Democracy Camp Berkeley

Iris De Leon

Class of 2027
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Iris De Leon (he/him)

Iris De Leon is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley. As a first year with an intended political science major, she is determined to work for immigrant advocacy, and uplifting students’ voices. Being raised in Los Angeles, Iris has made it her prime objective to represent and give back to the community that had a strong impact on her upbringing. Coming from a low-income community and having experienced scarcity of educational resources has only motivated her to work towards advocacy of marginalized groups and building community.

Iris...

Harold Morales-Navas

Class of 2027
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Harold Morales-Navas (he/him)

As the child of immigrants from Central America, Harold Morales-Navas is a young and enthusiastic character who is currently a freshman at UC Berkeley. As a double major in media studies and sociology, Harold aims to pursue a difference in the world by participating in civil activism and public engagement. Harold has experience leading groups in debates and civil discourses, and has worked with organizations such as the ACLU and USC Anneberg.

Erkki Forster

Class of 2025
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Erkki Forster (he/him)

Erkki Forster was born in Berlin, raised in Zurich and Tokyo, and moved to Los Angeles as a teenager in 2016. It was during this transformative journey that his insatiable curiosity for global affairs and politics drove him to immerse himself in international media, sparking his love for journalism. In high school, he joined the student-run newspaper, The Samohi, which he eventually came to run as editor-in-chief. At UC Berkeley, Erkki majors in global studies and is currently the deputy editor of the opinion section at The Daily Californian...

Emily Chamale Hernandez

Class of 2026
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Emily Chamale Hernandez (she/her)

Born in Guatemala and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Emily's experiences have shaped her into a driven and passionate advocate for positive change. She is a first-generation student at UC Berkeley, pursuing a double major in political science and ethnic studies. Growing up in South LA, she observed the inadequate resources her community received. During her freshman year of high school, an Ethnic Studies class deepened Emily's connection with her history and identity, revealing a global cycle of enduring injustices and igniting a...

Elena Hsieh

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Elena Hsieh (she/her)

Elena Hsieh is a third year from San Diego studying English and conservation & resource studies, with a minor in politics, philosophy, and law. Within these spheres of interest, she is most passionate about environmental litigation, animal welfare, and ecological literature. She is driven to pursue the legal field as a means to substantiate change for those from less privileged backgrounds, as she witnesses the disproportionate impacts of climate change across all life forms, especially people divided by wealth disparities....

Cristal Amezcua

Class of 2025
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Cristal Amezcua (she/her)

Cristal Amezcua is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and is a first-generation, junior transfer student at UC Berkeley. She is majoring in political science with a minor in public policy. She was raised in the California Central Valley where she became passionate about immigrant rights, especially those unique to her community such as fieldworker rights. She began her interest in civic work when she initiated a farm laborer campaign Standing with Farm Workers in high school, in collaboration with the Visalia Unified School...

Annmarie Le

Class of 2025
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Annmarie Le (she/her)

Annmarie Le was raised in a Southern California immigrant household by hardworking and resilient parents who started from scratch. She has always been passionate about learning and hopes to research foreign policy and international affairs. This passion is rooted in her experience growing up in an immigrant household, which exposed her to the difficulties of the immigration process.

Transferring to UC Berkeley in fall of 2023, she aimed to maximize the resources available. With a Political Science degree and...

Angelica Castellon

Class of 2025
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Angelica Castellon (she/her)

As an undocumented individual, growing up I faced a lot of struggles. I came to this country as a child, not knowing the obstacles that being undocumented would create for my future. After high school, there were not many options for me as I faced a new life as a single, undocumented mom at the age of 17 years old. Since then, I worked various jobs in which I often saw people of my community get taken advantage of due to their undocumented status by the employers, as well as by our criminal and immigration systems. I often felt frustration...

Axel Contreras

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Axel Contreras (he/him)

Axel Contreras is a current student in UC Berkeley hoping to obtain a degree in political science. He is a first-generation transfer student from Union City, CA. Growing up as the son of immigrant parents, he has witnessed how effects of decisions from past administrations and legislative policies have negatively influenced one’s day to day life through fear of deportation and the tearing apart of families within his community. As a result, Axel hopes to serve as a platform for undocumented immigrants within his community and be the voice of the...

Anna Maria Diaz

Class of 2023
2024 Percy Undergraduate Grant
2023 Schaeffer Fellowship
2023 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Anna is passionate about serving underserved communities through the lens of the law and legal system. As a Berkeley Peter E. Haas Public Service Leader, she worked for Bay Area JusticeCorps, where she helps self-represented litigants navigate the legal system by providing legal information under the supervision of attorneys. Now, with the Public Service Center’s support she works an as Undergraduate Intern at Marin County Public Defender’s Office. She also is a Student Researcher at the Human Rights Center Investigations Lab at Berkeley Law. Currently, Anna also works as a Law Clerk at a...