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Stories
Voices of opportunity
Powerful, first-hand stories and personal reflections from the front lines of the Opportunity Movement.
Featured stories
Everybody has a story to tell.
Here are just a few of our current favorites.
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Exploring Connection and Identity with Year Up Staff Member, Luis Cabrales-Vasquez
Meet Luis Cabrales-Vasquez, pronouns They/He. Luis holds a master’s degree in social work and celebrates over six years working at Year Up. Today, they are the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), bringing connection, a lot of laughs, and even more kindness to the Year Up workplace.
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Bay Area
Donor
Alumni
My Journey From Year Up To LinkedIn: Yesenia Morales
Yesenia Morales is a Year Up Bay Area graduate who continues to gain momentum in her career at LinkedIn. She considers herself a natural introvert who got out of her comfort zone and challenged herself both personally and professionally. Through Yesenia’s words, we understand the power of self-belief, opportunity, and community.
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Alumni
Donor
The Power of Persistence and Mentorship with Maygan Hooper
Meet Maygan Hooper: a Year Up Los Angeles graduate who took a new approach to achieving her dreams and currently works at Sony Interactive Entertainment.
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Alumni
Donor
Year Up Alumni Community Reflection: Thai Nguyen
Introducing Thai Nguyen: a community leader and a proud Year Up graduate from Tampa Bay. Thai has not only found success in the professional realm at JPMorgan Chase, but he has also leveraged his alumni status to make meaningful contributions through the Year Up community and beyond. Since completing the Year Up program, Thai has been a peer mentor, a volunteer, and he’s also become a homeowner — emphasizing the profound positive impact, not only on his own life but also on the lives of others. His advice to future Year Up students? Thai advocates for investing in one's future, and in experiences that pave the way to a brighter and more successful tomorrow.
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Alumni
Donor
Tatiana Beltre and Sakara Sharp's Journey from Year Up to Success at Bank of America
Meet Tatiana Beltre and Sakara Sharp. The two Year Up alumnae have achieved noteworthy milestones – both personal and professional – since graduating from the Year Up program. Today, they work full time at Bank of America, a Year Up partner since 2007. In this Q&A, we learn about some of those achievements, as well as the advice they have for those interested in following in their footsteps.
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Blanca Gonzalez’s Leap into a Project Management Career
The Year Up National Capital Region graduate now works as a Business IT Analyst at
Exelon Corporation, the nation’s leading competitive energy provider.
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