Democracy Camp in Berkeley Fellows & Alumni

Irene Sheen is a first-year student, intending to major in political science. Born and raised in Southern California to an immigrant mother, Irene fostered her interest in social activism and civic engagement during her early youth. Feeling particularly passionate about reproductive justice and...Read more about Irene Sheen

My name is Luis David Suarez Cabrera, and I am a first-year pre-law Business Administration and Public Policy student at the University of California, Berkeley. I was born and raised in Ecuador until the age of 12. Ecuador is a beautiful country that has seen many social, economic, and political...Read more about Luis David Suarez

My hometown, South Central Los Angeles, faces institutional disparities impacting Black, Indigenous, People of color (BIPOC) communities. From an early age, I repeatedly witnessed challenges of living in a historically redlined community where many encounter hardships of criminalization, housing...Read more about Emely Abad Castillo

Iris De Leon (she/her)

Iris De Leon is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley. As a first year with an intended political science major, she is determined to work for immigrant advocacy, and uplifting students’ voices. Being raised in Los Angeles, Iris has made it her...Read more about Iris De Leon

Guadalupe Garcia Lopez (he/him) is a first-generation transfer student majoring in Political Science with a specialization in Empirical Analysis and Quantitative Methods, and minoring in Data Science. At UC Berkeley, he is a Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar and a Yardi Scholar, dedicated to...Read more about Guadalupe Garcia Lopez

Christopher Blu is a first-generation transfer student from San Jose, CA. He is majoring in Political Science with a specialization in American Politics and minoring in Political Economy. Adopted at the age of 1 and raised primarily by his grandmother, his experiences of being a low-income and...Read more about Christopher Blu Lopez

Emily Yazury Chamale Hernandez (she/her)

Born in Guatemala and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Emily's experiences have shaped her into a driven and passionate advocate for positive change. She is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a double major...Read more about Emily Chamale

Ella Jaravata is a third-year transfer student studying Political Science. From San Diego originally, she would like to pursue a public service career centered around advocating for environmental, labor and social justice policy. Her interest in politics was ignited in High School, creating a...Read more about Ella Jaravata

I grew up in Malawi, where education—especially for girls—is often seen as a privilege. My guardians valued education deeply, and my grandmother, despite being restricted by patriarchal traditions, attained the highest level of education available to her. This shaped my view of education as both...Read more about Shakira Khonje

Hi, I’m Natalia Rios (she/her/ella). I’m a first-gen, low-income, third-year transfer student from Las Positas Community College, majoring in Sociology at Cal. I’m passionate about public service, education reform, and business development, with a focus on equity and systemic change. After...Read more about Natalia Rios

Marisa comes from a Mexican-American background- grounded in the intersections of gratitude, pride, and community. She is motivated by those around her to pursue her passion of working for the betterment of public service by giving back to the people that gave so much to her including the...Read more about Marisa Buenrostro

Angie Castellon (she/her)

As an undocumented individual, growing up I faced a lot of struggles. I came to this country as a child, not knowing the obstacles that being undocumented would create for my future. After high school, there were not many options for me as I faced a...Read more about Angie Castellon

My name is Anahi Valverde, and I’m the proud daughter of undocumented immigrants who grew up in California’s Central Valley. My family’s sacrifices and resilience have shaped who I am and fueled my passion for advocating for immigrant rights and creating spaces where marginalized communities...Read more about Anahi Valverde

As a recipient of the Generation Change Scholarship, Thin Rati Oo (she/her) is an incoming first-generation senior at the University of California-Berkeley, majoring in Public Health with a minor in Public Policy and an Asian American Community Health Certificate. Next semester, Thin will be...Read more about Thin Rati Oo

As a first-generation student coming from a low-income background, it has always been a goal of mine to give back to the community that raised me and taught me the values that I hold dear today. Growing up as a child of Mexican and Honduran parents, my identity has shaped how I value and...Read more about Star Avila

Aisha Elbgal is a first-generation Muslim Yemeni-American with an intended major in Social Welfare. She was born and raised in Oakland, California where she has witnessed a plethora of issues engulf her beloved city coupled with the lack of action at the hands of those in power. This...Read more about Aisha Elbgal

Mina Boukhris (she/her)

My name is Mina Boukhris, and I am a second-year student at UC Berkeley majoring in legal studies with a minor in city planning. I am passionate about using city planning policy to create more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable built...Read more about Mina Boukhris

Tonya DeGruy (she/her)

Tonya DeGruy is a non-traditional transfer student at the University of California, Berkeley in her second semester. Tonya was raised in the city of Los Angeles with a single mom. Being a non-traditional student returning to...Read more about Tonya DeGruy

Angel Tlachi (they/them)

Angel Tlachi is majoring in political science and Spanish, and is on the Pre-Law track, with an interest in immigration reform. Born in Oakland, and raised in an immigrant household, Angel was aware of the extensive and difficult process...Read more about Angel Tlachi

Axel Contreras (he/him)

Axel Contreras is a current student in UC Berkeley hoping to obtain a degree in political science. He is a first-generation transfer student from Union City, CA. Growing up as the son of immigrant parents, he has witnessed how effects of decisions from...Read more about Axel Contreras

Elena Hsieh (she/her)

Elena Hsieh is a third year from San Diego studying English and conservation & resource studies, with a minor in politics, philosophy, and law. Within these spheres of interest, she is most passionate about environmental litigation...Read more about Elena Hsieh

Raised in a modest family of five, Juan Pablo Blanco is passionate about some of the most pressing issues confronting working-class Californians. As a senior studying political science at UC Berkeley, Juan Pablo is mental health advocate who recognizes the importance of empowering...Read more about Juan Pablo Blanco

Leticia Michelle Reyes Moreno (she/her)

My name is Leticia Michelle Reyes, and I am currently in my fourth year at Cal majoring in political science. I am a first-generation college student, come from a low-income background, and am the daughter of undocumented...Read more about Leticia Reyes

Sherwin Ho (he/him)

My name is Sherwin Ho. I’m a senior double majoring in molecular cell biology and psychology. Slightly disillusioned with the content of my majors, I’m looking to explore as many career paths as possible, with my current interests...Read more about Sherwin Ho

Angelica Aban is the oldest of three daughters from an immigrant family in Temecula, California. While at Berkeley, she became particularly interested in the role that the law, access to healthcare, and a high-quality education can play in expanding access and...Read more about Angelica Aban

Kate Inman is a third-year transfer student studying Political Economy and Society & the Environment. As a local Bay Area native, she has grown up in a diverse community and found passion through service early on in her life. Motivated by strong women...Read more about Kate Inman

Natalie Gonzalez is a first-generation undergraduate senior at UC Berkeley. Natalie is majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Human Rights. She is currently working on her senior thesis through the Legal Studies Honors Program and working as a research assistant for a Postdoc at Brown...Read more about Natalie Gonzalez

Peter Coe is a third-year undergraduate studying Political Science and Public Policy at UC Berkeley. He is currently rebuilding the UC Berkeley SunRise Movement Club to leverage membership to motivate local and national politicians to champion environmental policies. The Sunrise movement is a "...Read more about Peter Coe

Maxwell is a sophomore student at UC Berkeley studying Political Economy. He has been interested in public service since serving as student body president in 8th grade. His history of public service and government includes YMCA Youth and Government, Alameda County District...Read more about Maxwell Stern

Growing up moving homes often, Jessica maintained her education regardless of the distance. She saw the importance her parents’ placed on quality education, translating their practices into her own beliefs, further confirmed during her time at high school. Through high school, she...Read more about Jessica Josette Lin Tupas

Ayline Ruelas is a 22-year-old first generation college student. She grew up watching both her parents having multiple jobs to make ends meet. It wasn’t until she decided to take advantage of her education at community college despite feeling uncertain and lost whether education was...Read more about Ayline Ruelas