Alondra Esquivel Garcia-California Poderosa Fellow

Alondra Esquivel Garcia is in her fourth and final year as an undergraduate student pursuing two BA’s in Political Science and Race & Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University. She currently holds two elected positions: Cal State Student Association Vice President of Systemwide Affairs and Vice President of Facilities and Services on the Associated Students Board of Directors at SF State. She is also a Student Ambassador for SF State and is an executive member of the iGNiTE college chapter at SF State which encourages young women in college and high school to run for office. She is passionate about higher education reform, addressing women’s issues, and advocating for the LatinX Community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Primary Issue: Economic Justice

Secondary Issue: Environmental Justice

Twitter Handle: @puppycolors

Facebook: Alondra Esquivel Garcia | Facebook

Instagram: @puppycolors

Linked-In:Alondra E. | LinkedIn

Email: aesquivel[at]poderlatinx.org

Michelle Estrada, California Poderosa Fellow

Born and raised in Los Angeles CA, Michelle Estrada is mexican-american first generation college student. After graduating from Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet high school in 2020, she became a freshman at San Francisco State University as a full time student. Currently, she is majoring in general biology at SFSU.

Primary Issue: Immigration justice 

Secondary Issue: Environmental Justice 

Twitter Handle: @mich3113_e

Email: mestrada[at]poderlatinx.org

Ahtziry Barrera Mera, Florida Poderosa Fellow

Ahtziry Barrera is a DACA recipient originally from Mexico. She graduated Valedictorian from Colonial High School in 2016 and went on to be a first generation 2020 college graduate from Rollins College were she double majored in Political Science & Business Management. Further, she is a small business owner and avid volunteer advocating for migrant rights and community empowerment. 

Recipient of Deming Award 2020 Rollins College Political Science Department academic achievement and commitment to public service award.

Recipient of I'll Be There Award presented by Central Florida Jobs with Justice.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @ahtziry_a

Facebook: Ahtziry Barrera | Facebook

Instagram: @aja.hendrix

Linked-In: Ahtziry Barrera | LinkedIn

Email: abarrera[at]poderlatinx.org

Karoll Marroni Morales, Florida Poderosa Fellow

Karoll Marroni was born in Panama, and moved to Florida at the age of 4. She graduated Saint Cloud High School in 2018, while also having been dual-enrolled at Valencia College for her junior and senior year. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s in Political Science at the University of Central Florida.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @karollmarr

Email: kmarroni[at]poderlatinx.org

Jessica Garcia, Georgia Poderosas Fellow

Jessica Garcia is a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in Georgia. She graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in 2019.  During her undergraduate career, she interned with the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia and the United Way of Greater Atlanta. She is a proud Hermana of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. 

Jessica currently works as an immigration paralegal in Atlanta. She is an advocate for immigrants and refugees. For three years, she has served as the Director of Marketing and Communications for The Leadership, Advancement, and Development of our Young Sisters (LADYS) Program based in Charlottesville, Virginia. The LADYS Program provides mentorship and support to young women of color between the ages of 14-18, with a focus on college and career preparation. Jessica is passionate about social justice, mentorship, and the arts.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Environmental Justice

Twitter Handle: @JessicaGarcia_7

Facebook: Jessica Garcia | Facebook

Instagram: @jess.garcia7

Linked-In: Jessica Garcia | LinkedIn

Email: jgarcia[at]poderlatinx.org

Leslie Palomino, Georgia Poderosas Fellow

Leslie Palomino is an alumna from Meadowcreek High School where she served as the President of Mock Trial and also a graduate from Maxwell High School of Technology in which she completed a law enforcement and criminal justice Program. During Leslie’s senior year of high school, she was an intern at The Salmon Firm LLC and Access to Law Foundation. Leslie is currently a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Georgia State University. Leslie served as a legislative aide for Representative Brenda Lopez Romero for the 2019-2020 legislative session. She worked for Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero campaign for Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. Leslie continues her work with attorney Rep. Brenda Lopez Romero at the Lopez Firm LLC. Leslie was born in Georgia and raised by two Peruvian immigrants. Leslie’s parents were once undocumented immigrants. She was inspired by her parents to pursue her career in the legal field because the process for her parents to receive their permanent residency took about 12 years and she realized that her parents were not the only family undergoing the unjust​ ​backlog​ of pending ​immigration​ cases.​ Leslie hopes to become an immigration attorney one day. She continues to work in legislative and community advocacy work because she focuses on strengthening fair representation for the latinx community. She also strives to engage the next generation of leaders who will represent the future.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @lesliempalomino

Facebook: Leslie Palomino | Facebook

Instagram: @llesliemichelle

Linked-In: Leslie Palomino | LinkedIn

Email: lpalomino[at]poderlatinx.org

Stephanie Salazar, Georgia Poderosas Fellow

Stephanie Salazar is a proud Colombian and Puerto Rican first generation fourth year student at Georgia State University. She is pursuing a Bachelors in Anthropology with a concentration in pre-med. Stephanie hopes to matriculate into the Fall 2022 DO class and work towards becoming an OB/GYN. She is actively involved as a volunteer Crisis Textline Counselor, Social Media director for the non-profit Georgia First Generation Foundation and in Georgia State’s Pre-Med Organization. She is driven as a Latina to increase the representation of Latinx in healthcare systems and spaces. Stephanie hopes to be an advocate and voice for underrepresented women of color and fight for equal access to good, affordable healthcare.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @stephh_salazarr

Facebook: Stephanie Salazar | Facebook

Instagram: @stephaniee.salazarr

Linked-In: Stephanie Salazar | LinkedIn

Email: ssalazar[at]poderlatinx.org

Belem Oseguera Duran, Illinois Poderosa Fellow

Belem Oseguera is a first-gen Latina immigrant student. She recently graduated from the Community College of DuPage with High Honors. She is a recipient of the College of DuPage Presidential Scholarship and the Bensenville Chamber of Commerce Scholarship. Belem is also a 2021 Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholar Semi-Finalist.

During her spare time, Belem volunteers with IMPACT Bensenville, a DuPage County Area Project sector. She currently works as a Parent Resource Coordinator for the Bensenville School District 2. As a PRC, Belem provides local low-income families with resources and other forms of aid to help them rise and succeed. 

As an immigrant, Belem has experienced first-hand the many obstacles one can face when trying to move up in this country. She hopes to create an ecosystem for the Latinx community to help each other rise up and speak up against the issues they face.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @BelemOseguera

Facebook: Belem Oseguera (facebook.com)

Instagram:@campanasdebelem_

Linked-In: Belem Oseguera | LinkedIn

Email: boseguera[at]poderlatinx.org

Lesly Zavala, Illinois Poderosas Fellow

Lesly Zavala is a first generation Mexican American college student pursuing a double major in Political Science and Gender Women Studies, with a minor in History. She is on the pre-law track with a plan to become an immigration lawyer in order to actively help the immigrant community. 

In highschool, Lesly helped create the first chapter of Students Organized Against Racism (S.O.A.R), after much pushback. She co-directed the clubs “Butterfly Project”  in 2017, that focused on humanizing the immigrant experience within the school's community. This project was then featured on The Chicago Tribune. 

Lesly has a devout passion for social justice, and shows it with her work. During the summer of 2020, she organized solidarity demonstrations within her suburb, and became an administrator of an activist bulletin group online. She now works for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Social Justice Initiative as a research assistance, where she contributes to upcoming movement projects. 

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @Lzavzz

Facebook: Lesly Zavala | Facebook

Instagram: @Lzavzz

Linked-In: N/A

Email: lzavala[at]poderlatinx.org

Jackie ​Cerón Hernández, North Carolina Poderosa Fellow

Born in Mexico as one of two children, Jacqueline (Jackie) ​Cerón Hernández migrated to the United States at the age of 11 with her family. 

A recipient of the Pogue Scholarship, Jackie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Policy and a minor in Hispanic Studies. While at Carolina, she was involved in various student organizations that worked with underrepresented high school and first-year college students. Additionally, she spent half a year in Washington, D.C working with the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative and in the Office of Congressman G. K. Butterfield.   

Upon graduation Jackie started working at the Emily Krzyzewski Center, a college access hub for the city of Durham, NC. Jackie first served as a College Readiness Counselor (CRC) for the Scholars to College program. As a CRC, Jackie provided holistic support to the high school cohort of 2021 in the areas of college planning, personal and academic skill development, leadership, and career exploration. In 2019, Jackie transitioned to the Game Plan: College program where she presently serves as a Postsecondary Access Advisor, in this role Jackie is working to create meaningful systemic change across Durham. Her role allows her to provide a myriad of college access support to Durham Public School (DPS) students -- especially those who have traditionally been marginalized by socio-economic and racial inequities. Jackie provides services to five (5) DPS schools in an effort to, not only increase Durham's college matriculation rate, but to also improve the community's perception and enthusiasm towards college.

Additionally, Jackie serves as a Notary Public for the state of North Carolina and the Vice Chair and founding member of the Durham Nativity School’s Young Professional Board. 

Jackie is thankful for her family's unconditional support and love, whom she owes her victories and achievements.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @jackienorec_

Facebook: Jackie Ceron | Facebook

Instagram: @jackienorec

Linked-In: Jackie Ceron Hernandez | LinkedIn

Email: jceron@poderlatinx.org

Evelyn Chavez Vigueras, North Carolina Poderosa Fellow

Born in Mexico, came to the United States at the age of seven. Has lived in Durham, NC for over 15 years. 

Currently, enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Finishing last semester in college and working towards two Bachelor's degrees. One of her majors is a BS in Recreation and Parks management with a concentration in Recreation Therapy. Second major is a BA in spanish. She is also currently completing her internship at Learning Services in Raleigh, NC. One of the things that she is enjoying the most is being able to use spanish to build rapport with the spanish speaking residents. 

Primary Issue:  Economic Justice

Secondary Issue: Immigration Justice

Twitter Handle: @chvz_evelyn

Facebook:  Evelyn Chavez Vigueras | Facebook

Instagram: @evelyn_chvz

Linked-In: Evelyn Chavez Vigueras | LinkedIn

Email: echavez[at]poderlatinx.org

Emily Morales, North Carolina Poderosa Fellow

Emily Morales is an alumni from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill working towards a Political Science major and Social and Economic Justice and Spanish minor. She is a proud first generation and Mexican student born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her immigrant working parents have inspired her to pursue a political career and dedicate her life to working for the Latinx people in her community. Since highschool, she has tutored spanish speaking students in the National Spanish Honors Society and now volunteers doing the same service for Habitat for Humanity’s tutoring group. Last summer, she was a mentee at Cisco Campus Career Link internship to develop professional skills in young women that she hopes she can educate younger generations of Latinas. In the 2020 elections, she helped with community engagement and outreach to help young voters come out to Poder NC’s locations.

Primary Issue: Economic Justice

Secondary Issue: Immigration Justice

Twitter Handle: @_Emily_ms

Facebook: Emily Morales | Facebook

Instagram: @__emily__m

Linked-In: Emily Morales | LinkedIn

Email: emorales@poderlatinx.org

Crystal Guevara-Alday, North Carolina Poderosa Fellow

Crystal Guevara-Alday is a first-generation student, born and raised in the beautiful mountains of Asheville, N.C.

Growing up as a witness to the affects harsh policies would have on her family and millions world-wide would lead her to gain considerable interest in public affairs and transformative justice. Further, her interests in local politics began to take root during secondary school and early university education, as she worked for a local nonprofit as an advocate for healthy food access and transit reform.

During this past electoral year, Crystal served as a canvasser for Mijente’s Fuera Trump campaign and The Ricky Hurtado Campaign, while phone-banking for PoderNC’s Poderosa and GOTV campaigns. Gathering progressive votes on the field through voter advocacy and outreach with respect to the Latinx community, her efforts were directed towards first-time voters, Latina voters, and rural voters in North Carolina. In her capacity as a Poderosas Fellow, she looks forward to continuing to build the Latina electorate in her city, through increased political participation and community organizing.   

Currently, she is a senior undergraduate student studying Political Science and International and Global Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with concentrations in Public Affairs and Human Rights. Her direct interests are supporting laws and actions that promote citizenship pathways for undocumented immigrants and the decriminalize of undocumented individuals. Crystal hopes to attend law school in the near future, as one direct means to do so, and remains hopeful for a brighter future. 

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @crystal_guev

Facebook: N/A

Instagram: @cguevaraalday

Linked-In: Crystal Guevara-Alday | LinkedIn

Email: cguevara[at]poderlatinx.org

Daniela, Washington DC Poderosas Fellow

Daniela is a Posse Foundation Scholar and a first-generation college student at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Daniela is pursuing a B.A in Political Science and Sociology minor. She is currently a member of the GW’s United Nations 360 program.

In the past, Daniela has been an honorable guest of the late Congressman John Lewis for the 2018 State of the Union. She has had her story read by Speaker Pelosi on the House Floor. She has previously interned at the Consulate General of Mexico in Atlanta through the Emory Rollins School of Public Health. She was the Political Affairs Chair for GW’s largest Latinx organization (Organization of Latino American Students).  She works part-time with CORE, an organization focused on providing access to free COVID-19 testing throughout the country. She has also worked with the New Georgia Project for the 2021 GA Senate elections. She is passionate about empowering and expanding the Latinx electorate.

Primary Issue: Immigration Justice

Secondary Issue: Economic Justice

Twitter Handle: @Daniela_o0

Facebook:  Daniela Ramirez | Facebook

Instagram: @Daniela.oo

Linked-In:Daniela Ramirez | LinkedIn

Email: dramirez@poderlatinx.org