Major(s): Public Health and Public Policy
Yvette Hernandez is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and was raised in El Monte in Southern California. She is a proud first-generation student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Public Health and Public Policy. Yvette is actively involved in learning about the policy and advocacy work associated with improving healthcare outcomes and increasing access to higher education.
Yvette has worked with the Southern California College Attainment Network as a Basic Needs Fellow, Ambassador, and Changemaker fellow. There, she’s advocated to seven legislators in California for the expansion of food stamp eligibility for college students and the need for affordable housing. Yvette also testified to the Senate Higher Education Committee in Sacramento in support of AB 288 to end Scholarship Displacement, which Governor Newsom signed into law this year. She’s created virtual educational campaigns on social media on the available resources for students like Cal Fresh, Basic Needs Centers, Food Pantries, and affordable housing options on the official @GotoCollegeCa Instagram and TikTok pages. In addition, she’s led advocacy efforts for Doubling the Pell Grant and increasing Cal Grant financial aid for students.
Yvette has worked for the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Kaiser Permanente, the Southern California College Attainment Network, the California Research Bureau at the State Library, the California Center for Civic Participation, and among other organizations focusing on education, basic needs insecurity, healthcare access, public health, public transportation, and more.