In partnership with UCLA Labor & UCLA Dream Resource Center, we host Dream Fellows during the summer. Each year, the UCLA Labor Center & UCLA Dream Resource Center hosts the Dream Summer, which is a fellowship program that seeks to empower #immigrant youth to become the next generation of social justice leaders, create safe and healing spaces for immigrant youth, and promote an intersectional, cross-racial, and multi-generational approach to social justice. Participants are placed in social justice organizations for 10 weeks and work closely with their host organization to incorporate and strengthen the inclusion of #undocumented immigrant issues in conjunction with the organization’s social justice work. Dream Summer participants receive a $7,000 leadership award.
They worked closely with us on campaigns like #Food4All, #Out4mentalhealth ,increasing our disability justice access protocols, table at TGI resource fairs, draft newsletters and social media content, create resource guides and rapid response around #ReproductiveJustice, and helping promote #COVID19 resources to our TGNC communities by mantaining our in house TGI Community Resource Guide.
DREAM FELLOWS 2023:
Paulina Gutierrez (she/they): "I am beyond excited to take part in the important work of Gender Justice LA. As a queer and non-binary Chicana of color, I hold this movement close to my heart. I am an upcoming sophomore at UC Davis where I am studying Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning with a minor in Chicana/o studies. As a UCLA Dream Summer Fellow at GJLA, my goal is to not only assist the wonderful team already working tirelessly for our mission but to bring more to the table. To me, this means realizing and advocating to put an end to the inequities and various issues that the TGI, specifically BIPOC, community experiences. This also means uplifting ourselves and each other through collective care and healing practices. I personally practice self-care through my myriad of hobbies which include hiking, reading, crocheting, and teaching myself how to play guitar!"
Gustavo Garcia Islas (he/him) Gustavo’s goal for the future is to work on improving management systems with the ultimate goal of preserving water and getting involved in water preservation initiatives to spread the message that a healthy environment is a human right. He has also done intersectionality work with Equality California relating to sustainability and queer socially vulnerable groups. He attends University of California (Riverside) for Environmental Engineering. Outside of school, he enjoys playing guitar for mariachi, cooking, and playing video games.
DREAM FELLOWS 2022:
Christian Espinoza (pronouns: he/him/they) is originally from Michoacan, Mexico. He transferred to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and completed his B.A. in Sociology and Computing. They also hold a Master's in Higher Education-Student Affairs from University of Redlands. They have participated in campus activism, sharing and advocating for resources in the Inland Empire, and performing college presentations at local high schools and community colleges for undocumented and LGBTQ students. Christian enjoys hiking, camping, cycling -- pretty much anything outdoors! When not outdoors, Christian is journaling, working, cooking (specializes in coconut curry), on FaceTime with friends, or sleeping. They hope to continue onto a Ph.D. in Education Policy in the near future.
Dafne Valenciano Coronado (she/they) is an upcoming sophomore at Dartmouth college and focus on social advocacy in their home city, Los Angeles. As a UCLA Dream Summer intern at GJLA they hope to create resources that will help make advocacy accessible to folks with disabilities and immigrants who might experience gender issues. Fun Fact: their favorite croc jibbitz that they own is the Powerpuff girl trio. What does gender justice mean to Dafne? It means focusing on equity for women, non-binary, and transgender folks that continue to be vulnerable communities affected by structural, institutional, and social issues. It means being able to choose to express yourself, regardless of what gender you are, without fear of being minimized. It means having more representation and access to care.
