2019-20

Alizeya Gonzalez
Alizeya is a graduate from the Fresno,CA Youthbuild Charter site. Alizeya is a 21 year old mother to two children. As a teenager, Alizeya turned to the streets and ran away from home causing her to drop out of high school her freshmen year. In 2014 Alizeya got pregnant with her first child and his name is Lais. Having her son encouraged her to go back to school. She attended a home studies program for a year roughly util she lost a close friend to street violence. She struggled to make her meetings and a few weeks later her mother and aunt were shot, it was a miracle they both survived. She had her second child in 2018 naming her Joy after a close friend who gained her angel wings in 2013. Alizeya battled depression and anxiety but she did not let that stop her. She graduated this summer of 2019 and now attends her local community college for her business A.A. Degree in hopes to transfers to a university. She one day wants to own her own business and also help others build their own brands and work to better educate people about children with autism as her own child has been diagnosed.

Jennifer Almost
My name is Jennifer Almost. I am currently 24 years of age and I am a former
student at La Causa Youthbuild in East LA. I come from a single mother household. My family immigrated from Mexico about 25
years ago. I grew up in the Westside of LA in Korea town with my maternal side of the family and East side in Boyle Heights with my paternal side. I have faced many adversities to get to where I am at today. Going to college wasn't a step I had planned to take until I started believing in myself. Now I am currently enrolled into college studying psychology. One of my
biggest motivations is to help myself so that I can help others.

Emily Balderas-Alvarez
I am a seventeen year old Latina, born and raised in North East Los Angeles. I come from a single-mother household. I am a Spanish-speaking student in hunger for success and education. I am aspiring for great things like my business. Through education I am creating an eco-friendly cosmetic line that includes: eye lashes, lip gloss, and skin care. I am enrolled into summer courses at East Los Angeles Community College, and will begin my first semester in the fall.

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Jesus Estrada
I graduated from Youthbuild charter in Fresno,CA. This was a place for me to grow and evolve professional skills that will help me in the future. I am 21 and striving to be successful, but it's hard out here. I had anger problems because I was always surrounded by violence and people full of negativity. Everyday is a day to become a better person. I stay positive and find ways to make myself happy. I block out the negative energy in my life. I love to help others and seek for happiness and success i'm currently looking for a job. I'm about to attend college to earn a certification in welding. I'm also participating in community events and recommending people to the school.

Ana Ibarra
Prior to YouthBuild, Ana Ibarra attended College Ready Academy. Ana was given college level coursework and it became difficult for her as she felt that there was not any support for her. She received C’s, D’s and F’s, and eventually dropped out. When she was out of school, her brother told her about YouthBuild. At first, Ana was intimidated by having older class mates but soon she saw potential in the people and the opportunities in the program. Ana reflects on the growth of her leadership, time management, and communication skills during her time at YouthBuild. She invests her new skills in the Policy Committee. There she is able to help others, plan school events, and encourage her classmates to have school spirit. She actively listens to her classmates and tries her best to make everyone happy.

Martha Magana
My name is Martha, I am a student in Antelope Valley YouthBuild and I am set to graduate this June! Yes, it is never too late. I am grateful for your consideration and accept the scholarship awarded to me with much gratitude. You have no idea how much this means to me. It's very overwhelming to mention that, never before have I experienced something of this magnitude. This was such an emotional event for me, I call my parents, who reside in Mexico, to tell them what I have accomplished thanks to this school's support and my own efforts. It is unfortunate that my parents are far away from me, but I will keep pushing forward in college to make them proud. The best part of this for me is that this school and the opportunities here changed me completely in my belief that if you stay positive and give your all, only more positive things will come to you.

Niyah Page
My name is Niyah Page. I was born in in Granda hills CA. She is 19 yeas old and the oldest of her siblings. I am graduating Antelope valley Youthbuild and pursuing my career at Antelope valley College to major in Psychology. I started Youthbuild in September 2018 and it was a life changing experience for me. I am glad I had to opportunity to turn my life around and make something of myself.

Candelaria Renteria (2nd time scholar)
Candelaria Renteria was born and raised in East LA, CA. She currently attends Compton College and is finishing up her General Ed Classes. She would like to transfer to Cal State Dominguez Hills and major in Public Administration because she likes working with a non-profit organization that helps young people succeed in life. Being a Compton YouthBuild staff and alumni that motivates her to do better in life. In her free time, she spends the day with her daughter playing games, reading, and coloring books. I would like to end with a quote "We can change the world. It is in our hands to make a difference.” ~ Nelson Mandela

Israel Sandoval
I am a graduate from SBWIB YouthBuild located in Lennox, CA. I was raised in Inglewood and moved to Lennox. It’s always been me and my mom. She is why I work hard. Before YouthBuild, I didn’t have my high school diploma and I stopped going to school. I just worked for two years. I was tired of it so I went to YouthBuild. It was new to me because it was so different from my past high school. I was learning about construction and finishing my classes and I was having fun doing it. I learned to like school again. I created friendships and was seen as a leader to everyone there. It kept me working harder than ever. All that hard work paid off because I am now a college student at El Camino College. My major is kinesiology. I’m doing a AA-T so I can transfer to a UC when I graduate from El Camino. After that, I want to work as an athletic trainer and help people be healthier physically and psychologically.

Febe Zelaya
Febe Zelaya was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras but migrated to Los Angeles, along with her family when she was 17 years old. She had to learn a new language she had never spoken before and get used to this new lifestyle. She will always be grateful for having the opportunity to meet awesome mentors at YouthBuild that always believed in her and supported her when she needed it the most. She currently attends Long Beach City College, hoping to transfer to Cal State Long Beach her Psychology Bachelor’s Degree. She plans to use her scholarship money to pay for her books and college fees

Veronica Carrillo
Veronica Carrillo was born in Los Angeles, California. Prior to YouthBuild she was working two part-time dead end jobs while renting out a single studio apartment in Boyle Heights. Veronica always had an understanding of the systematic problems within our communities. Education is something that her mother valued but never had the opportunity to do. Her mother has always had health complications and almost passed away on her twice. At East Los Angeles College, she wants to achieve the prerequisites that a Mortuary Science College requires. Veronica has one main passion and that is helping others through bereavement and caring for the dead, bringing the family closure and returning them to their families briefly is her aspiration. Veronica can’t express how excited she is to keep advancing towards her educational goals and her dream school at Chicago's Worsham College Of Mortuary Science.

2019-20 Scholars