Adonis Randel Ortiz Mercado 

CHCI Public Policy Fellow

Presented by New York Life Insurance 

Hometown: Queens, New York 

School: James Madison University 

Degree: B.A. in Political Science, B.A. in International Affairs 

Placement: The Office of Representative Juan Vargas

Adonis Ortiz (he/him) is an Afro-Latino American from Queens, New York. From a young age, Adonis has been motivated to give back to his community and be a voice for black and brown communities nationwide. As a child of two immigrant parents and a first-generation college student, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Affairs at James Madison University (JMU). During his undergraduate career, Adonis was a JMU Democracy Fellow, Vice President of the Debate Team, and a participant in the Washington Semester Program, helping him hone his leadership, policymaking, and political advocacy skills.   

Prior to the fellowship, Adonis interned with the Hispanic Federation and Public Citizen, giving him first-hand experience in legal writing and political advocacy. His time at the Hispanic Federation exposed him to the pressing issues impacting Hispanic communities, such as immigration, the environment, health, and education. This experience motivated him to amplify the voices of Hispanic communities by understanding the intricacies of policymaking and helping push for policies that ensure the inclusion of underrepresented communities. His internship at Public Citizen further expanded his understanding of the need for electoral reform, particularly through his work in voting rights and election integrity advocacy. By writing congressional testimonies and op-eds advocating for a non-partisan approach to democratic reform, Adonis has gained insight into going beyond party lines to uplift democracy.    

As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Adonis hopes to learn from his peers and further understand what goes into effective policymaking. His overarching goal is to absorb and learn how to become a leader who prioritizes uplifting democratic values that work for the people. Adonis believes that because of the highly polarized time we live in, our country needs more leaders who can prioritize democracy before political agendas, and he firmly believes that this program can show him how to become that leader.