Naz Balkam is a first-generation Ethiopian-American studying Political Science at UC Berkeley. As a life-long Oakland resident and the daughter of two working-class Ethiopian immigrants, she has seen the ways in which the government has both failed and succeeded in addressing the socio-economic issues impacting low-income communities and communities of color. Her upbringing has guided her towards a career in serving these communities. Throughout her time at UC Berkeley, she has worked with non-profits throughout the Bay Area and with local government officials dedicated to resolving...
Yessica Mox is a Political Science major from Riverside, CA. She comes from a low-income community and has lived experiences that have shaped the type of work she would like to do in the future. She hopes to work in the public service sector and would like to one day attend law school. In the past, she has interned for a local nonprofit, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant. She was part of the board of directors for Inside the Living Room, a student-led organization that helps students connect with internships at East Bay Sanctuary Covenant (EBSC). In...
Brianna Vasquez is a proud Mexican-Peruvian American from Rancho Cucamonga, CA, studying Legal Studies and English at UC Berkeley. Growing up in a bicultural household shaped her understanding of the challenges and strengths that come with navigating multiple identities. Her family's immigrant experience instilled in her a deep appreciation for resilience, hard work, and the power of community.
Her dual focus on Legal Studies and English reflects her belief that language and law are both powerful tools for advocacy and change. Her passion for...
Rebecca Banos Conde was born and raised in Inglewood, California as the daughter to an indigenous-Peruvian immigrant and single mother. She is a first-generation college student majoring in Political Economy with a minor in Public Policy. Throughout her upbringing, she’s experienced firsthand the resilience required to overcome legal support, healthcare, and education barriers. This has fostered and cemented Rebecca’s commitment to public service and connecting working-families to essential resources.
Rebecca is heavily involved with community organizations at the intersections of...
Shawn Canin is a first-generation student and immigrant from the Philippines. Raised by a single mother, he developed a deep sense of responsibility early in life while caring for his siblings and balancing school, work, and family needs as the eldest. These lived experiences shape the core of his work and ground his commitment to public service and policy.
At UC Berkeley, he was elected to serve as a Student Body Senator. His work includes community programming, resource navigation, and initiatives focused on equity and belonging. As a research apprentice for Dr. Jose Eos Trinidad...
Mia Verdin is a third year undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Urban Studies and Ethnic Studies. She was born and raised in the city of Santa Ana, California to immigrant parents from Mexico. As the first in her family to attend university, she is a proud first-generation student. She is passionate about exploring equity in housing, public transportation and education. In addition, she has led initiatives that promote civic engagement and education within her community; especially among other young people...
Lara Zangana is a first-generation undergraduate at UC Berkeley, double majoring in Society and Environment and Conservation and Resource Studies. As a Climate and Youth Engagement Fellow with UC Berkeley’s Student Environmental Resource Center, Lara contributed over four hundred hours of public service focused on immigration, housing, and environmental justice. In fall 2024, she also interned at the White House within the Biden Harris Administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.
This past summer, Lara served as an undergraduate researcher and Cal-in-Sacramento Fellow...
Jaden Nguyen is a third-year transfer student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Political Science. Raised in a Vietnamese immigrant family in the Inland Empire, his early interactions with government services shaped a commitment to building public services that are accessible, fair, and responsive to the communities they serve.
He currently serves as a Communications Intern in the Office of California Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, conducting research on higher education, equitable policy, international relations, and environmental protections that...
Utkarsh Dubey was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in Long Island, New York, and Dallas, Texas. Since childhood, he has been surrounded by South Asian immigrant communities, sparking his interest in immigration policy. His cross-cultural upbringing and engagement with diverse communities draw him towards the fields of law and governance.
Utkarsh is a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley, studying History and Public Policy. He is ardently interested in immigration policy and foreign relations, and has taken a range of courses to further his understanding of...
As the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants, Jasel discovered her passion for social justice advocacy at a young age. The generational struggle of racial injustice experienced by her mother, grandmother, and family extended beyond her own story, echoing the immigrant experience worldwide. Driven by her passion to help her community, she engaged in voter outreach and canvassing to amplify Latine representation and catalyzed educational policy reform, through the piloting of Ethnic Studies and restorative justice training in her district. Ultimately, these experiences inspired her to...
