KATHERINE CARRANZA BAHENA

Hometown: Bolingbrook, Illinois
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Major: Political Science and Global Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Melanie Stansbury

Katherine “Kat” was born and raised in California to working-class, immigrant parents from Guerrero, Mexico until she was 8 years old. Then, her family moved to Bolingbrook, Illinois, where she grew up in a vibrant, flourishing Mexican community in the suburbs of Chicago. Kat is a first-generation college student who understands the many barriers that Latino students face when applying for college. On her college campus, Kat has become involved in I-CAUSE (Illinois-Coalition Assisting Undocumented Students’ Education). This is where she was in charge of raising funds for scholarships and DACA renewals for undocumented/DACAmented students as well as help plan a student-led college tour event for Latino students from local schools. Kat also works as a legal assistant for the University YMCA New American Welcome Center, where she aids legal representatives on various immigration cases and conducts outreach to the local immigrant community.

Kat is currently a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign double majoring in Political Science and Global Studies with a focus on migration studies, as well as double minors in Legal Studies and Spanish. After graduation, Kat hopes to go to law school and pursue a career as an immigration lawyer.

As a CHCI Intern, Kat hopes to gain skills in leadership and knowledge of the legislative process, as well as learn more about U.S. immigration policy. She wants to use this experience to help other communities in the United States, including Latino and immigrant ones.