break free from abusive households.… I hope to contribute my help to people who need it the most.” ~ Alishba
We also heard from Program Alumna and Instructor, Mayra Anaya:
“When I think back on this program, I can never be thankful enough, or repay all the sense of belonging, the community, and the experience I gained from this program. The least I could do is come back and teach the new students.… I’m just very proud of all the students this year. Despite all the circumstances and all of the challenges, you all persisted and succeeded.”
CYDL Board member Hon. Joni Hiramoto gave inspiring closing remarks:
“It doesn’t matter where you came from. What matters is the brains and the heart and the passion you bring to whatever you do.... Congratulations to all of the students. I will look forward to how you are going to lead us and change the world!”
Our Keynote Speaker, Keith Wattley, Founder and Executive Director of UnCommon Law, challenged our graduates:
“We can replace the old messages that were given to us earlier in life with new ones, about the kind of reality we want for ourselves and our community.... This group fills me with so much hope, not just for the future, but for right now!
We’re looking to you as the leaders in this new conversation about who we are as a community, and what’s possible for future. That future doesn’t look like the past, because it looks like you.”
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