Catherine (she/her/ella) was born in Hidalgo, Mexico where she spent the first three years of her life. She then immigrated to the Bay Area with her mom and sister so they could reunite with her dad after a year apart. Growing up in a predominantly Latine community allowed her to stay connected to her roots. Being a first-generation college student and the eldest of her siblings was a challenge, but it taught Catherine resilience and strength.
After graduating high school, Catherine studied criminal justice at Foothill College while balancing both work and her personal life. Very early on, she discovered that going to school and working full-time was not manageable, forcing her to pause her studies. While working in the food service industry, Catherine discovered her passion for connecting with people through small talk, which piqued her interest in learning about the way people communicate and why. Losing her job to the COVID-19 pandemic led her to go back to school, only this time with a new passion of studying communications.
Catherine’s path towards authenticity was quite the journey, but it led her to where she is today. Having a strong support system made up of her wife and family encouraged Catherine to embrace her queer identity and to pursue her educational goals with renewed purpose. Catherine graduated from City College with Honors and her AA-T in Communication Studies. She will continue her education at San Francisco State University, where she will pursue a Bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts.
Catherine is placed at Oasis Legal Services for the DreamSF Fellowship. This opportunity aligns with Catherine’s goal of supporting the immigrant, Latine, and Queer communities. At Oasis, Catherine will be supporting clients through immigrant legal support as well as a sense of belonging and community. This goal has been a part of her for a very long time, especially growing up with similar circumstances herself. Catherine enjoys cooking, baking, trying new restaurants, and decompressing by binge watching tv shows and movies.
