Paola was born and raised in El Salvador and immigrated to the Bay Area at 14 with her two younger siblings and her mother. Her experience navigating a new country, adapting to a new environment, and facing the challenges that came with immigration shaped her passion for supporting immigrant communities and advocating for people experiencing similar barriers. These experiences inspired her to pursue sociology and community organizing as a way to connect with and support her community.
After high school, Paola began her higher education at Berkeley City College, where she earned an Associate of Arts in Sociology and worked at the Undocumented Student Resource Center. There, she supported undocumented students by connecting them with resources. She later transferred to the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned her bachelor’s in Sociology. She also worked with El Centro, supporting Latine transfer students and helping organize programs and events for the campus community.
Building on her personal experiences and community based work, Paola hopes to build a career at the intersection of immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and direct community support.
For her DreamSF Fellowship placement, she is excited to continue this work through with the LGBT Asylum Project, where she will work alongside LGBT asylum seekers and contribute to creating a more supportive and accessible path for individuals seeking safety and protection in the United States
Outside of work, Paola enjoys thrifting, taking yoga classes, watching TV, and hanging out with her best friend
