Social justice champion Stewart Kwoh receives honorary doctorate at Cal State LA Commencement 2018

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California State University, Los Angeles

May 24, 2018, 09:07 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Social justice champion Stewart Kwoh received an honorary doctorate during the 2018 Commencement at California State University, Los Angeles.

Kwoh helped found Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA), the nation's largest Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander legal and civil rights organization. He serves as the organization's founding president and executive director.

Photo: Honorary doctorate recipient Stewart Kwoh delivered an inspiring keynote address at Commencement 2018. (Credit: Anibal Ortiz/Cal State LA)
Photo: Honorary doctorate recipient Stewart Kwoh delivered an inspiring keynote address at Commencement 2018. (Credit: Anibal Ortiz/Cal State LA)

Cal State LA and the California State University Board of Trustees conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws to Kwoh during an afternoon Commencement ceremony for the College of Natural and Social Sciences. He also delivered keynote remarks.

"Stewart Kwoh is an unwavering champion for educational equity, social justice and civic engagement," President William A. Covino said, moments before presenting Kwoh with a deep purple honorary doctoral hood. "He has dedicated his professional career to building multiethnic and multiracial coalitions and advocating on behalf of historically underrepresented and underserved communities."

Delivering an inspiring address, Kwoh recounted how Advancing Justice - LA successfully challenged racially discriminatory employment practices and unfair immigration laws. The organization has also advocated for stronger protections for low-wage workers, immigrants and victims of hate crimes.

Kwoh urged the graduating students to go into the world and fight for social justice, fulfilling Cal State LA's mission of engagement and service for the public good. He quoted Martin Luther King Jr.: "Every person must decide whether he or she will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

"So I ask you today, join our causes, keep hope alive, join us to lift up the spirit of immigrants," he added. "And help us fight for justice for all."             

California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 28,000 students and has more than 245,000 distinguished alumni.

Media contact:
Robert Lopez
Cal State LA
(323) 343-3044
[email protected]

SOURCE California State University, Los Angeles