001Good afternoon. My name is Ashley Meniola. I graduated from King Chavez High School in 2020 when the pandemic hit. Um, and thanks to the support of King Chavez and the programs that they collaborate, I was able to graduate from the University of Berkeley, I finished my education in three years and thanks to the resources that the school provided. Um, they installed values of me of justice where I was able to find my passion and now I came back as a community organizer and I collaborated with Kim Chavez and I have helped 18 students get their seal of civic engagement so that they could put it on their transcript. We are collaborating with them to advocate for more just laws at the city council level. Um, and it's uh been a good opportunity to come back
002to the community and provide more resources to students like I was a couple years ago. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME is Lindsay Clara, proud alumni King Chavez Community High School, class of 2023, Southwestern College alumni, and now sociology at SDSU. When I think about where I started and where I am now, King Chavez is the heart of the journey. It is where I found teachers who saw my potential long before I did. It is where I found my peers who became my family. It is where I learned that community isn't just about something that you belong into. It's something that you build together. King Chavez opened doors I never knew existed. Through our award-winning mock trial team, I found my voice and confidence. When our team placed fifth in the county, I realized that
003education isn't just about grades. It's about empowerment, leadership, and the courage to dream beyond the possibilities. Today, I carry the forward the legacy of King Chavez. And now I work at Kimchis Elementary helping young children discover their own potential through literacy and confidence building. I also work as transcendence coordinator and teaching artists guiding youth to express themselves through creativity and community. I am living proof that what happens when the schools invest in love, culture, and community. And because of King Chavez, I don't just chase success, I create it for others. Thank you.