Diane Lue: The Business of Community: A New Perspective from Silicon Valley's Heart
Being a Programs Fellow at HFSV has shown me the incredible impact a dedicated team can make. Despite its size, the organization runs and works with numerous programs that address education disparities within the Latino community. Education inequity has always been an issue close to my heart, so witnessing and contributing to HFSV’s mission to break that cycle has been deeply meaningful. Through scholarships, events, and workshops focused on STEM, HFSV empowers Latino students to pursue higher education and careers in STEM, ultimately helping families to have better opportunities and economic stability.
I also got the chance to attend and support HFSV at their annual Hispanic Foundation Ball, which is their largest fundraiser of the year. Being able to participate in this event at the beginning of my internship gave me valuable insight into all that they do and the significant impact they have on their community. I had the opportunity to speak with many students and parents who have benefited from the programs HFSV offers. It was inspiring to see college students gain confidence as they reflected on how far they had come, from being featured in videos from a few years ago to proudly sharing where they were today. Seeing these students showed me the true impact of all the work that goes into that small team of 10 and how lucky I am to be a part of it.
As I continue my fellowship, I hope to learn even more about the community HFSV serves and the many initiatives it leads to uplift it. I also aim to help make the organization’s systems more efficient, enabling the team to do even more with the same energy and passion. I’m excited to keep learning, connecting, and contributing to an organization that’s making a lasting difference in people’s lives.