Yanira Cortez was a student parent as well as a member of several communities here on campus such as EOP, Re-Entry, Transfer, First-Gen, System Impacted Berkeley Underground Scholar and Disabled Students' Program. She joined the NavCal program as a Student Fellow in the Fall 2019, a Student Mentor in the Spring 2020, and finally impressively served as the lead Student Facilitator for the next 4 semesters. Yanira came from a socially toxic environments that she calls home in East Oakland, CA. She has learned there are systemic roots to her own personal oppression and wants to apply what she has learned at home here on campus to bring back solutions to her community. As a re-entry student, Yanira wants to serve as a pillar to the communities that are underprivileged, underrepresented and underserved. Her goal is to increase the diversification on campus from the student body, faculty and core curriculums to include a more diverse array of experiences that will lead to the success of the people these institutions are to serve: the student body. She will later further her service to the community as a lawyer--providing a voice for those who have none. As a future lawyer, her goal will be to decrease the generational wealth gaps that exist today, by protecting property ownership for those who have been able to attain it despite incredible historical challenges.
Current Employment/Post-Grad Status:
Yanira is currently a Realtor with PorchLight! ~among her many other passion projects!
Accolades as a Student:
-
Mildred Jordan Scholarship Recipient
-
Parent PEO Scholarship Recipient
-
Student Learning Center (SLC) Research Scholars Program Recipient
-
Textbook Scholarship Recipient
-
Hispanic Community Affairs Council Scholarship Finalist
-
NavCal Student Facilitator Position (2020-2021)
-
Successfully & Confidently met with several Professors and Advisors
-
Received 4 Letters of Rec
