Alumni Spotlight – Sal Yazhi Lozano
We are delighted to spotlight Sal, an LACC alumnus and current full-time bruin at UCLA, where he is passionately immersing himself in Native American Indian Studies while nurturing his artistic side with a minor in Painting.
At LACC, Sal earned his AA degree in Arts and Humanities Social & Behavioral Sciences. He believes attending LACC opened doors to education, job opportunities, and Break It to Make It, (BITMI), a unique program that assists formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into their communities and achieve long-term self-sufficiency by raising their educational aspirations, providing them with needed support services, and building their social capital. His BITMI counselor Mario made him feel very welcomed.
Sal openly acknowledges the challenges he confronted as an individual impacted by the system, including parole and interactions with correctional officers. However, the unlimited support and encouragement from LACC professors, faculty and staff empowered him to rise above these obstacles. Now, Sal is focused on his education and giving back, with the ultimate goal of returning to LACC as a professor. He aspires to earn his master’s and Ph.D. and is planning to enroll in the competitive Fulbright U.S Student Program. Participating in the Fulbright program will give Sal the opportunity to travel to South America, particularly Brazil, to research and understand the differences between indigenous peoples in various regions.
Sal is deeply engaged in community-building activities by serving as a peer counselor for the Retention of American Indians Now (RAIN) program within the UCLA community, providing comprehensive support services to all students on campus to address a wide variety of needs: academic, personal, social, cultural, and spiritual. He also demonstrates his value for unity in communities through his involvement in the American Indian Recruitment (AIR) program outside the UCLA community.
Moreover, Sal’s appreciation for his culture is not only reflected in academia but also through his art. From creating murals based on education to drawing inspiration from his Navajo roots, Sal’s art is inspired by happiness and the motivation to bring people together. His creative outlets include composing and singing songs in Navajo and playing Native American drums at powwows.
