We support the Jewish community

Over the past few years, the Jewish community in the United States (only 2.4% of the population) has experienced a significant rise in threats, crimes, and other hate-motivated acts. In 2019, the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Annual Audit on Hate Crimes in the US documented 2,107 antisemitic attacks—a 12 percent increase over the prior year and the highest number on record since the ADL began tracking in 1979. Close to home, there have been incidents at a preschool in Noe Valley, at Manny’s in the Mission District, at Lowell High School, at San Francisco State, and other colleges and universities throughout California.

At First Graduate, we reject hate and prejudice rooted in identities—including race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion. Our work in helping students become first-generation college graduates is building toward a more inclusive and accepting world for all. Together, we can and must do better.

Terri Forman.

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Alumni Spotlight: Leandro Guerrero

Born in Peru, Leandro moved to San Francisco as a child and attended Horace Mann Middle School and Lowell High School.
Leandro credits First Graduate® with teaching him valuable life skills, such as time management. He has fond memories of spending hours in the First Graduate® office, working with peers and staff to complete college applications ahead of school deadlines.

Another trauma inflicted on young people

Children and their families need to believe that school is a safe haven. We deplore the violence that has become all too commonplace in schools, and our hearts ache for the young people and adults targeted at Rudsdale Newcomer High School in Oakland. Violence anywhere is abhorrent. The prevalence of guns as a means to