Below is the transcript of Monica Diaz's speech at The Care Center's 40th Anniversary Fundraising Party. My name is Monica Diaz and I am the Manager of College Support at The Care Center. Before I joined the staff, I was one of the first four graduates of Bard Microcollege Holyoke. I am also the mother of two beautiful sons, Hector and Adrian, who are here today. But let me rewind. College … [Read more...] about Monica Diaz: The Stability Persistence Built
Student Writing
Kia Diaz: Mother, Indigenous Urban Educator & Grad Student
Below is the transcript of Kia Diaz's speech at The Care Center's 40th Anniversary Fundraising Party. I am an alumni of Bard Microcollege Holyoke and a 3rd‐grade math teacher in Baltimore. My name is Kia Diaz, and it is an honor to stand here tonight and tell you about my experience at The Care Center — a place that not only empowers women through education, but transforms lives in ways … [Read more...] about Kia Diaz: Mother, Indigenous Urban Educator & Grad Student
Keishla Perez on Becoming a Powerhouse Woman in a Business Suit
Below is the transcript of Keishla Perez's speech at The Care Center's 40th Anniversary Fundraising Party. Hello, my name is Keishla Perez, and I am the Enrollment Coordinator at The Care Center. My job is to help our students feel welcomed, supported, and brave enough to begin. This work is deeply personal for me. The Dream I Had Lost I enrolled in college for the first time when I was 17 … [Read more...] about Keishla Perez on Becoming a Powerhouse Woman in a Business Suit
Angelica Lopez Wants All Children to Know They are Perfect
Below is the transcript of Angelica Lopez's speech at The Care Center's Annual Fundraising Party on May 15, 2025. My name is Angelica Lopez. I'm 22 years old and a first-year student at Bard Mircocollege. I have come a long way. I ran away from home during my senior year in high school. Coming into the real world, I had no guidance nor family to rely on. I had this man-made label on me that … [Read more...] about Angelica Lopez Wants All Children to Know They are Perfect
