My name is Ms. Blanca, and I am the Newcomer Social Worker at Castlemont High School in Oakland. I currently facilitate a peer mentorship program that supports newcomer students as they transition into high school and life in a new country. This first-year program brings together 6 upperclassmen mentors who provide guidance and support to 12 ninth-grade mentees.

Together, these students have built something beautiful. They support one another, grow in leadership skills, and care for classroom plants they’ve propagated and nurtured—bringing life, pride, and belonging into their school spaces. Our mentors receive a small stipend for the care, time, and heart they pour into this work.

Recently, the mentors shared a dream: to take a trip together that celebrates their hard work and opens their eyes to what’s possible. We are raising funds to make a special experience possible—one that includes a visit to Disneyland and adding college campus tours, where students can imagine themselves in futures they may not yet see as attainable.

For many of our newcomer students, this would be their first time traveling outside their community, visiting a college, or experiencing a trip like this at all. Your support helps turn their dedication, resilience, and hope into lasting memories and new dreams.

Thank you for believing in our students and helping them feel seen, valued, and inspired.