During this season of graduations, with the school year slowly expiring behind us as verdant summer warmly waits around the corner, UC Santa Cruz’s Mainstage production of “Just Like Us” offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of community and education, especially to vulnerable groups of people in this country. The American dream nowhere resonates more strongly than in the lives forged by children of immigrants. For families who made the journey to the United States in pursuit of bettering their lives, education is not just a privilege; it represents a way out of poverty for the next generation and a pathway for them to make valuable contributions to American culture. Karen Zacarías’ play follows the interweaving stories of four young Latina friends through this coming-of-age odyssey set in Denver.

Carolina Gonzalez Riaño has artfully directed a cast of vibrant student actors to tell a relevant story about a very complicated and controversial topic. It is a “documentary style” play, which makes it topical and interesting, but it is the sincere portrayal of the characters that makes it potent and moving. These talented young actors have folded raw emotion into the parts to create highly empathetic portrayals of young women with a passion for education and a will to succeed despite obstacles. Enhancing the documentary effect, Riaño chose to include photographs of the actors and their families in a series of six digital panels above the stage, showing them at various stages of their educational lives.Melanie Martinez plays the mathematically gifted, ranchera music-loving and romantic-beyond-her-years Marisela, with passion that projects from the stage to illuminate the entire auditorium with brilliant, warm feelings. Her performance alone creates an entire concert of contrasting tones. Marisela is a wild but intelligent character who wants all that life has to offer and can contribute value at the highest levels. Martinez infuses this role with energy and skill. It is a joy to follow her portraying Marisela’s story from colorful high school valedictorian to a future civil rights activist and lawyer.

Sophia Dague delivers an equally riveting performance portraying Yadira, a young woman who takes on a set of serious responsibilities early in life. While Marisela revels in what the nighttime has to offer, Yadira struggles to keep her sister safe day-to-day and simultaneously succeed in the rigors of college academic life. Dague’s Yadira comes across as one of those beautiful old souls we encounter from time to time. Forced into a challenging situation, Yadira does not back down and Dague’s spirit animates this quality of resilience. In Yadira’s case, necessity is the mother of responsibility as she adapts and invents new ways to stay strong for the people who need her most.

The play does an interesting job of framing the narrative by including Helen Thorpe, the journalist who wrote the book it adapts, as a character. In it, Thorpe, an Irish American Quaker immigrant, is the first lady of Denver who spends her time observing the lives of these four young women. Naomi Garrett does an admirable job of portraying the stylish reporter, providing a window into their worlds for the audience. Through Thorpe’s character, the play makes an argument that the missing voices in the shift of immigration being a regional conversation to a national topic of political importance, are those of the young people who had no choice in the matter. Raised in the United States, they are as American as their peers, but without the same access to representation. If the U.S. wants to be a true democracy, she argues, it must find a way to include them.

The rest of the cast does a great job fleshing out the world of the play, taking on multiple roles in this 10-person ensemble. Mekhi Moore demonstrates abundant charisma in his role as Ramiro, Marisela’s boyfriend who lives and works in Denver, and knows all the best spots for dancing. Ariana Almanza and Aracely Alva play Clara and Elissa, best friends to Marisela and Yadira. They grew up together as friends from the same neighborhood with the only difference being documentation of citizenship. It is a play about serious topics, but also about the joy of being young and this cast manages that contrast with gravity and grace.

UCSC’s Theater Arts program has succeeded in including and amplifying these marginalized voices. It is a thoughtful and emotionally moving triumph of dramatic arts and I can’t recommend this play highly enough. Go see it, think about it, imagine what it might feel like to be in their situation and rejoice for the cultural richness that UCSC brings to the area. “Just Like Us” continues Thursday through Sunday at the Mainstage. Visit eventbrite.com/cc/just-like-us-4228883 for details and tickets.