Democracy Camp Berkeley

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...

Jennifer Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Percy Undergraduate Grant
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Washington Fellowship
2022 Democracy Camp in DC Student Co-Director
2022 Democracy Camp in DC
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Jennifer Ramirez is a first-generation Latina studying Economics and Public Policy at UC Berkeley from the Bay Area. Growing up in a mixed-status household, she experienced first-hand the hardships Latinx immigrant families faced, such as the struggle to assimilate, obtain basic needs, and become financially stable. The systematic barriers that limit the upward mobility of historically marginalized communities propelled her to become an advocate in her local community, and pursue a career in public service. After being selected to attend Harvard Kennedy...

Alma Castillo

Class of 2025
2024 Democracy Camp in DC
2023 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Alma Castillo is a first-generation, low-income, second-year student at UC Berkeley from South Central Los Angeles. At Cal, she is a part of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Disabled Students Program (DSP), and Biology Scholars Program (BSP). She also participates in the College Corps Fellowship and is the Public Relations co-chair of UC Berkeley’s Comunidad for Health Equity (CHE). She is majoring in Public Health because she wants to help people from low-income communities live healthier lives by connecting them to health resources. She also wants to...

Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Program Overview Students participate in a series of meetings with local and state leaders and gain exposure to different facets of public service: legislative paths, community organizations, local and state government, legal fields, research, and philanthropy. Students have opportunities to expand their network and form meaningful connections with each other and with public service professionals (many of whom are Cal alumni). The program provides professional development and skill-building workshops, such as a resume workshop, networking practice, and more. Participants go...

Aisha Elbgal

Class of 2025
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Aisha Elbgal is a first-generation Muslim Yemeni-American with an intended major in Social Welfare. She was born and raised in Oakland, California where she has witnessed a plethora of issues engulf her beloved city coupled with the lack of action at the hands of those in power. This sparked a passion in Aisha from a young age when she gave a speech at her middle school about the early rise of gentrification and displacement in what was once a beautiful and diverse Oakland. She is now working to address issues such as educational inequity, public health and safety, homelessness...

Marisa Buenrostro

Class of 2025
2023 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Marisa comes from a Mexican-American background- grounded in the intersections of gratitude, pride, and community. She is motivated by those around her to pursue her passion of working for the betterment of public service by giving back to the people that gave so much to her including the immigrant and refugee communities. This is reflected in her work with the Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services where she was able to provide basic needs support to refugees such as delivering healthy groceries and furnishing their housing accommodations.

Before transferring to UC Berkeley...

Natalie Gonzalez

Class of 2022
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley Student Director
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley
2021 Democracy Camp

Natalie Gonzalez is a first-generation undergraduate senior at UC Berkeley. Natalie is majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Human Rights. She is currently working on her senior thesis through the Legal Studies Honors Program and working as a research assistant for a Postdoc at Brown University. She is passionate about public service and issues regarding child welfare. She also believes deeply in the importance of using data to discover the truth behind systemic and structural problems within our institutions to more effectively advocate for change and develop sustainable solutions.

How to Apply to Democracy Camp

Application

The 2024 Democracy Camp application is due by Sunday, November 5 at 11:59pm.

The application includes:

Brief questionnaire One short answer section Two essay questions (250 words each) Resume Unofficial transcript(s) from all higher education institutions

Resume tips and sample resumes can be found on the Cal Career Center website.

NOTE: There is ONE application for both Democracy Camp in Berkeley and...

Democracy Camp in Berkeley Fellows & Alumni

Kate Inman

Class of 2023
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Kate Inman is a third-year transfer student studying Political Economy and Society & the Environment. As a local Bay Area native, she has grown up in a diverse community and found passion through service early on in her life. Motivated by strong women entrepreneurs in her family, she was encouraged to be an outspoken advocate for her peers as a Youth Commissioner for the City of Pleasanton. Going on to chair the commission, over her three terms Kate organized city events including annual Youth in Government day, mental health panel, and an anti-bullying...