Maya Alvarez Castellanos

Hometown: Balch Springs, Texas

School: Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet

Maya Alvarez, the oldest daughter of three, moved from Los Angeles to Dallas at age nine. Inspired by her politically active mother, she became involved in local nonprofits and became co-president of her school’s Student Voter Empowerment Club and secretary of the Lulac Council. As a panelist speaker for the Dallas Bar Association’s Education Symposium, which invites high school students from the DFW metroplex, Maya was able to increase local voter turnout and political awareness in her school and community through voter registration drives, educational events, and civic engagement initiatives. CHCI NextGen allowed Maya to understand the inner workings of Congress and connect with like-minded individuals. With aspirations to pursue a career in politics and public policy, Maya continues to advocate for her community, driven by a passion for grassroots organizing and meaningful change.