Democracy Camp

Ayline Ruelas

2022 Democracy Camp Berkeley Fellow
Class of 2022

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 the right path for her. She realized a common denominator with first generation-low-income students like herself, not having the ability to succeed at the same rate as other students. In effort to challenge these statistics, she began to advocate for herself in her journey through higher education....

Kassandra Ruiz

2023 Democracy Camp Berkeley Fellow
Class of 2024

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...

Esteban Salazar

2020 Democracy Camp Berkeley Fellow
Class of 2021

Maxwell Stern

2023 Democracy Camp Berkeley Fellow
Class of 2025

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 Attorney Justice Academy, and an internship with the City of Oakland Mayor’s office. At UC Berkeley, he is involved with BridgeBerkeley and the Berkeley Dialectic. Maxwell lives in a Berkeley student co-op.

Eshal Syeda Naqvi

Class of 2027
2025 Democracy Camp in DC

Eshal Syeda Naqvi (she/her)

Eshal Naqvi is a South Asian Muslim Immigrant and a dedicated student majoring in Political Science and Ethnic Studies. Born in Pakistan and raised in Southern California, Eshal’s experiences have fueled her unwavering commitment to civil rights, social justice, and advocacy for marginalized communities in the United States. Deeply passionate about addressing inequities in education, economic opportunities, and gender equity, Eshal cares to uplift and protect girls, ensuring their safety and empowering them to succeed.

As a...

Mansour Taleb-Ahmed

Class of 2024
2024 William K. (Sandy) Muir, Jr. Leadership Award
2024 Democracy Camp in DC

Mansour Taleb-Ahmed (he/him)

Mansour’s journey began in a high school where whispers of "far-fetched" threatened his Berkeley dream. Extraordinary challenges marked his undergraduate journey. Arriving in the US in January 2020, he faced the pandemic in absolute isolation, knowing no one in the country and having no access to see his family back home. In community college, he also questioned his place in academia as he didn’t see many people who looked like him in his classes. Yet, fueled by a desire for representation, he turned his ambition into action; as a Campus Ambassador and...

Dilraj Singh Thandi

Class of 2026
2025 Democracy Camp in DC

Dilraj Singh Thandi (he/him)

Dilraj Thandi is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in political science. Immigrating to the United States in 2022, Dilraj views the law as a powerful tool for driving meaningful change. Guided by this belief, he served as an immigration fellow, assisting with DACA applications to support undocumented youth. His commitment to public service deepened during his time at the Fresno District Attorney's Office, where he gained valuable experience in the legal field.
Dilraj sees the federal government as a vital...

Somdeng Danny Thongsy

2023 Democracy Camp Berkeley Fellow
Class of 2024

My name is Somdeng Danny Thongsy, I am a 1st-gen, low-income, transfer student from Laney College. I am also a system-impacted community leader. I’m majoring in Sociology in my senior year. I'm a part of many communities on campus, such as Underground Scholar, Nav Cal, DSP, HOPE Scholar, Peter E. Haas PSC Leader, and more.

I am currently a Faith Organizer for an interfaith community-based organization called the Interfaith Movement For Human Integrity.

For my studies in Sociology, I hope to bridge both my...

Rungsiri Upradit

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in DC

Rungsiri Upradit (she/her)

Rungsiri Upradit was born in Thailand and immigrated to the United States at the age of five. She is passionate about doing work that will uplift and empower the community in the areas of housing sustainability, the environment, and public health. She participated in the Public Policy & International Affairs (PPIA) Fellowship at the Goldman School of Public Policy, where she engaged in intensive coursework covering topics such as Inequality & Economics, Policy Analysis, Quantitative Methods, and Law. As a fellow, she had the...

Melanie Urbina

Class of 2025
2025 Democracy Camp in DC

Melanie Urbina (she/her)

Melanie Urbina is a fourth-year student from Los Angeles majoring in Global Studies with a concentration in global development and minoring in public policy and human rights. Her academic and professional experiences reflect her commitment to uplifting and empowering communities and advocating for systemic change. Her passion lies in working toward a world where everyone, regardless of background, has access to justice and equal opportunities. On campus, she is a co-founder and director of the Global Studies Student...