Alejandro Alvarez

Growing up in the Sacramento area, Alejandro experienced the effects of prolonged droughts and wildfires. In his neighborhood outdoor space, Alejandro noticed that the droughts had dried out the seasonal creek bed and the “green” outdoor area became more of a prolonged “yellow” space. In response, his family increasingly became concerned with limiting their resource consumption and electrifying their home. Although these experiences were not unique to him, Alejandro became acutely aware at a young age that how we managed and governed our resources negatively impacted the climate. At Cal, Alejandro is studying Political Science and History, with a minor in Conservation and Resource Studies. Academically, he is interested in humans’ interactions with their natural environment over time and how society can become more sustainable now. For his career interests, Alejandro plans to work at the intersection of sustainability and law—with a focus on helping communities practice sustainability. In the summer of 2021, he was a California Climate Action Corps fellow working with the NorCal Resilience Network, an organization dedicated to promoting community resilience spaces. During the summer of 2022, Alejandro worked with The Chandra Law Firm, a firm based in Cleveland, Ohio, helping prospective clients with civil rights violation claims. With the support of the Robert T. Matsui Center, Alejandro is working for Congresswoman Matsui’s office while enrolled in the UCDC program. Through Representative Matsui’s involvement in climate policy, he hopes to learn more about environmental law and to support a just transition to a green economy