Democracy Camp in Berkeley

My name is Lesly Silva Rosales and I am a first generation Mexican American. I grew up in a low-income household and was instilled with the value of education and hard work from a young age. My immigrant parents always encouraged me to make a positive difference in people's lives and for that reason I want to work in a field where I can reduce the injustices imposed on marginalized communities like my own. Whether it's learning about how to gain citizenship, cast a voting ballot, or translating for fellow latinos, I spend my time working to ensure equitable opportunities for everyone...

My name is Kassandra Ruiz and I am a third year majoring in Media Studies. On campus, I am the Director of Finance for The Bearettes, a majorette style dance team, where I network with donors and fundraise for our team. I am also part of the Latino Business Student Association Internal Affairs committee where I assist with events, and build relationships and community with members.

Since a young age, I have always been interested in resource accessibility. Coming from a low-income, single parent, Nicaraguan household, I understood the importance of holding...

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 the ramifications of restricting the right of choice, she hopes to explore the intersections between public policy, reproductive healthcare, racial/ethnic background, class distinctions, and gender/sexual identity.

Given the social, financial, and linguistic barriers of her upbringing, Irene...

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 problems throughout its history. Seeing the misuse of government power and resources was personal, especially when business regulations constantly burdened my family’s shop, preventing it from thriving while larger chains enjoyed more economic freedom. Now, as an immigrant in the United States, I...