Summer 2021 Congressional Interns
XALMA PALOMINO
Current Position/Organization
CHCI-Comcast Intern
Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
School: University of Michigan
Major: Political Science and Latina/o Studies
Placement: The Office of Rep. Nydia Velázquez
Xalma Palomino was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan as the proud daughter of a single mother who immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago. Beginning at a young age, her family taught her the importance of education, community, resilience, and determination.
Xalma is a 2nd-year student at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where she is double majoring in Political Science and Latina/o Studies. Her leadership and service centers around Latinx and other minoritized communities, particularly focusing on educational access, representation, and leadership development. As the Lead Director of La Casa, U-M’s central Latinx organization, she oversees a Latinx college success model that both supports and advocates for Latinx issues on campus. Previously, she served as the Director of ALMA, U-M’s Latinx welcome initiative that helps incoming students transition to campus, and mentors high school students in Detroit and neighboring communities.
Her future plans include attending graduate school to study education policy and returning to Detroit to become professionally involved in addressing educational disparities in the public school system.
As a CHCI Intern, Xalma hopes to fuel her passion to serve her community by gaining a better understanding of the political process and how to navigate in policy spaces.
