Many congratulations to Ruben Guzman for being honored tonight as a recipient of the $2,000 Dr. Harry Edwards Follow Your Bliss award, given for the seventh year now by the 49ers Foundation and Micron Foundation.

Mr. Guzman was chosen for his dedication to youth, as well as his passion for equity and inclusivity, and his ability to incorporate social justice into math and other curriculum.  He was one of about several Bay Area educators honored. In all, 39 have been honored over the last seven years.

Dr. Edwards, an activist and educator who has guided the 49ers for the past 40 years, is known for exposing racism in athletics, as well as his efforts to help all youth get a strong education.

“You’re unsung heroes,” Edwards told the audience. “You make your students the changemakers of tomorrow… Keep changing the world, one student at a time!”

Edwards said that educators are “almost invisible” as they “pick up the pieces after the COVID interruption,” and that the Follow Your Bliss award is meant to let all educators know “you are not invisible to us – we see you!”

An educator for eight years, Mr. Guzman was raised by a single mom in the Central Valley. He focuses on making learning relevant for his students and on incorporating events in the world today into his lessons. His 8th grade students currently are presenting projects on major themes of justice studied throughout the year.

Mr. Guzman said he plans to use the $2,000 he received tonight to give back to his students, to honor their art and to help them become involved in their community.

Here are some fun pictures from the evening!