Yanelit Madriz Zarate

Job title: 
NAVCAL Alumni, NAVCAL Intern, NAVCAL Fellow
Bio/CV: 
Yanelit Madriz Zarate is a proud first-generation Chicana from San Pablo, California. She is a first-generation graduate from UC Berkeley and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2024. As a low-income and first-gen college student, Yanelit was actively involved with programs such as EOP, DSP, NAVCAL, the Transfer Center, and the Latinx Student Resource Center. Off-campus, she has been involved in communities such as the Chicana Latina Foundation Alumni Association, the Son Jarocho Bay Area dance community, and the San Pablo Local Organizing Coalition.


After dropping out of Cal State Monterey Bay in 2017 due to mental and physical health struggles, Yanelit enrolled at Berkeley City College (BCC) in 2018 and began her work as a Mental Health Advocate at BCC’s Undocumented Community Resource Center to ensure that other first-generation college students did not go through similar struggles alone. Through mental health advocacy, Yanelit gained a passion for social justice and an interest in social work. Having secured her Associate Degrees in Sociology and Social Welfare, she transferred to Cal where she continued her advocacy in mental health, higher education, and social justice.


As a scholar, leader, and mentor, Yanelit continues using her experiences as testimonies to mentor marginalized students of color through holistic approaches while making a positive impact in her community. Rooted in community healing, radical liberation, and advocacy, she is committed to continuing her work in the social welfare field to help Latinx communities through a mental health lens.

Current Employment/Post-Grad Status:

Yanelit is currently working part-time at a legal firm, and planning to apply to an MSW program soon!

Accolades as a Student:

  • Featured in USA Today’s article on First-Generation student experience
  • Bilingual Disability Advocate for Chavez Disability Advocates
  • Selected to advocate for and uplift the work NAVCAL does at the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA
  • Returned to NAVCAL as an Alumni/Ambassador to speak and facilitate workshops and discussions
  • Worked as a Richmond Near Peer Ambassador
  • Attended the 2023 Chingona Community Awards Gala - Los Angeles, California
  • Won the 2023 Chingona Community Scholarship
  • Worked as a Co-Researcher for Trauma Transformed - Oakland, California
  • Interned at La Clinica De La Raza - Oakland, California
  • Selected speaker and facilitator for Richmond High School Latina Circle Day - Latina high school students below 2.0 GPA
  • Won the Bridges Graduate School Tour Scholarship
  • CLF Alumni Volunteer for 2023 Chicana Latina Foundation Gala
  • Won the 2023 Moving Forward Scholarship
  • Selected Panelist for EOP Golden Bear Orientation Day
  • Won the Bridges MRC Wellness Scholarship
  • Coordinator for Stiles Hall Experience Berkeley Transfer Program
  • Co-moderated Q&A w/ Latina author Prisca Doras - Berkeley City College
  • Selected to serve on the Contra Costa County Mental Health Commission
  • Received Basic Needs Holistic Fund
  • Member of the Chicana Latina Foundation Alumni Association
  • Secured 3 Femtors

Featured In: 

Role: 
Alumni
headshot of Yanelit Madriz Zarate