building our community

A strong university community is more than just a network of lecture halls, labs and libraries — the places where life-saving and life-changing research happens — it is also a living ecosystem of support, collaboration and community that endures through the presence and contributions of its alumni. Alums, like Shirley Torres ’03, whose Bruin story you will find in this issue, carry with them stories of resilience, adaptation and triumph that provide not only inspiration, but practical strategies for thriving in today's world.

For students, especially those navigating unfamiliar and uncertain academic terrain, our alumni stories represent tangible proof that success is achievable and that the University community extends far beyond our campus’ geographic boundaries. As a first-generation college student, and now as a Bruin alum, I found that the Bruin community can be both a lifeline and a launchpad. After graduating in 2016 and moving away from my home in Southern California to Denver, Colorado, to pursue a unique opportunity with the National Park Service, I found myself lacking community as many new alumni do when they no longer live near or visit campus as frequently after graduation. Through the UCLA Alumni Colorado Network, and later the UCLA Latino Alumni Association, I met Bruins who shared career advice, connected me to local organizations and inspired me to join them in uplifting our Bruin community.

Now, more than ever, building community — on campus and beyond — is a commitment that deepens when alumni are an integral part of the equation. I hope that as you read the story of Shirley Torres that you can see a part of your own Bruin story in hers and witness how she works to build community through radical kinship. As part of our Changemakers Series, included in the offerings of this issue, our team has curated an exclusive experience by partnering with Torres and Homeboy Industries where you can see first-hand how Bruins foster community in person on Oct. 17. I encourage you to join us for our Changemakers 2025 event and share how UCLA has inspired you, lifted you up or transformed your path — big or small — to show the next generation what is possible as we stand up for UCLA.

Alumni remind us that community is not just something we find — it’s something we build, together.

Go Bruins!

Cory Rosas ’16, Cert. ’21
Director, Alumni Diversity Programs and Initiatives

diversity digest spotlight

our offerings

Focus on kindness to the stranger: The UCLA Bedari Kindness Institute’s Compassionate Conversations series returns for its second year. This year’s talks highlight the timeless theme of kindness to the stranger, a value shared across cultures. Explore upcoming talks on kindness across cultures in the full schedule and sign up for updates.Thomas Vozzo, former CEO of Homeboy Industries: In his book, Vozzo shares lessons from leading the nation’s largest gang intervention program, blending business insight with compassion and grit. Discover leadership and disruption guided by kinship and purpose.

Oct. 17 — Homeboy Industries: UCLA Alumni will spotlight Homeboy Industries — the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program — in a half-day, immersive experience offering a rare opportunity to experience Homeboy’s work firsthand and hear from senior leaders, including co-CEO Shirley Torres ’03, who are leading community transformation through the practices of radical kinship.Oct. 18 — James West Alumni Center: Join alumni, students, faculty and community members for a full-day celebration of Asian American & Pacific Islander Studies at UCLA. Reconnect across generations through panels, Talk Story sessions, art and a happy hour mixer.

Concentrated in three states: A UCLA research brief reports that ICE arrests of Asians nearly tripled from 2024 to 2025, with the sharpest surge in late May and June, raising concerns about disproportionate targeting and rising anti-Asian xenophobia.
 Report shows Latinos drive growth and strengthen state economy: A UCLA and Cal Lutheran study found that California’s Latino GDP surpassed $1 trillion in 2023, helping keep the state the world’s fifth-largest economy. Researchers say Latino immigrants, youth and diverse industries are key to California’s economic vitality.