DAMARIS VAIL-MENCHO

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
School: Western Michigan University
Major: Political Science
Placement: The Office of Rep. Rashida Tlaib

Damaris is a first-generation Guatemalan American college student. As the first in her family to ever pursue higher education, she understands the importance of paving the way and providing those opportunities to future generations. Having a background in farmwork, she knows the meaning of hard work and advocacy. Farmworkers are one of the most oppressed and overlooked communities, many times because of the fear of their legal status they will not advocate for themselves. Damaris learned this firsthand while working her high school summers in the fields with her extended family. In the past, Damaris has worked closely with nonprofits to address this problem.

Damaris is a part of many Latino-based organizations such as the Latino Student Alliance, College Migrant Program, and TRIO programs. Damaris is a current junior at Western Michigan University majoring in Political Science and Public Administration. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Damaris hopes to further her education by attending law school where she will practice immigration law. Her ultimate goal is to help her community and advocate for the underrepresented.

As a CHCI Intern, Damaris hopes to strengthen her knowledge of the legislative process, as well as policy writing. She hopes to strengthen her writing to become a concise and effective writer, as well as a more comprehensive reader. With the experience she will gain from the CHCI program she hopes to give back to her farmwork community.