Fall 2020 - Spring 2021
Joseph Dilan AlvarezMy name is Joseph Álvarez Dilán. I was born and raised in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. In October 2017, when Hurricane Maria hit, I was left with little options to finish University, so I decided to move to Brooklyn, New York and attend the City University of New York. Currently, I am pursing a degree in Latinx and Latin American Studies at John Jay while attaining a certification in Legal Interpretation and Translation. Upon graduation, my goal is to study law and pursue post graduate studies in either International Relations. As a lawyer, I will specialize in Human Rights, International Law, and International Humanitarian Law within Latin America. In my free time I enjoy running, reading, and watching documentaries and films. Curious by nature, I am passionate about traveling, and love to learn about different cultures in order to inform my practices. I take every opportunity I get to see parts of the world previously unknown to me. Above all else, my family and community are the most important aspects of my life; I will work endlessly to secure their wellbeing. ¡Hacia la victoria siempre!
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Amber GonzalezHello everyone, my name is Amber Gonzalez. I’m a first generation American and college student. I was born and raised in the Bronx with proud Dominican roots. I’m an upper sophomore at John Jay majoring in Law & Society with the hopes of graduating with a certificate in Spanish Legal Translation and Interpretation. Upon graduation, I hope to attend law school and be the representation and voice for the neglected and silenced in our society. Growing up in a hardworking Dominican female dominated household, I quickly realized that the world I would later interact with wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I did and still do. At the age of 13, my mother left the Dominican Republic leaving her loved ones and memories to experience the “American Dream” which she would later give it a new meaning. Now my mother’s dream is for all her children to be happy and successful in whichever way we define it. Indirectly giving up her own dreams for the completion of our own, my mother is a trailblazer and embodies a true role model. At my placement site, in the Safe Passage Project, I hope to be at least half the person she is, keeping the lives of the people as priority |
Caitlin GarciaHola! My name is Caitlin Garcia, and I was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Staten Island, NY. My parents are both from Mexico and emigrated to New York in the 1980s, both working various kinds of jobs and wanting to accomplish the American Dream they came here for. After (many) years of saving and sacrifice, they were able to gain their residency in the United States. Growing up my family was fortunate enough to be able to visit family in Mexico and during those trips I would fall deeper in love with my parent’s homeland. My sister and I were also included in balie folklórico, a type of traditional dance that allowed me to be even further connected to my mother’s past as a dancer and to her roots in Mexico.
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Francis HernandezHello my name is Francis Hernandez. I am a First-generation college student and I am pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. I am still undecided and hopefully this experience will help me to figure out which career I should pursue. My immigration family history is long. My family’s journey began during the early 2000s when my sister who was only nineteen at the time traveled to the United States from the Dominican Republic by boat in a trip that lasted around 23 days.
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Monica HernandezMy name is Monica Hernandez, and I am a junior majoring in Latin American Studies and minoring in Political Science. I was born and raised in Queens, New York, with Mexican parents. I grew up in a mixed-status family. As a result, I have seen firsthand the struggles of undocumented immigrants. Growing up with immigrant parents fueled my interest in law, politics, and civic engagement. I aspire to become an attorney in the future and hope to help and support marginalized groups of people. In the future, I also hope to empower and provide resources to Latino youth. During my free time, I love binge-watching new tv shows, re-watching my favorite tv shows, watching movies, and listening to music. |
Vanessa Rangel Hello! Hola! My name is Vanessa Rangel and I am a Mexican American. A little bit of background information about myself is that I was born and raised in Brooklyn. Both of my parents come from small towns in Puebla, Mexico. I’ve been fortunate enough to go down to Mexico multiple times.
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Yohanna Toribio Welcome! My name is Yohanna Toribio Martinez, and I am an undergraduate at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. I am majoring in Latin American and Latinx Studies with a minor in Counseling. I was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Uptown, Manhattan. My family moved to the United States in 2007. In May 2022, I will be the first one to graduate from a four-year university.
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