Two weeks ago, the CAPACES Leadership Institute hosted the Tom Ruhl Scholarship Fund Gathering, a fundraising event for a Marylhurst University scholarship to benefit young Latino leaders who face barriers to higher education. Former Governor Barbara Roberts, a Marylhurst University grad, headlined the program, offering a reading of her book Up the Capitol Steps for the 100 plus people in attendance.
Dalila Ortiz, the CLI’s special projects coordinator, was announced as the first recipient of the Tom Ruhl Scholarship. Here’s what she had to say:
“Thank you Marylhurst University! Because of you, students like me will have the opportunity to reach their dream of going to a university!”
Dalila, who arrived to US when she was fourteen, became involved with FHDC’s Nuevo Amanacer’s after school program as a volunteer and later became a full time organizer, helping connect farmworker families to social services. Dalila will enroll at Marylhurst University in the fall of 2013 and hopes to use her education to give back to the community and the movement she calls home.
Following the event, Barbara Roberts spoke with several youth leaders from the CLI’s TURNO program about her path to leadership, more specifically her Governorship.
“It was great to hear a women leader, who was governor, describe her hardships and how she overcame her challenges. She made me believe that my dreams mattered and that I too can be leader in my community, maybe even a Governor! My education and leadership development are my keys to that dream.”—Julizza Ramirez, 16
