​​​For Immediate Release

June 5, 2018

 
Contact:

Beto Vasquez
communitygraduationcelebration@gmail.com or 619-787-4973.
 

Allura Garis
alluragaris@gmail.com or 619-319-0209


Feature Video

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Third Annual Community Graduation Celebration to Honor Educational Milestones for Underrepresented Students June 7

 

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Local High School and College Graduates Celebrate their Success during Community Graduation Celebration

San Diego, CA -- The Third Annual Community Graduation Celebration takes place on Thursday, June 07, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Balboa Park Club (2144 Pan American Road W, San Diego, CA 92101).

The ceremony will honor more than 60 graduates from local high school, community college and universities in San Diego. The event is brought to you by the Nosotros Alumni Association and the San Diego City College SACNAS chapter.

The end-of-year graduation party will focus on increased interest in higher education among underserved students, specifically African American and Latino students. Celebrating the educational milestones of historically underrepresented and often financially disadvantaged populations are far too often overlooked.

“Celebrating educational milestones is instrumental in shifting a dynamic in our communities that leads our families on paths to poverty and prison rather than a pipeline to college,” said Alberto “Beto” Vasquez, founder of the Community Graduation Celebration.

Vasquez, a Southeast San Diego resident, speaks from a personal experience as he himself overcame homelessness, time in prison and addiction to eventually graduate from San Diego City College and UC San Diego with a Master’s degree in biology.

“Our celebration normalizes these accomplishments in higher education and provides financial means for families who otherwise would not be able to honor their student’s educational triumphs.”

The Community Graduation is free and open to the public and includes dinner, childcare, scholarships, higher education resource tables, prize giveaways, music, and testimonies from the class of 2018.

Latinos and African Americans are minimally represented in higher education, grossly represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) industries (12% of workforce) but largely represented in correctional institutions.

“We aim to reverse those trends by creating built-in moments to applaud the students’ educational efforts such as college enrollment, college retention and degree acquisition.”

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High school, community college and university students who recently graduated in San Diego as part of the “Class of 2018” can register to participate: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-graduation-celebration-2018-registration

Sponsors include: Andeavor Foundation, UC San Diego’s Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, The San Diego Foundation, CDC Small Business Finance Group, San Diego ACLU and the Latino City Employee Association.


Community Graduation Celebration Schedule:

6-7pm: Opportunity to interview students and Beto Vasquez

6 -7 pm: Resource fair 

6:30-7:30pm: Dinner

7 - 8:30pm: recognitions

8:30 - 10 pm: Dance!

 

For interviews please contact communitygraduationcelebration@gmail.com or 619-787-4973.

 

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Helping Men Reclaim their Lives, Families and Hope.

Nosotros Alumni Association