Cal-in-Sacramento

Yecenia Perez

Class of 2025
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow

Yecenia Perez (She/her)

Yecenia is a first-generation student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Public Policy. Raised in a low-income family of six in Los Angeles, California, Yecenia’s lived experiences have fueled her passion for social justice and dismantling inequities in education and economic opportunity. Experiencing firsthand the lack of resources in public schools, she sought mentorship from nonprofits that helped her achieve her goal of becoming one of the first in her family to attend college and...

Leila Phillips

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Jo Freeman Women in Politics Fellow

Leila Phillips is a first-generation transfer student at UC Berkeley majoring in political science. She was raised by a single mother who emigrated from Mexico and encouraged Leila’s academic journey throughout her life. Leila constantly looks for opportunities to use her academic background to benefit her community. On campus, Leila interns as a Student Assistant for the Transfer Student Center, helping facilitate transition courses for incoming transfer students. Interning with the Transfer Student Center allows Leila to fulfill her passion of contributing to one of the communities...

Helen Pei Phun

Class of 2024
2024 Democracy Camp in DC
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento

Helen Phun is a junior from Sacramento, CA, majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Political Economy. She is a first-generation Chinese-Vietnamese immigrant from China and the first in her family to attend college. Growing up in an immigrant household in a low-income and diverse neighborhood guides her values and advocacy. Helen is interested in increasing equity within socio-economically disadvantaged communities. She is most passionate about issues of education, accessible transportation, increasing social welfare, and immigration.

Before transferring to Cal, Helen
...

Angelo Raga

Class of 2025
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Angelo Raga (he/him)

Angelo Raga is an aspiring public servant and a fourth-year student majoring in political science. Growing up with friends disadvantaged by race and class and surrounded by talk of such increasingly prominent political issues as a rising cost of living and political polarization, he has long been interested in public service as a way to fight these issues. To those ends, he has previously worked as an intern for the Asian Pacific American Public Affairs Association and the Placer County Public Defender's Office. He also...

Shakti Rajwani

Class of 2026
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento
2025 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow

Shakti Rajwani (He/him)

Shakti Rajwani is an international student from Singapore and a army veteran. After completing his military service as a section commander, where he led soldiers to ensure operational success, Shakti moved to Washington State to pursue his education. He enrolled at Green River College, where he became deeply involved in community service initiatives, such as the Tiny Homes Project, which built small homes for Seattle’s homeless population. Shakti also volunteered as an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor for...

Jose Gonzalez Ramirez

Class of 2022
2022 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow
Placement: Placement Location: Sacramento, California

Emely Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento
2024 Diversity & Entrepreneurship Fellow

Rooted in the city of San José, Emely draws strength from her experiences supporting her immigrant parents in navigating life in the United States. Her childhood was shaped by the challenges posed by her mother's severe work injury, pushing Emely into a role of care and support. From accompanying her mother to medical appointments to translating legal documents, Emely developed invaluable skills that fueled her commitment to community service and advocacy.

Guided by dedicated teachers and community leaders, Emely honed her abilities and emerged as a community
...

Jennifer Ramirez

Class of 2024
2024 Percy Undergraduate Grant
2023 Ken Burt Fellow
2023 Cal-in-Sacramento
2022 Washington Fellowship
2022 Democracy Camp in DC Student Co-Director
2022 Democracy Camp in DC
2022 Democracy Camp in Berkeley

Jennifer Ramirez is a first-generation Latina studying Economics and Public Policy at UC Berkeley from the Bay Area. Growing up in a mixed-status household, she experienced first-hand the hardships Latinx immigrant families faced, such as the struggle to assimilate, obtain basic needs, and become financially stable. The systematic barriers that limit the upward mobility of historically marginalized communities propelled her to become an advocate in her local community, and pursue a career in public service. After being selected to attend Harvard Kennedy...

Karla Katherine Vicencio Ramirez

Class of 2026
2025 Democracy Camp in DC
2024 Cal-in-Sacramento

Karla Katherine Vicencio Ramirez (she/her)

Hi, I’m Karla Vicencio-Ramirez. I'm a first generation, low-income, 3rd year at UC Berkeley. I am from San Bernardino, CA. I’m double majoring in Legal Studies and Sociology. I'm a part of many communities on campus, such as being an intern for the Chicanx/Latinx Student Development Center. I also am a co-facilitator of a support group on campus titled “MALCS” which stands for Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social. As a co-facilitator for MALCS I provide a safe environment for Latinx, Native American/Indigenous, Black...

Jasmin Herrera Ramos

Class of 2026
2025 Cal-in-Sacramento

Jasmin Herrera Ramos (She/Her)

Jasmin Herrera Ramos is a first-generation college student majoring in Legal Studies and Sociology. Raised in Santa Maria, California, by her hardworking parents, Jasmin's upbringing instilled in her a deep appreciation for education and dedication. As the oldest daughter, she has been an inspiration to her younger siblings.

Jasmin's involvement in programs like Future Leaders of America, EOP, and UCDC has reinforced her belief in the power of higher education. Witnessing her parents' tireless work in
...