Celebrating Milestones and Momentum: A Graduation Season Message

This graduation season has me thinking deeply about what these milestones mean—not only for the students crossing the stage but for all of us working to build a more equitable future. Watching my own teenager graduate last weekend stirred something in me. It reminded me that behind every diploma is a journey—often filled with long nights, moments of uncertainty, and powerful breakthroughs.

But for many young people in our Bay Area community, that journey includes more than just academic challenges. It involves financial hardship, unstable housing, and a lack of access to the networks and resources that help make dreams a reality. Some graduates study while living in RVs, and others attend class hungry. These are the realities faced by too many students—and yet, they persevere, some doing so with the support of the same programs that our federal government is actively trying to eliminate.

My perspective on this work extends beyond being a proud parent. I’ve spent much of my career advocating alongside young people and helping to create systems that foster their growth, agency, and well-being. At United Way of Santa Cruz County, I helped lead initiatives like Jóvenes SANOS, United 4 Youth, Youth Action Network, and Stuff-the-Bus—all of which amplified youth voices and drove tangible change in areas such as food justice, mental health, safety, and education. That work wasn’t solely about developing programs—it was about establishing pathways for youth leadership, self-determination, and success.

That same passion fuels my work today at United Way Bay Area.

In a region where more than one in four households struggle to meet basic needs despite working hard, education and career access are powerful levers for change. That’s why we are focused on removing barriers and expanding opportunities at each stage of a young person’s journey.

Our Youth Opportunity Pathways (YOP) initiative partners with schools and community organizations to provide meaningful career exploration, skills training, and mentorship. Whether it’s assisting with college applications, taking students on workplace tours, or introducing them to trade skills and technology tools, we’re helping young people imagine new futures—and then take the necessary steps to achieve them.

Through our annual On Track career expo, students engage directly with professionals across industries like finance, healthcare, construction, and STEM. These moments of connection matter. When a young person sees themselves reflected in a role they hadn’t considered before, it opens doors that lead to real transformation.

And at our SparkPoint™ centers, that transformation continues. With more than 25 locations across eight counties—including many at community colleges and our first four-year university, San Francisco State (SFSU)—SparkPoint helps students and families build financial stability. From credit building to emergency aid, these services don’t just support basic needs; they create long-term mobility.

This is what the framework for a school-to-success pipeline looks like: a pathway that supports Bay Area youth in defining their own success and achieving it on their terms.

The data is clear: students who access SparkPoint are significantly more likely to stay in school and earn their degrees. Beyond the data are the stories—students who are the first in their families to attend college, who work two jobs and still show up for their goals, and who credit SparkPoint with helping them not only survive but thrive.

Please don’t take my word for it. Just listen to people like Julie, who helped pilot the program, and students like Malgortza, who use these resources every day to succeed.

As we celebrate this season of graduation and new beginnings, let’s also recommit ourselves to the work ahead. Because every student walking across that stage deserves not just applause, but a system that supports their next steps.

Whether you choose to mentor, give, or simply share this with someone in your life, your involvement and partnership help make more stories of success possible.

Together, we rise. Together, we move forward. And together, we show that in the Bay Area—United is the Way.

Keisha Browder
CEO, United Way Bay Area