Yecenia Perez

Yecenia Perez (She/her)

Yecenia is a first-generation student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Public Policy. Raised in a low-income family of six in Los Angeles, California, Yecenia’s lived experiences have fueled her passion for social justice and dismantling inequities in education and economic opportunity. Experiencing firsthand the lack of resources in public schools, she sought mentorship from nonprofits that helped her achieve her goal of becoming one of the first in her family to attend college and inspired her to become an advocate for her community.

Yecenia has interned with organizations like United Way of Greater Los Angeles (UWGLA), where she co-led initiatives empowering youth in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) to engage in district governance and advocate for resources like college prep programs. She also served as a student leader and moderator for LAUSD candidate forums, amplifying youth voices in decisions affecting over 1,500 students. At Communities United for Restorative Justice (CURYJ), Yecenia facilitated restorative justice circles in Oakland schools and guided high school students in developing policy ideas addressing systemic inequities. As a Gala speaker for Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), she helped raise over $500,000 for college access programming.

Through the Cal-in-Sacramento Fellowship, Yecenia aims to expand her advocacy work and gain hands-on experience in public service while exploring how law and government intersect to advance justice and create equitable opportunities for communities of color. She aspires to pursue a career dedicated to dismantling oppressive systems and supporting underserved communities.