Cesar Cruz is the first Mexican immigrant male to attend Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education in the Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership. In addition to being a teacher for 19 years, this husband, father, and activist co-founded Oakland, CA’s Homies Empowerment Program to stop gang violence. Cesar’s dream is to utilize his time at Harvard University to find funding and support to one day launch an after-school center for Oakland youth in areas of high gang violence.