Jose Hernandez of Salinas, Hearst Scholar

To say that José Hernández is having a fabulous year is an understatement. First, he gets selected to go to Harvard and represent Salinas for the launch of Lady Gaga's Born This Way foundation.

Now he gets selected as one of the 23 scholars in the California State University system.

Way to go, José!

"I'm really excited and really happy for being a nominee for this scholarship," José told me in a message.

José, a junior at Cal State Monterey Bay, works as a youth assistant at the Salinas Public Library and is getting a degree in health and human services. And is riding on cloud 9!


For more on the announcement, click here.

Lady Gaga: every person matters

Thanks to Jose Hernandez from East Salinas, a piece of everyone of us was present for the launch of Lady Gaga's Born this Way Foundation last week in Harvard. So when I encountered this podcast about the event, featuring Oprah Winfrey, I had to listen.

This is how celebrity should be used: both women are trying to use their notoriety to promote worthy causes, and Gaga's cause is particularly noteworthy. Every person matters. Be kind to one another. It's not an anti-bullying message, she told Winfrey, because she also cares about the bullies. It's about caring for people. I hope this message of kindness spreads far and wide.

Here's Oprah's message.

Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" Foundation is officially launching today

and José Hernández from Salinas is representing Monterey County at the Harvard launch!

Eighteen youth leaders selected from communities across California took part of the celebration. The Born This Way Foundation aims at empowering youth to be leaders and advocates in their communities.

Born This Way will try to explore the best ways to reach youth and create a new culture of kindness, bravery, acceptance and empowerment. BTWF, a non-profit charitable organization, will address issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development through research, education and advocacy.

During the launch, California youth will take part in training to learn how to advance social change through digital and social media advocacy, and will be posting multimedia content live throughout the day of the event. The youth also join in a Harvard-sponsored youth summit titled "Prevent Bullying, Create Caring Communities" involving more than a hundred young people from Boston and other communities. California youth also will tour the Harvard University campus.

If you want to get to know more about the California delegation, click here. Jose is not featured, but maybe his video can be added later??????