Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Raise Your Hand event on May 21, 2026! The night was a true celebration of community and collective impact.

Our keynote speaker, Spencer Paysinger, urged the young people in the room to embrace new opportunities – even when that means leaving behind what’s familiar.

Jason and Joi, members of our Class of 2026, reflected on how much they’ve grown since starting at Breakthrough as elementary school students, while Jessika, a two-time Breakthrough Teaching Fellow, spoke about becoming an educator who sparks curiosity and love for learning.

Investing in young people was a theme of the night – echoed in the remarks of Dr. Racheal Adriko, Head of School at SF Day, and Andy Shin, Breakthrough San Francisco’s executive director. If we can help young people achieve their college dreams, and train the educators of tomorrow, there’s so much reason for optimism.

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