Jade Jaimes Chavez (She/Her/Ella) is a first-generation UC Berkeley student double-majoring in ethnic studies and data science and proudly represents her Mexican-American heritage. Raised in an immigrant, farm-working family from Orange Cove, California, Jade has witnessed firsthand the challenges of violence, poverty, and oppression that affect her family and the broader rural community in their struggle for equitable access to education, healthcare, and essential quality-of-life resources. As the first in her family to attend a 4-year university, Jade actively engages in public service at UC Berkeley, contributing to her commitment to positive social change.
Since her first year at Cal, Jade has interned at the Chicanx Latinx Student Development Office and has been involved with the Public Service Center. Her involvement with the Public Service Center includes her contribution to the Alternative Breaks Program in Huron, California. In the program, she engaged in hands-on service-learning in local government related to farmworker rights and rural issues. Currently, she serves the City of Berkeley as a legislative aide in Vice Mayor Ben Bartlett's Office, a position she acquired through the Public Service Center Internship Program. Last year, Jade attended the 23rd annual Public Policy Leadership Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School. During the conference, she forged valuable connections with fellow passionate leaders from across the nation and explored creative ways to leverage data science to support qualitative analysis for equitable policymaking.
After graduation, Jade aims to obtain a master’s in public policy and drive equitable policy-making in the Central Valley by leveraging her expertise in data science to reshape technology's role in policy research. As a Cal-in-Sac Fellow, she seeks to enhance her commitment to public service and champion her community's needs.
Major(s): Ethnic Studies, Data Science