Giving Back
More than a Mirage: Cal Bears Provide Real Community Support for Students in Coachella Valley
Being a new face in a big place like Berkeley can be overwhelming—but for one student, all that changed with one dinner.
In Pandemic Year, Alumni Find Virtual Spirit
In a year marked by physical and often emotional isolation, the Cal alumni community found new ways to connect to each other and to the university. Robust virtual programs engaged more than 9,000 UC Berkeley alumni in activities that inspired our Cal spirit anew.
For Gabby Cole ’05, Self-Care Is Following Your Dreams
I knew then—and I am even more sure of it now—that the path to the real me was through Cal. It was challenging, but no one grows in their comfort zone.
“Pursue Your Dreams Fearlessly”: An Entrepreneur’s Wisdom for Graduating Scholars
Ten years ago, I was exactly where you are right now: graduating with big dreams and aspirations ahead.
Margarita “Maggie” Landeros ’09: Leading On Campus and Beyond
My parents are from Guanajuato, Mexico, and I am the oldest of four siblings. As a proud Compton native, my identity as a Mexican American and the educational disparities I witnessed in my low-income community drive my work as an educator. I help to improve college access in communities like my own through my work with school counselors and my involvement with Cal.
‘Justice for Communities of Color’: Amber Gonzales-Vargas ’15 on Inspiring Change
The November 2020 election season is not one that anyone will forget. It was an exhausting period that brought many first-time voters and more people paying attention to the voting process. Berkeley alum Amber Gonzales-Vargas ’15 was meant for this.
Candice Elder ’06 Takes Pride in Serving Her Local Community
Born and raised in Oakland, CA, Cal alum Candice Elder ’06 has a background in law and philanthropy and uses it to serve her community every day. Elder is the founder and executive director of The East Oakland Collective, a nonprofit organization that addresses and focuses its efforts on racial and economic equity in East Oakland. She was appointed by the mayor of Oakland in November of last year to a new advisory commission on homelessness as the city’s crisis escalates.
Supporting the UC Berkeley Community
Please join us in congratulating our incoming 2021 – 2022 Alumni Scholars and honoring our continuing students.
Margaretta Lin M.A. ’91, J.D. ’91 Finds Her Voice for the Voiceless
Margaretta Lin M.A. ’91, J.D. ’91 says she has a weird superpower. It’s a bit like x-ray vision. Whenever she sees a crisis, she can immediately see opportunities for justice. It’s always said that with great powers come great responsibility, and Lin hasn’t let her power sit dormant. Now a lawyer and serial social justice […]
Cal Alums’ Tradition Supports Education for ‘the Children of the World’
By Heather R. JohnsonA daycare in a developing country. A youth camp that brings rival nationalities together. And two substantial gifts designed to give historically underrepresented students the means to attend UC Berkeley.
Cris Gomez ’15: Veteran Continues to Serve at Cal
Cris Gomez ’15 never considered going to UC Berkeley a dream of his. Attending Cal just seemed out of reach to him—until he connected with people who showed him that Cal provided resources for non-traditional students, and that a bustling community of people from all walks of life awaited him. Cris grew up in Hayward, […]
Keeping California Strong
UC Berkeley’s impact on California ranges far and wide, from educating tens of thousands of students to moving the state’s economy forward. Now, we need California’s continued support to keep Cal thriving.
