Christian Dieguez is a driven, first-generation student at UC Berkeley majoring in political science with a minor in public policy. Having been raised in Los Angeles, California, Christian has become passionate about addressing the historically discriminatory systems that shape the access to opportunities and resources for many individuals. He is particularly interested in creating immigration reform and keeping families together, strengthening our human rights, and investing in early education.
Lizzie Ong is a Filipino American student at UC Berkeley, majoring in History with an emphasis on Southeast Asia and a minor in Public Policy from the Goldman School of Public Policy. She was raised in Makati, Philippines where she volunteered at Philippine General Hospital. Her passions for equitable education opportunities and the U.S.-Philippine military and economic relations stem from these experiences.
In Spring 2020 at El Camino College, she was elected International Club President and Student Equity Advisory Council Member...
Ines Alvarado is a first-generation, formerly incarcerated student from East Los Angeles, now double-majoring in Linguistics and Legal Studies at UC Berkeley. Her academic journey reflects resilience, advocacy, and a deep commitment to equity. Before transferring to Berkeley, she served as a student leader at East Los Angeles College, where she held roles in the Associated Student Union and learned how to channel her lived experience into collective empowerment.
At Berkeley, Ines has continued that path as a Thriving Data Fellow...
Gwen Tam is first-generation, Chinese-Vietnamese transfer student at UC Berkeley majoring in political science. A Bay Area native, Gwen’s passion for politics and policy comes from watching their own community, family, and diaspora struggle to survive in a system that did not serve them to the best of its ability. Their love for public service is something that was ultimately shaped by a love for their people. They want to work in the intersection of communications and policy in a position that would allow them to grant their community a voice where they were...
Growing up in the Sacramento area, Alejandro experienced the effects of prolonged droughts and wildfires. In his neighborhood outdoor space, Alejandro noticed that the droughts had dried out the seasonal creek bed and the “green” outdoor area became more of a prolonged “yellow” space. In response, his family increasingly became concerned with limiting their resource consumption and electrifying their home. Although these experiences were not unique to him, Alejandro...
Looking back at my semester at Washington D. C., I feel very grateful that I had this wonderful opportunity. My first post may have been critical of my internship because of its misalignment with its mission (for context, please read my first blog), but after much thought and exploration, I am no longer critical, and I am ultimately very grateful that I had this opportunity.
For one of the essays I was assigned to write for the Race and Politics class, I was tasked with analyzing both our internship and our volunteer work, using the concepts...
Being in Washington, D.C. this spring and experiencing an administrative transition while interning at a federal agency was unlike anything I had anticipated. Although there were challenging moments, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C. It was one thing to study history and politics in the classroom or to follow it in the news, but being in the midst of it was a once in a lifetime experience. It wasn’t easy to prepare witnessing long-standing public servants and entire offices being dismissed. As the weeks went on, I often found myself in personal...
Spending a semester in Washington, D.C., was a defining chapter of my academic, professional and personal growth journey, one that has reshaped my aspirations for the future. From snowy days to the vibrant bloom of spring, my time in D.C. was truly an unforgettable experience. One of my favorite memories was experiencing the cherry blossoms in full bloom during peak season at the Spring festival near Capitol Hill.
As an intern at Crossroads Campaign Solutions, I had the unique opportunity to contribute directly to causes I care deeply about,...
