On July 25, Capelo’s restaurant, located in North Fair Oaks, hosted the graduation ceremony for the first class of the Summer Leadership Internship Program, made possible through a partnership between the API Foundation of San Mateo County and Casa Circulo Cultural. The event celebrated an extraordinary group of young leaders who completed six weeks of training in leadership, civic engagement and professional development, preparing them to successfully face the challenges of their future.
The first graduating class consisted of Adrian Ontiveros, Eleanor Arias, Gyanna Blanco, Isabella Zpien, Jade Crespo, Juan Paredes, Kimberly Albarran, Lisandro Vail and Naomi Segovia, all of whom successfully completed the program.
The graduation ceremony brought together the students and their families, as well as API Foundation of San Mateo County founders Jeff Gee and Michelle Droz. Casa Círculo Cultural was represented by its founder and executive director, Verónica Escámez, and board president Connie Guerrero. Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos and a representative from Congressman Kevin Mullin’s office were also present. They congratulated the students on completing the program and encouraged them to continue serving their communities through leadership and civic engagement.
The Summer Leadership Internship Program provided students with essential tools to become the future leaders of their communities. Over six consecutive Saturdays, participants explored topics such as public speaking, professional networking, leadership, fundraising, civic engagement, the importance of voting, professional etiquette and building a personal brand. They also worked on group projects that strengthened their confidence and fostered lasting friendships.
One of the program’s most enriching experiences was the opportunity to learn directly from prominent public officials and community leaders. Throughout the summer, students heard inspiring stories of perseverance and public service from Redwood City Mayor Elmer Martínez Saballos; San Mateo County Controller Juan Raigoza; and San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Noelia Corzo.
They also learned from District 4 Supervisor Lisa Gauthier; SamTrans Director of Bus Operations Ana Rivas; South San Francisco Councilmember and former Mayor Eddie Flores; San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools-elect Héctor Camacho; former Foster City Councilmember Steve Okamoto; and API Foundation of San Mateo County co-founder Michelle Droz, who also led a workshop on creating a professional LinkedIn profile and building meaningful networks.
As part of the program, students attended the Council of Cities Dinner in East Palo Alto, where they had the opportunity to meet and interact with mayors, councilmembers and civic leaders from throughout San Mateo County. For many of them, it was their first experience participating in a regional civic event, allowing them to gain a firsthand understanding of public service and the importance of community leadership.
The partnership between the API Foundation of San Mateo County and Casa Círculo Cultural reflects both organizations’ shared commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders by providing young people with real-world experiences, mentorship and practical leadership skills that will be highly valuable in their college studies, professional careers and future participation as engaged citizens.
During the ceremony, each graduate was recognized for their dedication, growth and commitment throughout the program. Their accomplishments demonstrated that leadership begins with a willingness to learn, serve others and make a positive impact on the community.
In celebrating the success of this first graduating class, the API Foundation of San Mateo County and Casa Círculo Cultural expressed their enthusiasm for continuing and expanding this partnership so that more young people from across San Mateo County can benefit from this valuable leadership development experience.
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