Yadira Paz-Martinez

Hometown: Clinton, North Carolina
School: Duke University
Major: Public Policy, Sociology
Placement: The Office of Rep. Yadira Caraveo

Yadira Paz-Martinez was born and raised in a small rural town named Clinton in North Carolina. She is the daughter of two indigenous immigrants from San Juan Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Her parents dedicate their labor to farmworker and blue-collar jobs. She attends Duke University majoring in Public Policy and Sociology with a certificate in Human Rights on the pre-law track. Due to her experiences with immigration and farmworker communities, Yadira has dedicated her work and research to amplifying the voices of marginalized groups. 

As a junior at Duke, Yadira serves as the Political Chair for Duke’s largest Latinx Organization, Mi Gente, and a Senator of Equity and Outreach for Duke Student Government, in which next year she will serve as Vice President. She is also the incoming Co-President for Define America, an organization that echoes the voices of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Yadira serves as a researcher with a Duke Bass Connection team called “Measuring Democracy,” in which Yadira researches voter inequalities per state, focusing on racial inequities. Yadira plans to attend law school and receive her Ph.D. in political theory and sociology. 

As a CHCI Intern, Yadira wants to understand the systemic operations of congressional offices while understanding the structures that impact their ability to create systemic change. She wants to expose herself to individuals working on agricultural and immigration reform and represent her community as an intern. Most importantly, Yadira wants to show younger students that through education, we can achieve the changes we want to see.