Willa Needham | June 18, 2024 

Graduates hugged their family members then adjusted their festive stoles, tassels and caps as they made their way to their seats at the UCLA Labor Studies 2025 commencement ceremony last Saturday. Once settled, the classmates beamed at their peers and professors with whom they shared an extraordinary educational journey and critical consciousness awakening. 

In the most formative period of their lives, the graduates experienced a global pandemic, racial reckoning, consequential national elections, the eruption of multiple international conflicts, student protest movements, natural disasters and now, threats to immigrant families. 

Some assume that coming of age in an era marked by so much uncertainty and disparity would create a youth culture of apathy and inaction. But the clear-eyed graduating UCLA Labor Studies class are bound together by their opposite inclination. 

“One of the inspiring things about your generation is that you’re extremely idealistic. Despite the daunting state of the world, you actually believe you can change it,” said Chris Zepeda-Millán, Labor Studies Chair, in his opening remarks to the graduating class. Zepeda-Millán praised the graduates for their resilience, bravery and ability to balance their academics, social and work lives with their unwavering activism. 

By choosing Labor Studies, one of the most rigorous, grounded, community engaged and justice-oriented programs at UCLA, the students committed themselves to examining the roots of inequality and identifying their unique role in the strategic movement for social change.

Commencement fell on Saturday, after a week of aggressive immigration raids in Los Angeles catalyzed historic national protests to defend immigrant rights and rebuke the presidential administration. Speakers at commencement addressed the moment head on. They recognized that social issues could not be separate from the ceremony–they were central to the students’ educational and personal journeys. Labor Studies faculty showed solidarity wearing stoles that read “Protect students / Stop deportations.” Staff also made accommodations that allowed family and friends attend the ceremony virtually.  

In her inspiring address to the graduating class, commencement speaker Lorena Gonzalez, President of the California Labor Federation, acknowledged the difficulty of fighting for change while facing political and personal animosity. Drawing from her decades of experience as a former state assembly member and current labor leader, Gonzalez gave graduates an urgent reminder and call to action as they embark on their next chapter:

“They cannot steal your joy. Fascists, people who hate–cannot steal our joy. During these times of protest, you can be inspired, or you can be demoralized. And you have to be inspired.” 

Gonzalez encouraged students to use commencement as an opportunity to fully appreciate their accomplishments and celebrate. “Don’t feel guilty about [celebrating],” she said. “Yes, there’s stuff going on in the streets, and, you know, I feel like I should be there too. That’s okay–there are other people. It’s okay to take a break and say, ‘I did something good’…Don’t let them steal your joy.”  

Following Gonzalez’ address, the spirit of celebration rang through the room as the audience welcomed student speakers Mia Tracy and Carolina Sarabia Garcia to the stage. First, Tracy emphasized the holistic value of her education on her path to personal empowerment:

“Labor Studies gave me more than academic knowledge, it gave me professors who truly cared, peers who understood the struggle and opportunities that validated my experience.” 

Sarabia Garcia echoed these sentiments, adding in her speech, “Labor Studies is more than policy or theory, it’s about dignity, community and family. For me, it’s always been about family.” A first-generation Latina student, Sarabia Garcia voiced that she found community and understanding in the Labor Studies program. 

Both speakers expressed that their labor studies education had broadened their worldview and prepared them to serve as compassionate leaders by illuminating the struggles and history of diverse working people. 

“When we take a step back from our own perspective and choose to see the bigger picture, we open the door to empathy, unity, and real change,” said Sarabia Garcia. “It starts with choosing understanding over judgment, and compassion over indifference.”

Kent Wong, a founder of the UCLA Labor Studies program, former UCLA Labor Center Director and current professor, delivered rousing closing remarks to the graduating class. Wong again acknowledged the extraordinary political, social and economic circumstances in which the graduates came of age and will now contend with as organizers, educators, communicators, policy makers and researchers.

“We celebrate what you have accomplished, but more importantly, we celebrate what you will accomplish in the years to come,” said Wong in closing. The room erupted with cheers and applause as the class of 2025 moved their tassels from the right side of their cap to the left.

The new graduates enjoyed a relaxed, jubilant courtyard reception immediately following the ceremony. Music, food and the company of their most cherished family, peers and mentors provided a welcome reprieve from the prior week of distressing news, final projects and exams. As paper cups clinked and camera shutters clicked, commencement speaker Gonzalez’ vision came to life. The joy on the graduates’ faces was as alive as their steadfast resolve to keep up the good fight in the years to come as UCLA Labor Studies alumni. 

In total, the interdepartmental program conferred 52 bachelor’s degrees and 52 academic minors to the UCLA Labor Studies class of 2025. 

UCLA Labor Studies is the first major of its kind at the University of California. The program is renowned for its commitment to engaged student learning in community worker settings, rigorous hands-on research and courses that explore topical labor and social justice issues.

Watch more: Check out our video reels featuring highlights from the commencement ceremony, including speeches from keynote speaker Lorena Gonzalez and student reflections on what’s next on our Instagram page @uclalaborsd