My name is Marlene Chavez-Martinez and I graduated from UCR last year with my Bachelor's in Sociology. Now, I am back at my alma mater as a second-year graduate student pursuing my master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in immigration and race. I seek to acquire the proper knowledge, skills, and credibility to serve as a policy advocate for the interests of our migrant community here in the Inland Empire. This is the place I grew up and call home, so I aspire to leave a long-lasting impact that can be sustained for the next generation to come. My goal is to immerse myself more with the immigrant population by doing community-based work in the region. I strive to engage with residents so that we can learn from their insights and experiences to better serve their needs. Their input is crucial and may allow us to address their concerns more efficiently. I want to be dependable, trustworthy and make connections with those who are pushing to help our community evolve. I am determined to garner more attention and awareness to our area. I do this with the intention of contributing to the wellbeing of immigrants and their families as much as possible. Given the years of education and exposure to these realities, I hope that my perspective will provide an inclusive, all-encompassing, and significant transformation in the region. I also grew up with the endless fear and possibility of my father being deported, so I strive to minimize the anxieties within parents and their children in any way I can. I am dedicated to utilizing my position and make the most out of my opportunities to promote the safety and protection of others.