Elias Aguayo

CHCI Public Policy Fellow Presented by Meta 
Hometown: Stockton, California
School: California State University, Long Beach
Degree: B.A. in History
Placement: The Office of Congressman Paul Tonko

Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Eli (he/him) is the son of a Mexican-born Latino father and a Jewish-American Mother. Growing up in a diverse family and community, Eli learned to appreciate the richness of different cultures from an early age. Both sides of his family emphasized the value of education and the importance of hard work. 

Eli graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Political Science. Eli is a proud product of the California public school system and originally dedicated his college studies toward becoming a teacher. However, while working in a special needs classroom in a heavily Latino community, Eli witnessed firsthand the inequities in our public education system. This experience inspired him to change course and pursue a career in public policy. During his time at CSU Long Beach, Eli was active on campus. He served as the Chief Government Relations Officer for the Associated Students, President of ASI Lobby Corps, and represented his University in the Cal State Student Association. In these roles, Eli advocated to local, state, and federal policymakers on issues related to student affordability, environmental sustainability, and equity. As an undergraduate, Eli served as a Legislative Intern for California State Senator Ben Allen, where he gained hands-on policy experience providing support for the landmark SB 54: the toughest single-use plastic reduction measure in the nation. Eli is also passionate about increasing civic engagement among young people. During the 2022 Election cycle, Eli organized and moderated a Mayoral Candidate Forum for the City of Long Beach, giving students an opportunity to engage with their local candidates.

As a CHCI Public Policy Fellow, Eli hopes to learn from policy leaders in Washington D.C., while exploring how policy changes at the federal level could benefit and improve the Latino community.