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DIANA PEREZ
Diana is the eldest daughter of first-generation Mexican parents and the first in her family to graduate from college. Her parents were very loving and supportive and worked hard to provide Diana and her sisters with opportunities inaccessible to them. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising from California State University, Sacramento in 2014, and then moved back to Bakersfield to be close to her family. She worked as a visual merchandiser for several years but longed to do more meaningful work and help others. After some research, she found Dress for Success Bakersfield and began volunteering whenever she could. It was during this time that she became aware of many of the challenges facing her community, and felt a duty to empower others to reach their goals. It became clear it was time for a career change, so she applied to graduate school and received her Master of Public Administration in December 2021. Diana joined Bakersfield Angles because she fully believes in the mission and believes that the programs can influence long-lasting change in her community. Her parents began their fostering journey while Diana was in high school, and although she didn’t realize it at the time, this experience would help shape her values and how she saw the world. She hopes to meet children youth and families experiencing foster care with compassion and holistic support so that they can all achieve their highest potential. |
