RISE San Diego reposted this
Last Wednesday was the graduation ceremony for our ninth RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program cohort, and I am immensely grateful! I want to thank all of the families, alumni, community partners, supporters, cheer squads, photographers, champions, and loved ones who were part of this special ceremony. The energy in the space was electric, and I appreciate each of you for showing up and showing out! I also want to thank the RISE team for their pivotal role in planning the event, coordinating logistics, marketing the ceremony, and handling the behind-the-scenes work. Thank you, Annamarie Montecina Till, Karina A. Barahona, and Ferchil Ramos, for your dedication and hard work! My eternal gratitude goes to the faculty and mentors for their invaluable support, teachings, investment, time, heartwork, perseverance, and sacrifices. YOU are the reason the program has been a success and has profound impacts on individuals, organizations, and communities. Thank you, Azadeh Davari, Ph.D., Leah Goodwin, Steve Askar, Kristopher G. Hall, Jonathan Villafuerte, MSC, PPSC, Ale Uzarraga, Courtney Ochi, Azucena Garcia, Annie M. Rios, and Wilnisha Sutton! You are the absolute best at holding space, leading from love, pushing with grace, and honoring the tension between the intellectual constructs of leadership and the humanity in us all. I am grateful to our investors, supporters, and partners for believing in our work. Your support makes offering our program at no cost to community members possible. Thank you for your trust, belief, and partnership! We hope you sense the impact of your support on this work. Thank you, The Conrad Prebys Foundation, Alliance Healthcare Foundation, Kazeem Omidiji, and Pauline Ma at SDG&E! Thank you Andrei Lucas for welcoming us into the space at ECC and being so supportive! Thank you Tina Maria King, Ed.D. for your purposeful words, and for making ECC a home for RISE San Diego! Thank you Council President Sean Elo-Rivera, J.D. for your pertinent speech, certificates, and work as an alum and community leader. Thank you, Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe and Ariel Gibbs, M.A. for your continued support as alumni and your authentic leadership! Thank you Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer for the support and fellows' certificates! Lastly, I am grateful for each of the fellows in cohort nine. Thank you for your trust, commitment, fortitude, community, and contributions. Please remember the tools, teachings, reflections, affirmations, readings, connection points, and messages. I look forward to seeing the seeds you planted bloom when they are ready. Congratulations, C9; welcome to the family! Nonzenzele Aldonza, Lizette Alvarado, D'Andre Brooks, Aaron Burgess Jr, Livian Cole, Andrea Cook, Yolanda Franklin, Jesus Martin Gallegos-Muñoz, Gina Jacobs, MBA, Jamaéla Johnson, MPA, Alexa Labaun, Gustavo López, Diego Lynch, Alexiz Martinez, Cecilia Morales, Diego Plata, Yvette Porter Moore, Nadeaja Shaheed, MA, Ada Shido In Lak'ech Ala K'in,
Connor Dowling
1mo
This is awesome, Dominic. I am always grateful that I was lucky enough to have you as a manager/mentor. I learned so much from you, and it has really made an impact on the way I conduct myself professionally. If these cohorts are learning from you then they are definitely being set up for success! ... we might need to talk about the Lakers though 😂
Congrats to RISE San Diego and Gen 9! As a former RISE Fellow (Gen 8), it was heartwarming and uplifting hearing about your Community Action Project. They left me feeling not only hopefull but also inspired knowing that our community will be stronger and stronger after each cohort. Together We RISE!! 🙌🏽
Thank you for your leadership and spirit — it radiates harmony and vision. The road is bright, my friend.
Congrats to gen 9 fellows and the entire RISE community. In Lak'ech✨
Emily Young
4w
Congratulations to RISE San Diego and Gen 9!
LeRon Barton
1mo
This is awesome Dominic!
Education Consultant | Partner in designing transformative and sustainable experiences for kids and adults to thrive
1moYour leadership (and dance moves) are truly inspiring! Immense gratitude to you for all you’ve done to make this experience what it was!