Since the NYSYLC does not have a president, take a look at our organizational chart to better understand who does what at the NYSYLC and who you can contact depending on what you may need.
BOARD MEMBERS
Name: Daniela
Title: Core Member / Board Member
Bio: Daniela was born in Quito, Ecuador, and came to the United States at the age of 14. She attended Newcomers High School, and later on obtained her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Baruch College in 2007. During college, she was president of the Ecuadorian Club and member of ALPFA. Her involvement at the NYSYLC started in 2008 when she joined as an active member, and gradually her commitment and interest for the pro-immigrant movement grew. Currently, Daniela is a member of the finance and media committees. Daniela is thankful to work with such an amazing community, and always gets surprised and inspired to see undocumented youth work passionately for their dreams. Daniela aspires to obtain her master’s degree in Public Policy to provide knowledge and bring the voices of immigrants and minority groups to the forefront. Her favorite activities include dancing and discovering new places in New York City. Daniela@nysylc.org
Name: Jose Luis Z.
Title: Co-Founder/Treasurer
Bio: Jose Luis helped co-found the NYSYLC. He has been committed to the YLC’s mission. He has participated in many action, such as the NY Trail Of Dreams, where he walked 250 miles from NY to DC to create awareness about the Dream Act. He also participated in the 10 day Hunger Strike (Starved for Dream) in front of Senator Schumer office where he, and many others, demanded that Senator Schumer move the Dream Act out of the immigration sub-committee. Currently Jose Luis helps out in the Leadership Development committee and handles some of the finances of the organization. He believes that the leadership of young can have a positive impact in the struggle for social change.JoseLuis@nysylc.org
Name: Marisol R.
Title: Co-Founder/Board Member
Bio: Marisol is a first year Dual Masters in Public Policy and Higher Education student at the University of Michigan. Born and raised in the South Bronx, she has nearly a decade of experience in youth organizing, alliance-building, and public policy campaign experience in immigration reform at the local and national level. Marisol previously worked as a Program Associate at the New World Foundation in New York managing the Phoenix Fund for Workers and Communities, which provides organizational and philanthropic support to grantee immigrant rights organizations in the US and Mexico. Marisol co-founded the NYSYLC and currently serves as a Board Member. For fun, Marisol enjoys running and eating good food!
Name: Sonia G.
Title: Board Member
Bio: Sonia Guinansaca is an activist and an undocumented poet from New York . She was born in Ecuador and raised in Harlem since the age of 5. Currently, Sonia is attending Hunter College where she is going for a double major in Africana Puerto Rican Latinos Studies, and Women & Gender Studies. She aspires to be a professor and an immigration attorney. In her spare time she dabbles in photography, painting,blogging, spoken word,and mentoring youth. As a Board Member of the NYSYLC, Sonia handles the public relations and arts aspect of the organization. Early this year she helped launch the Dreaming in Ink workshops, a creative writing workshop that helps undocumented youth cultivate their voice and reclaim their stories. Since then has co-founded the new NYSYLC’s Arts and Expression initiative and serves as the NY END Campaign coordinator. Sonia@nysylc.org
CORE MEMBERS
Name: Angy
Title: Core member
Bio: Angy is a Colombian born New York raised undocumented immigrant. She came at the age of three with her mother and is the oldest out of four siblings. From volunteering at a senior citizen home to spending her afternoons in a children’s after school center; Angy has always been involved in her community. While in high school she was president of the Aspira Club, it was during this time that she first heard about the Dream Act. Angy got involved with the NYSYLC in January 2009 and has been here ever since. She is your point person when it comes to the NYSYLC Website, Support Group, becoming a blogger or sharing your story with us and the Ask Angy advice column. Angy is a on and off student at John Jay College and a part time super hero trying to inspire and make a difference in someone’s life. Her favorite color is yellow and she loves anything with chocolate. If you want to get involved or feel alone and confused about your status don’t hesitate to Ask Angy or any other member in the NYSYLC. Angy@nysylc.org
Name: Cristopher
Title: Core Member/Co-Graphic Designer
Bio: Cristopher is a Bronx raised Lehman College student. Originally from Mexico, he was brought to the United States when he was two years old. After graduating High School, his path was unclear because of his immigration status. He set out for an education in Bronx Community College, and graduated in 2007. During his time in Bronx Community College, he gained strength and learned to embrace his undocumented status; that’s when he started to look for other students in a similar situation. He came across, and joined, the New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC). The leadership, advocacy and organizing skills he acquired during his summer fellowship aided him in successfully establishing the first DREAM Team in the CUNY system at Lehman College. Besides organizing and advocating for the DREAM Act, Cristopher also enjoys graphic design and is an avid cyclist. cris@nysylc.org
Name: Melissa Garcia Velez
Title: Core Member / Co-Coordinator for Leadership Development
Bio: Melissa is a native from Buga, Colombia and she moved to New York at the age of eight to reunite with her mother. She attended Richard R. Green High School of Teaching in which she spend her free time doing community service with New York Cares and mentoring students with College For Every Student, a program that aids students attend and graduate from college. She’s currently a sophomore at CUNY Lehman College in the Honors Program and is double-majoring in Social Work and Sociology. Melissa began her involvement with the NYSYLC in 2010 and is currently a core member and co-coordinator of the Leadership Development Committee. Currently, she is the President of the Lehman DREAM Team and a member of the Lehman President Service Corps. Melissa is a strong believer in social justice and equality and that is why she decided to take a stand to fight for immigrant rights and for the youth. Melissa is Undocumented, Unafraid and Unapologetic. During her free time, she’s usually in her room dancing and creating her own choreographies, as well as reading and/or writing. She LOVES the Fresh-Prince of Bel Aire and one of her favorite movie collections is Shrek. Melissa@nysylc.org
Name: Vishal
Title: Core Nominee/ Legislative Co-Coordinator
Bio: Vishal started work for the NYSYLC in late 2011, when he joined the campaign for the New York DREAM Act. In a few short months, he was nominated to CORE and now serves as the Co-Coordinator of the Advocacy Committee at the NYSYLC. Currently, Vishal focuses on advocating for the New York DREAM Act, a bill which aims to provide financial aid to undocumented students in New York. vishal@nysylc.org
STAFF
Name: Jacki C.
Title: Co-Founder/Youth Services Coordinator
Bio: She is a New Yorker born in Mexico. She holds a degree in Education from the City College of New York. The year 2007 marked the beginning of her journey with immigrant youth, planning one of the first mock graduations in DC. She is the YLC database manager, so make sure you read our email blasts and don’t spam us! She also coordinates the Mentoring Program, launched at the beginning of 2011. She likes to support and foster youth’s dreams, their education and their leadership development. She strongly believes that everyone is a leader with the potential to become an agent of change in their communities. She is the Membership coordinator, so if you would like to join the YLC and become a member she is the person to contact, at jaqueline@nysylc.org. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, reading and walking in the park while eating ice cream.
Name: Martin Lopez-Santoyo
Title: Youth Organizer
Bio: Martin was born in Southern California to Mexican undocumented immigrant parents. He moved to New York City in 2005 to attend college. His first experience organizing around immigrant rights issues was when the Sensenbrenner Bill (HR. 4437), which sought to criminalize undocumented immigrants and their families, came up in Congress. He helped found Lucha, a student group at Columbia University which deals with issues that affect working class people – lack of access to education, health care reform, wage disparity, exploitation and sexual harassment in the work place. He is currently the Youth Organizer for the New York State Youth Leadership Council. Martin@nysylc.org
Name: Norma Juarez
Title: Development Associate
Bio: Norma was born in Harlem, NY from loving undocumented parents that came to the US from Mexico. Her family resettled and she was raised in Staten Island, NY. Before joining the YLC, Norma worked as a member of Eye Openers Youth Against Violence for 3 years. The group worked to build a community amongst youth of different backgrounds in order to take positive actions and open the dialogue about the violence that was happening in Port Richmond. Norma is currently a student at The New School. At the YLC, she is a member of the Advocacy and Support Group Committee. On her spare time, Norma enjoys supporting the arts, reading and learning something new everyday. Norma@nysylc.org
Name: Rodolfo D.
Title: Finance Administor
Bio: Born and raised in Mexico, Rodolfo came to the United States at the age of 12. Rodolfo found the transition into the United States to be easy, but difficult when it came to making friends and learning the language. He graduated from Baruch College from the School of Business, Zickin. When he joined the NYSYLC 5 years ago he started out as an active member and years later, he became actively involved with the Media and Outreach committee by helping design flyers. His passion for equality and finance is what keeps him actively involved in the YLC. Rodolfo@nysylc.org
5 comments
Janet Perez says:
August 30, 2011 at 11:15 pm (UTC -5)
OMG. It was a handful to read but worth it. I must say it's very nice to finally know some background info on all the amazing core members at the YLC. I have to say you guys are incredible. All the work and effort put into this organization is just something else. I've become a member over the summer and already I’ve seen so many amazing things take place in such a short time. This is for all you undocumented youth out there: inspiration is right here. This is real life proof of what we can achieve and accomplish- even without papers.
Alvin Bradbury says:
October 25, 2011 at 12:50 am (UTC -5)
I love, young , gifted , and talented people doing big things:-)
Mario W says:
November 4, 2011 at 12:29 pm (UTC -5)
All of you, are seeds on an infertile garden, by the time being, because all your effort, this will become a garden full of talented youths. Keep staying on the ground you will reach the sky someday..!!! keep faith nothing else
Just a Student says:
November 27, 2011 at 12:02 am (UTC -5)
Hey guys, I am a student at Lehman College, and I have to say, I am really proud of the D.R.E.A.M. team and their cause. Keep fighting for all of those out there who are afraid, who hide, who do not have the courage to go out there and fight along side you guys. Keep fighting for those who are like me. I appreciate NYSYLC, and their cause.
- M.R.
ana says:
January 27, 2012 at 3:26 am (UTC -5)
hi i would like to join the dream act and do something but i don't know how!!!!!