Vice President Kamala Harris receives an honorary diploma from Compton School Board President Micah Ali during Compton High School’s graduation ceremony.
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
Kamala Harris Surprises Compton High Grads at 2025 Ceremony
Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a surprise appearance at Compton High School’s graduation on June 5, joining more than 300 seniors and their families in a celebration held at the school’s new football stadium.
Although Harris did not deliver a speech, she stayed on stage throughout the ceremony. In a post on X, she said she was personally invited by graduating senior MyShay Causey, who met Harris while working at a restaurant where Harris and her husband were dining.
“She wrote a note to me and shared it with him, telling me about her incredible work in her community and her dream to work in education policy,” Harris wrote. “We spoke on the phone, and she invited me to attend Compton High School’s graduation. It was my honor to attend her ceremony today and celebrate the outstanding Class of 2025.”
Graduates took selfies with Harris and cheered her unexpected visit.
According to the district, 87% of Compton High seniors were accepted into community and four-year colleges, including UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and Cornell. The district called the moment “more than just a graduation — it’s a moment that will live on in Compton history.”
New CalAssist Fund Offers $105M Lifeline to Homeowners Hit by Fires, Floods
California is launching the CalAssist Mortgage Fund to deliver $105 million in mortgage relief to homeowners whose properties were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by recent natural disasters, including the Los Angeles County firestorms in January. The program opens for applications on June 12, offering grants of up to $20,000 per eligible household.
“Homeowners whose homes were destroyed in a recent fire, flood or other disaster deserve support in their recovery,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “The state is here to support. Today, California is extending this ongoing support to disaster victims in Los Angeles and beyond, by assisting with mortgage payments to relieve financial pressure and stress as families rebuild and recover.”
To qualify, the home must have been impacted by a disaster that received a State of Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration between January 2023 and January 2025, including events such as the Eaton Fire, Park Fire, and San Diego floods. The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) will manage the program, and funds will go directly to mortgage servicers. The grants do not need to be repaid.
The state is also pairing the fund with $25 million in housing counseling to help homeowners navigate recovery. “The CalAssist Mortgage Fund will provide more than $100 million in valuable support to help ease the financial pressure survivors face,” said Tomiquia Moss, Secretary of California’s Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
CalHFA Chief Deputy Director Rebecca Franklin emphasized, “Hard-working families across the state, from Altadena to Chico, deserve relief as they work to recover from these devastating events.”
Homeowners can find eligibility information and apply at CalAssistMortgageFund.org or call 800-501-0019 for assistance. Applications are free and grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis
