Luis Calixto was born in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico and migrated to the United States with his family when he was 3 years old. He was raised in Richmond, CA and currently lives in Berkeley. Luis is a senior at the University of California Berkeley and is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in English.

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Luis’s interest in the law started in high school when he participated in a summer fellowship at UC Berkeley’s Law School. There, he was able to take introductory classes to constitutional law and practice his public speaking skills by participating in mock trials. The fellowship also gave him the opportunity to serve his hometown, placing him as an intern at Richmond’s City Hall. There Luis gained firsthand experience in local government and city planning. The fellowship alongside working at city hall, helped him hone his critical thinking skills and exposed him to the economic and systemic barriers that people face when they are looking for support and resources. Having developed the skills to comfortably speak to others about their rights and supplying resources, an interest in being a public defender arose. He hopes that this career path will help serve those who cannot afford or are often pushed away from seeking legal representation.

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As a Dream SF Fellow, Luis is working with Jubilee Immigration Advocates, a non profit that provides affordable legal services to marginalized and immigrant communities in the Bay Area.

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In his free time, Luis enjoys journaling, spending time with friends and family, and going to the movies to relax. He also enjoys playing video games and reading fiction novels.