“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” ~Nelson Mandela
“Don’t let mediocrity become your comfort zone, strive for greatness in everything you do.” ~Geronimo
“We may be devastated. We may be disappointed. But we will not be deterred.” ~Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“People who are truly strong lift others up. People who are truly powerful bring others together.” ~Michelle Obama
“One thing has not changed: to doubt the worth of minority students’ achievement when they succeed is really only to present another face of the prejudice that would deny them a chance to even try. It is the same prejudice that insists all those destined for...
“At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about what you’ve done with those accomplishments, who you’ve lifted, who you’ve made better and what you’ve given back.” ~Denzel Washington...
“In giving of yourself, you will discover a whole new life full of meaning and love.” ~Cesar Chavez
“You can’t knock on opportunity’s door and not be ready.” ~Bruno Mars
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” ~Bob Marley
“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda… I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” ~Malcom X ...
“When you let go of what doesn’t serve you, you make space for what’s meant to be.” ~Ava DuVernay Embed from Getty Images
“You cannot go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ~Terry McMillan
Indigenous leader Marlene Watson, a Navajo from Wide Ruins, Arizona and Tohlakai, New Mexico, was raised in Oakland, California, and she is the first in her family to graduate from a four year institution. With a strong interest in design, engineering, and theology,...
“If you don’t fall how are you going to know what getting up is going to be like?” ~Stephen Curry
Growing up in East Los Angeles, Anita Madrid saw firsthand the educational disparities between the rich and poor, and at an early age, dedicated herself to educational equity and to serving and helping others. This dedication has shaped her professional career path...
“When you feel the world is against you or you give up hope, you look at your heroes and say, “They were able to do it. They had hard times and a lot of opposition, but they got through it.” Then you feel, “I can do it too.” ~John...
“Life will knock us down, but we can choose whether or not to stand back up.” ~Jackie Chan
“As you commence to your paths, press on with pride and press on with purpose.~Chadwick Bowman
“In a world that can seem so aggressive, confrontational, and dangerous, you should know that you have the power to change it.” ~Megan Markle
“Peace cannot exist without justice, justice cannot exist without fairness, fairness cannot exist without development, development cannot exist without democracy, democracy cannot exist without respect for the identity and worth of cultures and people.”...
“I think that the good and the great are only separated by the willingness to sacrafice.” ~Michael Jordan
“I wish I could say that racism and prejudice were only distant memories. We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust….We must dissent because America can do better,...
Fabrizio Mejia, a strong visionary leader, educator, strategist and advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, received his BA in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley, an MS in Educational Psychology from California State University – East Bay, and is currently...
“Life imposes things on you that you can’t control, but you still have the choice of how you’re going to live through this.” ~Celine Dion
“The arts and humanities define who we are as a people. That is their power — to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common. To help us understand our history and imagine our future. To give us hope in the moments of struggle...
“Through electing officials that will protect the Constitution and commit themselves to the rights of the people and the health of the nation, we will be able to ensure that no group of ideologues and no private sector institution can coopt our rights, take us into...
“It doesn’t matter where we’re from, we all have to stick together and help each other out as performers and as human beings.” ~ Luis Fonsi
“The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it.” ~Chief Joseph
“As people of color, we have a potent power – and a responsibility – to change events around us, not just professionally, but spiritually and politically as well.” ~Michelle Herrera Mulligan
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.” ~Michael...
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” ~Kobe Bryant
“Each one of us has lived through some devastation, some loneliness, some weather superstorm or spiritual superstorm, when we look at each other we must say, I understand. I understand how you feel because I have been there myself. We must support each other and...
“Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” ~Sitting Bull
“We need to get better at voting and be a voice for the people who do not have one.” ~George Lopez
“The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” ~Carlos Santana
“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
“What really matters is not whether we have problems, but how we go through them. We must keep going on to make it through whatever we are facing.” ~Rosa Parks
“Sometimes you have to let everything go – purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything – whatever is bringing you down – get rid of it. Because you will find that when you are free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.”...
“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community—and this nation.” ~Cesar Chavez
“Children need to get a high-quality education, avoid violence and the criminal-justice system, and gain jobs. But they deserve more. We want them to learn not only reading and math but fairness, caring, self-respect, family commitment, and civic duty.”...
“The Universe isn’t trying to break you, it’s trying to find a way to wake you up, so that you will see what is real, and worth fighting for.” ~Mark Anthony
“You just have to prove to yourself that you can go out there and be the best that you can be and not prove anything to anyone.” ~Serena Williams
“It’s a hurtful place, the world, in and of itself. We don’t need to add to it. And we’re in a place now where we all need one another, and it’s going to get rougher.” ~Prince
“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.”~Delores Huerta
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” ~Jimi Hendrix
“Pain, pleasure and death are no more than a process for existence. The revolutionary struggle in this process is a doorway open to intelligence.” ~ Frida Kahlo
“I’ve learned that I must find positive outlets for anger or it will destroy me. There is a certain anger: it reaches such intensity that to express it fully would require homicidal rage–self destructive, destroy the world rage–and its flame...
“When we talk about the word ‘socialism,’ I think what it really means is just democratic participation in our economic dignity and our economic, social, and racial dignity. It is about direct representation and people actually having power and stake over...
“There is a lot of work to be done to make sure our leaders reflect the people they are supposed to represent. The more diverse a group of decision makers is, the more informed the decision will be. Until we achieve full representation, we all should understand...
A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option — for peace cannot exist where justice is not served.~John Lewis
“The most valuable possession you can own is an open heart. The most powerful weapon you can be is an instrument of peace.” ~ Carlos Santana
“I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.” ~Angela Davis
“We live in an age in which the fundamental principles to which we subscribe – liberty, equality and justice for all – are encountering extraordinary challenges, … But it is also an age in which we can join hands with others who hold to those...
“Purpose is an essential element of you. It is the reason that you are on the planet at this particular time in history. Your very existence is wrapped up in the things you need to fulfill. Whatever you choose for a career path remember the struggles along the...
“It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.” ~James Baldwin
“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.” ~ Albert Einstein
“In America, with all of its evils and faults, you can still reach through the forest and see the sun. But we don’t know yet whether that sun is rising or setting for our country.” Dick Gregory
“Until we get equality in education, we will not have an equal society.” ~Sonia Sotomayor
“If you distill the essence of everything, what life is about, every single one of us is given a short moment in time on this earth and we all have one universal need and desire and that is to be loved and to love.” ~Gavin Newsom
“The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but on significance — and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” ~Oprah Winfrey
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
“We must establish a new world order based on justice, on equity, and on peace.” ~Fidel Castro
“We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible.” ~Beyonce Giselle Knowles
“Make sure you are safe, and never ever put yourself in a compromising situation, but once that is checked off the list, I think it’s really important for us to remember that someone needs us, and that your act of giving/helping/doing can truly become an...
“….all of us have to send a clarion call and behave with the values of tolerance and diversity that should be the hallmark of our democracy. We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or...
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ~Mother Teresa
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” ~John Lennon
“Giving is a twofold process. You cannot have a giver without receiver, and vice versa. Just as much as someone might be thrilled by being given a gift, the giver also is rewarded in good karma, blessings of abundance to come into their lives and the...
“We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and...
“Be at your best at all times.” “With a positive attitude, you can be anything you want to be.” “Be strong minded and always think that the impossible is possible.” ~Selena Quintanilla
“We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience, and patience creates unity.” ~Malcom X
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it – then I can achieve it.” ~Muhammad Ali
“If you reach common ground, and can understand what everybody’s going through, we can really affect change. And make sure that everyone is treated equally and has the same freedom.” ~Colin Kaepernick
“I am poor and naked, but I am the chief of the nation. We do not want riches but we do want to train our children right. Riches would do us no good. We could not take them with us to the other world. We do not want riches. We want peace and love.” ~Red...
GOALS respect and appreciate Chancellor Carol Christ’s commitment to diversity, and her endorsement of the Undergraduate Student Diversity Project at the University of California, Berkeley. Message From Chancellor Carol Christ to UC Berkeley Students, Staff and...
“Success isn’t about how much money you make. It’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” ~Michele Obama
GOALS congratulates its board member Amarra A. Lee who has been appointed to a judgeship in the San Mateo County Superior Court. Lee has served as a deputy district attorney at the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office since 2012. She held several positions at...
“If we keep everything in balance, we are in harmony with ourselves and are at peace.” ~Frank Fools Crow
“We need to help students and parents cherish and preserve the ethnic and cultural diversity that nourishes and strengthens this community and the nation.” ~ Caser Chavez
“Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.” ~ Aretha Franklin (GOALS mourns the passing of Aretha and salutes the impact of her music on the...
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” ~...
“You cannot be successful and continue to be a victim.” ~ Maxine Waters
“Make sure you live in the moment and work your butt off every single day, and I hope I inspire people all around the world to just be themselves. Be humble, and be grateful for all the blessings in your life.” ~ Stephen Curry
GOALS congratulates its former President Dr. Sonja Martin Poole who was elected as the new president of the University of San Francisco Faculty Association, Full-Time (USFFA-FT). Pool is the first woman and person of color to hold the position of president since its...
“I’m not a survivor. Survivor comes from saying you barely made it and you’re a victim. I am triumphant. I’m not a survivor.” ~ Carlos Santana, Celebration of Cinco De Mayo
GOALS is extremely honored to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of Dr. Vernard Lewis, the first African American entomologist at UC Berkeley. Born in Minnesota, Dr. Lewis was obsessed with collecting and learning about insects at an early age. As he approached...
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” ~Bob Marley
“Your beliefs become your thoughts, Your thoughts become your words, Your words become your actions, Your actions become your habits, Your habits become your values, Your values become your destiny.” ~Mahatma Gandhi...
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~ Harriet Tubman
“It is not enough to teach our young people to be successful…so they can realize their ambitions, so they can earn good livings, so they can accumulate the material things that this society bestows. Those are worthwhile goals. But it is not enough to progress as...
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on others.” ~ Jackie Robinson
GOALS congratulates UC Berkeley student Shelby Mack who is this year’s recipient of the Morrison & Johnson Distinguished Achievement Award. GOALS also congratulates Esteban Vasquez, Keshlee Roy, Shelby Mack (The Morrison & Johnson Distinguished...
The EOP Family Dinner is a fun evening where undergraduates, alumni, and staff come together to celebrate the achievements of students and the life-changing impact of EOP! Guests enjoy great dinner and conversation while ticket proceeds help ensure that EOP students...
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” ~ Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
As a transfer student in the mid 70s, there was a scarcity of minority students at Cal, particularly African American students, and adjusting to campus life was difficult and academically challenging; however, looking back, I found it to be a period of great growth...
GOALS congratulates Josefina Baltodana, J.D., on being elected as the 2017 National Philantrophy Day Outstanding Fundraiser Volunter Award. Josefino Castillo Baltodano, J.D. has proven herself to be a champion fundraiser and institutional leader at multiple nonprofits...
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.” ~ Booker T....
Maribel Medina is a prominent attorney, motivational speaker, and an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. Coming from an agricultural community where students did not receive the quality education offered in more affluent college prep high schools, Maribel...
“A man who won’t die for something is not fit to live.” ~ Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King ...
