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All of us at the Goldhirsh Foundation and LA2050 congratulate the graduates of the Class of 2026** and their families on this important milestone.

To celebrate the occasion, we’re sharing a new installment of what’s become a LA2050 blog and social media tradition: a run-down of some of our favorite recent commencement speeches from colleges and universities in Los Angeles.

This year, we’ve selected tennis and equality legends Venus Williams and Billie Jean King, California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, 

creators the Duffer Brothers, and USC football player Kash Amos. Read more and find their respective remarks below.

On May 9th, tennis legend, entrepreneur, and global advocate for gender equality Venus Williams addressed the graduating class at LMU. Returning to her roots just down the street from where she grew up in Compton, Williams delivered a real, unfiltered masterclass she called “Winning 101.” Drawing from the heavy prices paid through both historic wins and heartbreaking losses on the court, she challenged graduates to actively write down their goals, master the art of mental visualization, and boldly reach out for what they want. Williams reframed the fear of making mistakes, encouraging the Class of 2026 to view setbacks not as dead ends, but as essential fuel for the future. "Failure is not failure, it's input. It's information. It's data," Williams told the crowd, "champions adjust."

Watch Venus Williams’s full address below to hear her ‘Winning 101’ for turning setbacks into strategy.

Venus Williams Addresses the 2026 LMU Undergraduate Commencement

On May 17, California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu delivered the commencement address at Pomona College, emphasizing that debate and disagreement are the lifeblood of democracy. During his speech, Liu outlined four pillars of civic engagement: first, he encouraged graduates to vote, second, he urged them to seek out people who challenge their assumptions and to genuinely listen to different perspectives, third, he encouraged graduates to find their place in the public square and contribute to their communities. If you're entering medicine, who lacks access to care and if pursuing the arts, whose stories are not being told? Lastly, the Justice encouraged the Class of 2026 to practice good citizenship every day, reminding them that they possess the tools to lead in an uncertain future before leaving them with the powerful question, “Is the world ready for you?”

Watch the full commencement address below behind our civic responsibility, leadership.

2026 Pomona College Commencement Speech - Goodwin Liu

On May 18th, sports icon, activist, and advocate for equality Billie Jean King delivered the 2026 commencement speech at Cal State LA, marking a meaningful full-circle moment nearly 61 years after her own graduation journey began. Beyond her career as a tennis champion, King is widely recognized for her advocacy for gender equity, including her victory in the landmark “Battle of the Sexes” match and co-founding the Women’s Tennis Association. In parallel with this work, she has recently worked with incarcerated students at Cal State LA, celebrating their achievements in earning college degrees. In her address, King encouraged graduates to focus on their strengths, not internalize challenges, and lead with fearlessness, reminding them, “Yes, you can.”

Watch the full commencement address below to hear her reflections on equity, resilience, and opportunity.

On May 22, the Duffer Brothers – Matt and Ross – delivered Chapman University’s commencement speech, returning to the campus where their film careers began. In their remarks, they drew on the world of their hit series, 

, using its monsters as metaphors for real-life fears and challenges. They described the “Mimic,” a creature that disguises itself as what people most desire but actually leads to rejection and disappointment. They also introduced the “Willow Wisp,” which represents being misguided as one chooses the safe path in life instead. Finally, they discussed the “Elder Brain,” a creature symbolizing conformity, artificial intelligence, and the loss of individuality in a world that pressures people to fit in. However, the Duffer Brothers shared that despite these monsters, graduates should grab their own swords and “get out there and start slaying.”

Watch the full commencement address below to hear the full story behind the monsters and how they can be overcome.

Chapman University Commencement Ceremony 2026 with Matt and Ross Duffer

On May 22nd, communication graduate and USC football defensive lineman Kash Amos delivered a historic address as the university's 2026 student commencement speaker. Amos took the podium as the first student-athlete and the first Black man in USC history to be entrusted with the distinction. Leaning into vulnerability, he spoke candidly about pushing past imposter syndrome and late-night self-doubt, celebrating the collective journey of transfer students, first-generation graduates, and those who refused to quit when life outside the classroom got heavy. Amos challenged his peers to take bold risks in a fast-changing, AI-driven world and to measure their success by how many people they bring along with them. "I've been told I'll be a product of my environment," Amos told his cheering classmates, "but look at me now: a product of my decisions."

Watch the full address below to hear his story of doubt, drive, and defining success on his own terms.

USC Commencement 2026 | Student Speaker Kash Amos

More Favorite Speeches | From the LA2050 Archives

Jon M. Chu, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Dr. Bettina Love, Désirée Kiva Powell

 Conan O’Brien, Will Ferrell, Michelle Obama

Goldhirsh Foundation Social Impact and Research Fellow 

UCLA ‘26! Congratulations to our colleague! Brenda and Social Impact and Research Fellow Brooklyn Villavicencio researched and wrote this blog post.]

Our Favorite Los Angeles Commencement Speeches: 2026 Edition 

 have identified some common themes in the 

 to help applicants put their best foot forward for the Part 2 of this year’s application.

With the June 5th application deadline approaching, we’ve compiled some of these tips and tricks below, to help you craft the most compelling application for funding.

Have additional questions about this year’s Part 2 application? Our team is also available to answer additional questions during 

Office Hours every Tuesday at 1:00 PM PT.

Take a look at our eligibility screener to avoid surprises.

Be sure your organization meets all baseline eligibility requirements before starting your application. This year, organizations must have applied to Part 1 and received an invitation to apply to Part 2. Additionally, key criteria include attending an Information Session, operating within Los Angeles County, aligning with one of 

, and proposing an early-stage or innovative program, project, or initiative. You can review the screener in our 

To help organize answers and ensure clarity, we recommend preparing your responses in a separate word processor (e.g., Microsoft Word or Google Docs) using the questions from our 

 before starting the application in Submittable, the online platform hosting the grant application. Doing so will allow you to best outline answers, stay within character limits (remember: spaces are included!), take advantage of spell and grammar check software, and avoid any possible tech issues.

LA2050 is always looking for new ideas with potential to spark transformation in Los Angeles, and we believe that solving our region’s biggest challenges will require innovation. The most successful applications either pitch a new idea or present an existing program, project, or initiative that departs from business-as-usual – something that makes people say: “Wow! That’s a great idea!”

You want to write it so that someone who has never encountered your organization or the work that you do could read it and then explain it to someone else. Sometimes, applicants make the mistake of assuming that evaluators have prior knowledge or using jargon specific to their work. Make sure to present the full A to Z, don’t start at K.

It is often more impactful to share one or two stories rather than listing out all of the various functions of your organization. Some applicants prioritize showing the breadth of their work over the depth, leaving the evaluator without a clear sense of your impact. While lists might seem impressive, we recommend zooming in on a few tangible examples of your work.

Create a cohesive narrative that flows through the application.

The most successful applications read as one narrative, with smooth transitions from one question to another. We recommend that you identify one main theme, and craft responses that build on one another to reinforce that theme. Be sure to pay close attention to 

, which form the heart of the application.

Be clear about shared or collaborative work.

If you are partnering with another organization, be sure to explain how you will collaborate. Only include an organization as a “Collaborator” if you have a confirmed partnership and will be sharing the grant funds. Do not include informal or aspirational partners in the “Collaborator” section, but feel free to reference them in other areas of the application.

Be specific about your activities when you write the timeline. If you find yourself running out of characters on 

 is the perfect chance to provide details for your program, project, or initiative and how it will unfold over the grant period. This helps evaluators to understand exactly what you will do, and how you will do it.

Present a clear solution that connects your problem.

The best applications provide an in-depth explanation of the problem that is being addressed through the organization’s work. Be sure to describe the problem as it exists in our region, outside of you (

). Then, once you provide that background, present the program, project, or initiative you are requesting funding for (

) and highlight how it is the right solution.

Be intentional when selecting issue areas.

First, you’ll choose one primary issue area that best aligns with the intended impact of your application. Then, you’ll have the option to select multiple secondary issue areas to capture additional breadth. Your application will be evaluated across all of the issue areas you select – primary and secondary. While you can choose as many as you'd like, more isn't always better. To keep your application focused and compelling, we recommend selecting no more than four secondary issue areas. Not sure which ones are the best fit? Check out our 

With the name LA2050, it is no surprise that we are always thinking about the future of Los Angeles. It is crucial that you explain how your program, project, or initiative will create thriving in Los Angeles not just during the one-year grant period, but five, 10, and 20 years into the future.

Another thing that grant winners have in common: making a strong case for why their particular organization is in the best position to address their identified issue. Don’t be shy! Highlight what is unique about your organization, share your qualifications, and show off your successes to prove that you are the best candidate for funding.

Do not assume that evaluators have an intuitive sense of the importance or urgency of your work. Make sure to communicate why your program, project, or initiative needs to be funded now. This can be integrated throughout the application, starting with how you present the problem 

We recommend using as much detail as possible to give evaluators a clear picture of your work. Our winners often take advantage of the entire space, or close to the entire space, to answer the questions.

We hope that these tips and tricks are helpful to you as you complete your application.

Tips and Tricks to Writing a Successful LA2050 Grant Application

A street taco, after listening to live music in MacArthur Park or Walt Disney Concert Hall. A kale smoothie to celebrate a good hike around the Silver Lake Reservoir. A French dip sandwich, a Dodger Dog, or grandma’s tamales. A hefty cup of fruit drenched in tajín and chamoy, or some Jeni’s ice cream on a spring day at the beach. So many wonderful flavors in the LA food scene.

Our initiative, LA2050, a project of the Goldhirsh Foundation, collaborates annually with impactful Angelenos to commemorate the City of Los Angeles' birthday in September by sharing something small but meaningful that helps make this place what it is.

This year, we would be honored and humbled if you would join us as a contributor to the 2026 version of the "Happy Birthday, LA!" e-book and social media project, celebrating LA’s 245th year. 

Past "Happy Birthday, LA" e-books have had subjects such as, "The World is Here; Here is the World" with contributions from two dozen diplomats; "Visions For The Future," with perspectives from a cohort of young Angenenos, ages 14-24; and “Happy Birthday, City of Angels,” with notes from LA elected officials about their love for the city.

We've been making these birthday books since 2019, and you can explore them all 

We are asking a select group of chefs and food enthusiasts to answer the question:

"What food or dish most says, 'Los Angeles' to you -- and why?"

Participating in the campaign is a light lift! You will be asked to provide: 

The name and description of a dish that most says “LA” to you. This could include a dish that was a childhood favorite, from your own restaurant, from someone else’s restaurant, or otherwise. (We’re also happy to receive a recipe, if you want.)

An explanation of why you chose this dish. 

Attach a headshot or a picture of yourself that we have permission to use and can add next to your write-up.

In addition to your response being published in the 2026 Birthday Book, we plan to share the series across our communications channels, including but not limited to our @LA2050 social media accounts, website, and LA2050 Newsletter – with a total reach of more than 60,000. We would also be happy to coordinate cross-promotion with you, if desired and as appropriate.

If you’d like to be featured, please respond at your earliest convenience to let us know. Materials are due July 10th.

LA2050 Blog

What Food or Dish Most Says, 'Los Angeles,' To You -- And Why?