What drew you to the UEP program at Brown? 

I was drawn to UEP due to its clear focus on Urban communities. Being a product of urban schooling in Los Angeles and then attending Wellesley College, I was able to see the disparities across communities and became passionate about diving deeper into the way systems function in relation to resource allocation, exclusion, and social capital. I was also drawn to Brown’s UEP program due to its small cohort model. Going to a small liberal arts college was a fundamental part of my learning and I wanted to attend a program that was not only intentional about the group they put together but that allowed for personal relationships between professors and students. 

Where is your internship placement and what are you working on? 

I am interning with Progresso Latino in Central Falls, a city right near Providence. Progresso Latino is a service-based community organization with a mission to empower Rhode Island's Latino and Immigrant community to achieve socio-economic progress and self-sufficiency through their various educational programs, services, and workforce development. As their Community Mobilization and Policy Engagement intern, my role involves working alongside residents, youth, and staff to understand community priorities, translate research and policy into accessible information, and work with community members to provide the tools and reosurces they need to participate in community action. 

How did your undergraduate education and any previous work experience lead or motivate you to pursue a masters in urban education policy? 

My studies at Wellelsey played a big influence in me wanting to pursue a masters in Urban Education Policy. At Wellesley, many of my classes focused on multilingual learners, immigration, diverse communities, and critical theory which made me passionate about system level change and learning more about the ways we talk about and work with communities of color. I also had the opportunity to work in Boston Public Schools which made me eager to learn more about the inner workings of school governance, coalition building, and school-community partnerships. 

What is something you enjoy about living in Providence? 

I really enjoy how small yet new Providence feels. After living in Massachusetts for the past four years, Providence always felt very close, but I never really explored the city. Now that I live in Providence, I appreciate how easy it is to get around and I’ve enjoyed exploring the music scene and meeting new people! 

What excites you the most about your post-graduation plans? 

Honestly, I’m most excited about the uncertainty of it all. Right now I’m not sure if I’ll be moving back home to Los Angeles, staying in Providence, or moving to DC. While it’s a little scary not knowing what I’ll be doing, it’s exciting to know that I’ll be graduating with more professional experience and am eager to see how I enter the education landscape.