November 25, 2014

Inspired by the Foundation of Education

November 25, 2014/ LAW SCHOOL … Sí Se Puede

By Shelley Mixion, Former Fellow

The thing that inspired me most to join LAW SCHOOL…Sí Se Puede is the exponential power of education. It not only frees the educated, but it also arms the educated to help others. As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” The more people who have an education, the easier it is to change the world. For this reason, I truly believe that an education is the most valuable thing one can possess.

Because of this belief, when I heard about Judge Arguello’s Law School… Sí Se Puede, I felt compelled to be involved. While I have enjoyed many great mentoring experiences through various legal organizations, the mentees had already succeeded in becoming a lawyer. They had already graduated law school. The mentoring process therefore was directed mostly toward helping the young lawyer navigate the legal profession.

LAW SCHOOL… Sí Se Puede, on the other hand, starts the mentoring process much earlier in the student’s life, at a more crucial and determinative point—when they enter college. In view of the fact that many diversestudents lack the emotional, cultural, and/or financial support and resources to stay in college and graduate, LAW SCHOOL…Sí Se Puede can make a much more meaningful contribution to the community. It helps the student to obtain an education, rather than after she has already done so. Helping promising individuals recognize their own potential and gain the confidence needed to make it to graduation and beyond is akin to raising an army that can change the world.

“Sí, Se Puede” is a phrase born of farmworkers, who, under the leadership of the UFW, César Chávez, and Dolores Huerta, fought valiantly for equal protection under the law. As a result of the efforts of the UFW, “Sí, Se Puede” has become well known as a call that engenders hope and inspiration in those who face similar battles. We thank the UFW, whom we acknowledge to be the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark SI SE PUEDE, for granting us a limited license to use“Sí, Se Puede” in connection with our efforts to recruit, in Colorado, students of Hispanic or Latino descent for our law school pipeline program. For more information about the programs offered by the UFW, please see UFW’s webpage (www.ufw.org); UFW Foundation’s webpage (www.ufwfoundation.org); and UFWF’s immigration services webpage (www.sisepuede.org)