Yahira Barreto-Paredes

Congressional Intern, Presented by Amazon
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
School: American University
Majors: Political Science; Legal Studies
Placement: Office of Sen. Elizabeth Warren

Yahira Barreto-Paredes is a proud and eldest dedicated daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants. Born and raised in Minnesota, Yahira grew up in a mixed-status family. She has focused on being a role model and creating a higher education pathway for her younger siblings. As a driven, first-generation college student, Yahira successfully completed an Associate Degree in Arts prior to graduating high school. Currently, Yahira is a double major studying Legal Studies and Political Science with a concentration in Policy at American University. Her goal is to become an in-house attorney for the Minnesota state government.

As a student at American University, Yahira has worked on uplifting Latine voices. Yahira was one of 10 women who chartered Kappa Delta Chi, a Latina-founded sorority. Currently, she is focusing on establishing more Latine-based organizations on American University’s campus. Outside of campus, Yahira remains involved in her community as the Resource Advisor to the Minnesota Youth in Government program. She is also an active member of COPAL (Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina) MN Youth Committee where she advocates, teaches, and empowers other Latine youth within her home state.

As Yahira begins her journey with CHCI, she hopes to gain a more in-depth knowledge about the federal government, create meaningful connections, and further develop her understanding of policy work. She is excited to bring back these skills to further develop her community. Yahira is proud to represent the Latine community on Capitol Hill.