I knew from a young age that understanding the complex systems behind the public sector would be necessary for building sustained transformative change. To better comprehend the public’s needs, I dedicated my early adult years to national service (AmeriCorps). I served two consecutive terms with Notre Dame Mission Volunteers and an additional with Public Allies Arizona. During my three years in public service, I provided both direct and indirect assistance to nonprofits and government agencies. My experiences have allowed me to see the importance of equitable research/data collection, planning/evaluation, and policy in creating community action plans. I’m particularly suited to contribute to the field of Public Administration due to my personal, professional, and educational experiences. I have navigated numerous systems without realizing it. As a first-generation Mexican American and queer woman, my identities inform much of my research. Working within immigration casework and policy has allowed me to understand how policies constructed from purely theory can alienate the communities they target. Specifically, how border communities bear in-large the weight of policies drafted by legislatures in Washington D.C. My passion is focused on public policy and advocacy within LGBTQ+ issues, Housing & Homelessness, and Immigration. I am interested in building issue and multiracial coalitions to advance affirmative legislation and be ready to push back against policies that restrict the hard-won civil rights of people of color, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ communities and creating programs that promote storytelling and identity exploration among agencies and organizations. I currently serve as a Border and Immigration Affairs Representative for the Office of U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema.