My Vision for My Blog this Summer

I'm thrilled to have had followers, views and comments on my blog. As my life continues to evolve, I figured it's about time this blog evolved too. 

I'm excited to announce that over the next few weeks, thanks to some great advice from a fellow blogger extraordinaire Isa Adney, I will be conducting informational interviews. 

 What are they, you ask? They are simply interviews of people with a purpose. Isa's purpose in her Community College Success book was to interview people in careers she was interested in (she also covers informational interviews of professionals on her blog). I will focus my interviews on their career, education and leadership stories. My mission is to give you, my readers, this message: people have overcome and it is possible to make your dreams come true. What better way drive this message home than through stories?

My first interviews will be with my friends at 305 Rise and will focus on their paths to educational success. Then, I will be interviewing professionals, a motivational speaker, a journalist (or two) and (eeeeek!) the former City of Miami mayor, Manny Diaz.

Speaking of Manny, he called me today for one reason: I asked for his advice. I approached him genuinely and he reciprocated by giving me his time (and agreeing to talk to me for this blog).  Full disclosure: Manny was a speaker at our 305 Rise retreat. He agreed, because he loves helping young people, but also because someone asked. I can't wait to tell you his story.

Here's to an exciting summer!

305 Rise Mentees Take the Next Step ...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of seeing several of our 305 Rise participant students attend a proposal writing workshop for Mobilize.org.

Mobilize, in a nutshell, is a nonprofit targeting Millenials (born 1976-1996) -- providing ways for them to identify problems and propose solutions facing this generation. This year, they are hosting a Summit, called Target 2020, whereby students submit proposals on how they would increase college completion rates in their community. At the Summit in June, held in Miami Beach, the students themselves will vote on the best proposals and the winners will receive up to $7,500 to implement their project.

I'm rooting for my 305 Rise participants, who are brainstorming some great ideas, including:

Empowering recently migrated international women attending MDC for the first time by helping them to create a network among themselves, hosting a speaker series with prominent international women, developing engaging workshops and partnering with MDC international clubs and departmental centers such as the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.




Creating a mentoring program for aging-out foster youth high school seniors by developing college informational sessions and tutoring sessions at MDC and partnering with local community organizations, such as  Miami Bridge and the Community Partnership for the Homeless.

Increasing young men's attendance and completion in higher education by establishing a forum where they can create a support network among themselves and by hosting workshops that build their capacity for leadership as well as provide information for college admission and success.

Other organizations partnering with Mobilize.org include:

• YouthBuild USA
• Public Allies
• Catalyst Miami
• MDC's Institute for Civic Engagement & Democracy (Center for Community Involvement)

Do you have ideas on how you would increase college completion at your school? You can share your voice and apply to attend the Target 2020 Summit here.

Reaching for the Stars at Commencement

I can't believe it. I'm finally graduating. It's an incredibly exciting moment and still very much surreal. Photos will follow, but before then, I'd like to share with you an article posted on the MDC homepage about this year's stellar graduates, including yours truly.


I want to thank God, my family, friends, mentors, advisors, colleagues, co-workers and so many others who have helped make my dream to graduate come true. Your support and encouragement made all the difference in my life.

More than 13,000 Miami Dade College Graduates Reach for the Stars April 28

Miami, April 20, 2012 - ... From balancing school with full-time jobs and raising children as single parents to creating trailblazing, nationally-recognized projects that impact the community, their passion and commitment is inspiring. They also remind us about the power of family support, in and out of the classroom. Many are entering the workforce and others transferring to America’s most prestigious universities to continue their studies.    

Meet some of this year’s stellar graduates:

When Wolfson Campus student Jessica Giraldo walks across the stage to receive her diplomas in paralegal studies and pre-law, she will be the first in her family to achieve this dream. Among her relatives, her Colombian father will be there to see her fulfill the promise she made to him when she was 16. “I’ve always felt that I inherited their dreams. And they always encourage me to get an education,” she said. Giraldo went beyond her parent’s expectations. She was recently honored with a national 2012 Newman Civic Fellow award for helping to create the 305 Rise mentoring campaign. She has served as president of MDC’s Society for Law and Community Service, is a Paralegal Studies Advisory member, volunteered to preserve the Miami-Dade County Law Library, worked on projects with a local domestic violence shelter mentoring elementary school children, and the State Attorney’s Office, among others. She was also selected to attend a prestigious leadership seminar at Harvard University last year.  Her goal is to become an attorney.   

Read more: http://www.mdc.edu/main/news/articles/2012/04/more_than_13000_mdcgraduates_reach_for_t.aspx

Education Matters Project, Jessica Giraldo, It only takes one person to make a difference

This is my story on why education matters to me. I mention how one person made a difference in my life - one mentor who believed in me and catapulted me into the Harvard Latino Leadership Initiative.



Filmed by Jeremy C. Wilson for the Education Matters Project during the Voto Latino Power Summit in Los Angeles April 14-15, 2012. Follow the project on Twitter at @EduMattersProj.

305 Rise Leadership Retreat

305 Rise Leadership Retreat, a set on Flickr.

Photos from the 305 Rise retreat for American Dream Scholars.

Personal Photos from 2011 LLI

2011 LLI, a set on Flickr.

Some personal photos taken by 305 Rise team members during the 2011 LLI.