ACE Graduation and Awards Ceremony 2025: A Night of Resilience, Unity, Transformation, and Hope

On a warm evening in June, the ACE community gathered at Shepherd Church for what has become our most powerful tradition of the year: the ACE Graduation and Awards Ceremony. This wasn’t just a graduation. It was a celebration of everything our participants have overcome and accomplished. Resilience. Unity. Transformation. Hope.

Across every program - RUTH YouthBuild, SECTOR, Parenting, Community Violence Intervention, and the Youth Empowerment Zone - participants took the stage not only to receive certificates and diplomas, but to be honored for their courage, perseverance, and growth. Families, staff, volunteers, and partners filled the seats to witness stories of real lives changing.

From the moment the lights dimmed, it was clear this night belonged to the participants. ACE Founder and CEO Michelle Fuentes Miranda opened by honoring her immigrant roots and the legacy of her grandmother Ruth, whose story continues to ripple through every success we celebrated.

“ACE is more than just an organization,” Michelle said. “It’s a movement of empowerment.”

Councilmember Bob Blumenfield reminded us that while our communities face real challenges, events like this are a beacon of hope. His remarks reflected what we all saw on stage: people rising, reclaiming their futures, and inspiring everyone in the room.

Each program speaker shared not only outcomes, but the deeply human stories behind them. Parents reunited with their children. Youth earning diplomas after being counted out. Individuals turning incarceration into careers. These moments were not about numbers. They were about transformation made visible.

We also honored our 2025 Ruth Award recipient, Cynthia Martinez, whose own journey from AmeriCorps volunteer to program director speaks to the power of long-term commitment and belief in community. Her story, like so many others that night, showed what is possible when people are given tools and trust. Not just second chances, but support systems.

And as names were called and tassels were turned, we didn’t just witness celebration. We witnessed strength, tenacity, and stories the world needs to hear.

Every graduate and program completer on that stage represents someone who said yes to change and kept showing up.

If you believe in the power of resilience, unity, transformation, and hope, we invite you to join us:

✅ Refer someone who could benefit from an ACE program ✅ Donate to support free services and wraparound care ✅ Join our newsletter to stay connected

✅ Follow us on social media

Together, we lift up the voices that too often go unheard and help write the next chapter of possibility.