Brandon (he/him) was born in Tijuana, Mexico and moved to the United States with his mother and brothers around six years old, eventually settling in Lancaster California. From a young age, he noticed how limited resources are for undocumented immigrants, and how vulnerable that scarcity can leave them, whether through a lack of access to healthy and affordable food; to higher education programs; or legal protection at worksites or even within their own communities. Because of this, Brandon wants to tackle this resource gap head on and make sure that future generations can feel safe and secure enough to grow.
He continued his education at the University of California, Riverside where he majored in Political Science and joined a variety of clubs and internships in search of community, such as: gardening, mock trial, campus and local newspapers, law organizations, and even Dungeons and Dragons. Yet it wasn’t until he stopped searching and began working late-night shifts with his primarily Spanish-speaking team that he realized community can grow in the most unexpected places.
Through his firsthand experience working alongside immigrants and listening to their stories, Brandon understands the privilege he was granted and the determination he feels to help those who need it the most. He intends to return to school and gain the proper credentials to educate and mentor future generations. For now, he is looking forward to learning from his DreamSF Fellowship host organization, Refugee and Immigrant Transitions. At this placement, he will support newly immigrated students at San Francisco International High School and find resources to advance their professional and personal growth.
In his spare time, Brandon enjoys watching movies and reviewing them on his Letterboxd account. He is currently looking for a theatre in the bay area to match the expectations of those in Los Angeles. He also enjoys reading [mainly post-modern books], going to see Baseball games at Oracle Park or Hockey games at the SAP center with his partner or spending time with his three cats: Joan, Shiv and Kenny who he will lovely share pictures of if asked.
