A story to be heard
A speech by Pamela Cruz delivered to a crowd of 225 people at Enterprise for Youth’s annual dinner celebration, Heroes at Work on April 16th, 2025. One of two speakers, Pamela shared her personal journey and how Enterprise has impacted her life.
Pamela Cruz, Enterprise alumni and youth speaker at
Heroes at Work – April 16th, 2025
“Thanks to my family’s trials and tribulations, I was given a different set of life cards that would allow me to experience and accomplish things that they couldn’t and prayed that I would.”
Good evening everyone and thank you for coming to Enterprise for Youth’s annual Heroes at Work Gala. I’m super excited to be standing here with you all tonight as we continue to celebrate the inspiring future at work, the program behind it, and the kind souls that continuously support us to make it happen but before we do that allow me to introduce myself!
My name is Pamela Cruz and I’m a Program Assistant in the Communications department here at Enterprise.
I was born and raised here in San Francisco and take a lot of pride in that because it’s where my family has been able to build a better life for us. I come from a long line of immigrants from El Salvador and Nicaragua who didn’t have the same educational opportunities that I do now.
My family came to the states way before I was born, but didn’t gain their citizenship until after I was born when I was in elementary school.
So at an early age I recognized the limited opportunities, job insecurity and income disparities that came with this status but also I recognized all the hard work my family was putting into making sure I didn’t ever need to struggle too.
Thanks to my family's trials and tribulations, I was given a different set of life cards that would allow me to experience and accomplish things that they couldn't and prayed that I would. My family always believed that the root of their struggles was limited education so they did everything they could to support me through school and remind me of its importance.
Pamela Cruz speaking on stage at Heroes at Work 2025 at Terra Gallery in San Francisco, CA
“Never did I think this idea of a ‘quick buck’ would lead me to have so many unique experiences...”
I joined enterprise in 2020 and my experience was a little bit unique as it was entirely on zoom until 2022 due to the pandemic. One day, my mom saw a school newsletter with information about Enterprise for youth and really pushed for me to join.
I wasn't thrilled about having to sit through more lectures and complete more assignments outside of school but ultimately I saw it as a way to make money from the comfort of my own home and decided to do it. I'm thankful my mom pushed for it because I quickly realized enterprise for youth is more than lectures and assignments.
Never did I think this idea of a “quick buck” would lead me to have so many unique experiences and make long term connections on top of developing and improving so many skills for life beyond high school.
Although most of my experience with Enterprise has been mostly virtual, its impact has been real. Over the past, almost 5 years at enterprise I have completed two out of house internships, with UCSF Multitudes a dyslexia research project at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center and social media at another San francisco non-profit called Dragonspunk, led several cohorts of trainings as a 3 time summer program assistant, and was a part of the last Youth Council group where I conducted an equity report to ensure youth felt represented and included at Enterprise.
Through these experiences I have been able to find my voice and grow more confident in my professional and intrapersonal abilities.
Prior to joining Enterprise, I had no idea how to make a resume, was always terrified to speak in group settings whether it was on zoom or in person, and had no idea how to navigate the workforce. But now thanks to my family’s love and the support from my enterprise for youth family, I will be graduating from the University of San Francisco with a degree in advertising and two minors in public relations and marketing and will be looking to pursue a master’s degree in Marketing Intelligence at USF this fall.
Additionally, I have a great resume, feel prepared to take on the workforce and to continue breaking generational curses.
It really does take a village and I’m glad to have found my village in Enterprise for youth so thank you to my wonderful parents and to everyone here tonight. Your guys’ generosity, mentorship, and dedication will continue to positively change lives the ways it has changed mine. Thank you all for being a part of my village.
