Member Spotlight: Year Up Bay Area Graduation Honors AAPI Women
On Saturday, July 29, Year Up Bay Area celebrated over 250 students who graduated from their program. These students, now proud Year Up alumni, spent months in Learning & Development training to learn career readiness and essential skills before participating in a 6-month internship at one of Year Up Bay Area’s top corporate partners.
This graduation was additionally special in that Year Up is excited to highlight and recognize our community’s AAPI women as leaders and trailblazers. For the first time YUBA’s Keynote Speaker, Cornerstone Awardee, and Graduate Speaker all identify as AAPI female. Legendary broadcast journalist and author, Jan Yanehiro, served as YUBA’s Graduation Keynote Speaker. Jan’s heartfelt stories provided the young adults with inspiring messages to “believe in your dreams, believe in yourself, and don’t let anyone tell you can’t because you can.”
YUBA Summer 2023 The Cornerstone Award was presented to Natalie Aliga, Vice President, Community Relations at Citi, for her dedication and service in closing the Opportunity Divide. “My hope is that the more we share our stories, our struggles and successes, the more we can give ourselves and others permission to step into the spotlight and shine.”
Jaime Ann Roque represented YUBA Class 29 as their graduate speaker. Jaime reflected on her life’s journey and how she found herself at Year Up. “There’s always going to be new opportunities for you to make that one little decision that will push you from where you are, to where you want to be.”
Please visit www.yearup.org, if you wish to host an intern, provide a donation, or become a corporate partner with Year Up. Join us in closing the Opportunity Divide.
