Marlene Avalos Mier (she/her/ella) and her service dog Zoe are graduating seniors at University of California Berkeley majoring in Public Health and Legal Studies. Born in Toluca, Mexico, and raised in Southern California, Marlene is a first-generation college student passionate about advocacy work for underrepresented communities.
Her dedication to immigrant and labor rights stems from her own lived experience navigating systems that often exclude undocumented and marginalized communities. Growing up in an immigrant household and facing barriers to education, healthcare, and employment, she witnessed firsthand how advocacy and collective action can change lives. These experiences fuel her commitment to ensuring others have access to the rights, resources, and representation they deserve.
Marlene has served as a College Corps Fellow in the climate justice cohort, mentored community college students through the Starting Point Mentorship Program, and an Undergraduate Research Fellow, with a focus on immigrant rights. Through the University of California Washington Program program, she interned at the National Disability Rights Network, contributing to disability policy and congressional outreach. Guided by the belief that change is built through the empowerment of those most impacted, she plans to pursue a JD and MPH to continue working at the intersection of law, health, and social equity.
For the DreamSF Fellowship, Marlene is placed at We Rise SF, a project of the Labor Center for Immigrant Justice at the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO. In this role, she will support efforts to strengthen protections for immigrant workers, assist with community outreach, and more.
In her free time, Marlene enjoys cooking, knitting, hiking, camping, and spending time near the water, her happy place.
