On November 2, 2018, Pacific Oaks College held its inaugural Social Justice Night where Lesford Duncan, Pacific Oaks’ first Social Justice Hero, was honored along with Honorable Mention, Angeline Chen, and other nominees.
About 75 attendees were on hand to celebrate progress at the benefit, which also raised scholarship funds for Pacific Oaks’ students.
The evening was full of positivity and hope for the future but also an acknowledgment of the strength and resolve needed for continued social justice advocacy in the context of today’s complex political climate. Lesford Duncan spoke of his own immigrant experience and how he arrived to his work in social justice, a story which attendees nodded their heads to in agreement and understanding.
The program included a performance by PO alumnus, Richard Jacildo. His songs, “I Don’t See Bruce” and “The Color of My Face”, we were well-received and got the audience to its feet.
Participants of Social Justice Night included a broad intersection of the community, including:
- David Eads, Executive Director and CEO of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses
- Mary Donnelly-Crocker, Executive Director of Young & Healthy
- Steven Sneed, filmmaker of “Exploring Solutions to Gang Violence”
- Alumni such as Billy Truong, Director of “L.A. on Cloud 9”, an organization committed to serving the homeless
- Faculty such as Cheryl-Greer Jarman, professor for the School of Human Development
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