Education has always been important to Senator Flavio Bravo.


Bravo was the first in his family to graduate from college, and he holds a master’s degree in migration studies from USF.


What I learned from USF is that we are stronger when can create partnerships whether public, private, or with local elementary, high schools, or even at the university level.


I believe USF impacted me by giving me the tools, by giving me the preparation, and by even, giving me a network of friends and professors that I still lean on today for support as I consider different policy solutions that impact our district here in Arizona.


As a member of the Arizona state legislature, Bravo lives his USF values in his everyday work, helping to advocate for causes that improve the quality of life in his community.


By the time that I started the Master’s of Migration Studies program, I was living full-time at a migrant shelter in the East Bay in Fruitville, Oakland. It gave me a bigger picture of why I was in this program and what I wanted to work on afterwards.


And today being able to lead statewide legislation on occupational work licenses for immigrant youth, it makes me proud that I have been able to connect a lot of the same lessons that I learned about challenges that the immigrant community faces nationwide.


It’s not just about what you as a student will do while you’re at USF, but how you’re going to take everything you’ve learned and apply it afterwards.


There’s so many people I’m grateful for to have met during my time at the University of San Francisco. There were just a lot of people in my corner I didn’t even realize at the time that I still lean on today as I continue to do this work.


For his dedication to civic engagement and commitment to his community USF honors Flavio Bravo with the Public Service Award.