Message from Our CEO, Ursulina Ramirez

As we step into 2025, I want to reflect on what 2024 meant for Summer Search—a year of being bold. Boldness requires courage. It means asking ourselves the hard, sometimes uncomfortable questions that challenge us to grow and push our work in new directions. It means stepping into the unknown with a willingness to embrace risk because we know that staying still is not an option for an organization that serves young people striving to break cycles of generational poverty.

This past year, we had the courage to ask ourselves: What is working? What is not working? Who do we want to be? How can we better show up to support our participants? These questions led us to a pivotal decision: to refine how we support our post-secondary students. Read more about Summer Search’s bold decision to refine how we support our post-secondary students in our 2024 Annual Report

As we embark on our 35th anniversary in 2025, we carry this boldness forward. For 35 years, Summer Search has been a beacon of support, mentorship, and hope for young people. Now, we have the courage to reimagine what the next 35 years will look like.

Let’s be bold together—confident that every decision we make is for the betterment of our participants. Let’s take risks that ensure Summer Search continues to be a transformative force for young people, while also being a place where our staff can thrive. I am endlessly grateful for this community—for your trust, your belief in our mission, and your willingness to walk alongside us as we continue to evolve.

Here’s to a courageous and inspiring 2025.
Ursulina Ramirez