To support his education in high school and college, Luis and his family traveled every weekend selling clothes to migrant workers. +

Luis Alverez was born in Puebla, Mexico and had enormous language barriers and financial burdens to overcome when his family moved to the United States. Despite spending most weekends traveling to support the family clothing business, Luis graduated from Roosevelt and later Cal State Los Angeles with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

The daughter of parents who had come of age in the height of the Chicano Movement and Los Angeles Riots, Bianca has a deep understanding of the sacrifices their generation endured to secure the opportunities allotted to her generation. +

Nina-Bianca Duran was born in Los Angeles, California in the shadows of the Hollywood sign. The daughter of parents who had come of age in the height of the Chicano Movement and Los Angeles Riots, both Watts and East Los Angeles, she had a deep understanding of the sacrifices their generation endured to secure the opportunities allotted to her generation. While pursuing her degree, Nina-Biance held various leadership roles in Delta Delta Delta and helped raise thousands of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Nina-Bianca graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in History and a minor in American Indians and Indigenous Studies. Nina Bianca is currently working in a management role for Southern California Edison.

Claudia was accepted to every university she applied to; however, due to lack of financial aid, she could not attend any. +

Claudia Lara was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and when she was just six months old her mother decided to come to the United States in search for a better future. Claudia was accepted to every university she applied to; however, due to lack of financial aid, she could not attend any. In 2011, after working multiple part-time jobs and taking classes at community college, she completed her bachelor's degree at UCLA. Claudia has been a community organizer and activist for immigrant, worker, and student rights. She currently works at Proyecto Pastoral, a non-profit working in Boyle Heights to empower the community by developing grassroots projects in education and leadership. She hopes to eventually pursue a master’s degree in education and ultimately aspires to transform Los Angeles’ education system.

Despite a huge language barrier after immigrating midway through high school, Jose excelled and even tutored other students. He has now started his own scholarship for Roosevelt students. +

Jose Gerardo Cervantes was born in Zamora, Mexico, and immigrated to the United States with his family during his second year of high school. Despite the language barrier, Jose excelled in his studies. He graduated in the top 5% of his class, and even found time to tutor other students, do volunteer work with the homeless community in his area, and earn money by performing in a mariachi group. While attending Cal Poly Pomona, Jose worked to put himself through school and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since graduation, Jose has worked in the manufacturing industries and now has started his own real estate firm. Jose has returned multiple times to Roosevelt High School as a motivational speaker for ESL students and has started his own college scholarship fund.

Even after having to leave his dream school because of lack of financial aid, Christian took classes at community college and became his own advocate in order to transfer to a prestigious liberal arts college. +

When Christian first introduced himself at RAP interviews, his passion for public service and community empowerment came across immediately. After being accepted to his top choice of UC Berkeley, he faced the stark reality of not being able to attend do to insufficient finances. Instead of giving up, Christian took classes at community college and became his own advocate in order to transfer to a prestigious liberal arts college across the country. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College with a degree in Sociology and Anthropology completed his Masters Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He now works as a college counselor for students at under-resourced schools in New Haven, CT.

As an ESL student, Marvin attended summer school, after school tutoring programs, and adult school at night just so that he could graduate on time.+

Born to Salvadoran immigrant parents in Los Angeles California, Marvin moved to El Salvador at age 5. In 10th grade, however, Centeno began to realize the socioeconomic struggles and financial instability that exists in El Salvador, and he decided to migrate back to the United States. As an ESL student, Marvin attended summer school, after school tutoring programs, and adult school at night just so that he could graduate on time. In 2016, Marvin graduated from UC Santa Cruz and has proceeded to work with immigrant communities in California and in educational programs for ESL students. Marvin hopes to continue to empower others through grassroots organizing and education, especially around social inequality.

Brian grew up knowing that he had to have a backup plan in case he couldn't afford college, so he applied what he learned from working with his father, a car mechanic, and taught himself to build and fix computers. +

Brian Flores is the oldest of four siblings in an immigrant family from Guadalajara, Mexico. Despite his family's emphasis on education, Brian grew up knowing that he had to have a backup plan in case he couldn't afford college. Using the skills he learned from when his father had him help out at work as a car mechanic, Brian taught himself to build and fix computers instead. He excelled in engineering and science in high school, and is finishing his degree in Computer Network Engineering at UC Santa Cruz.

In Erica's community, women are not encouraged to go into STEM fields and while she saw her peers falling off the college track, Erica persevered to follow her passion for engineering. +

Erica de la Cruz was born into a community that was constantly discouraging her from following her dreams, but simultaneously teaching her the value of hard work and siezing opportunity. Throughout school, she saw her peers falling off the college track and women were not expected to go into STEM fields. Now, she is a student at UC Santa Cruz in Computer Engineering, a degree which she hopes to use to give back to her community through improving access to technology.

Christy Guerrero moved eight times throughout her four years of high school. Despite her constant reshuffling, she stayed focused by pouring all of her time into helping others tell their stories through film. +

Christy Guerrero stumbled into filmmaking when she signed up for a program to mentor middle schoolers. She later learned that her role would be to teach children how to use film. This was where an interest became a passion. That summer, Christy listened to her students’ inventive stories, and helped them discover the best way to present those stories. Though the program ended, Christy’s interest in film did not waver. Even as she struggled to overcome the distractions of moving constantly throughout high school, she continued to explore this medium. Her recent documentary on sexual harassment helped victims tell their stories, and reminded them that they are not alone. Christy will attend ELAC in fall of 2019 in preparation to pursue a degree in cinematic arts.