CHCI-Toyota Intern
Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
School: University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Major: Social Work
Placement: The Office of Rep. Filemon Vela
Caitlin Alaniz was born in McAllen, Texas and is a second-generation college student following her mother, who returned to complete her postsecondary education after raising three children. Caitlin’s parents encouraged her to be a lawyer and she soon realized that utilizing her voice would be her ticket to defending her fellow constituents.
Caitlin is a junior at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in legal studies. She is a Valley Alliance of Mentors and Opportunities for Scholarships (VAMOS) scholar and an active member of the Pre-Law Society. Caitlin works with donors who support the postsecondary education of fellow minority students in the Rio Grande Valley by participating in community outreach and volunteer work. Caitlin hopes to attend law school and work closely with the Innocence Project in addressing the injustices of inmates who fall through the cracks of our legal system.
As a CHCI Intern, Caitlin hopes to cultivate her passion for law while simultaneously improving her knowledge of the political system and judiciary process. She anticipates gaining valuable tools that will enrich her analytical and objective way of thinking to ensure she justly serves her Rio Grande Valley and its voiceless municipalities.