Jacqueline Reyes

University of Colorado Boulder - 2027

Youth education

Major: Political Science, Education. Minors in Leadership and Spanish.

Project: This year in Puksta, I have been deeply involved in initiatives focused on immigrant rights, particularly through my work with Public Achievement. I discovered that I have a strong passion for community organizing and empowering youth to become advocates for social justice. Working closely with young people, I built meaningful relationships not only with them but also with their families, which strengthened my understanding of the community’s diverse needs and perspectives. Problem-solving often involved navigating cultural sensitivities and finding ways to effectively communicate complex legal information in an accessible manner. I developed new skills in facilitation, public speaking, and community engagement, which were crucial in driving our initiatives forward. One of the challenges I faced was balancing the emotional weight of the issues we were tackling with the need to remain positive and hopeful. Despite these challenges, I’m celebrating the progress we made in raising awareness and empowering youth to take action in their communities.

Inspiration: I chose this project because, in my personal experience, I had to commute 45 minutes every day from my community to access a quality education. Leaving my community was a daily challenge for me because I never had the opportunity to connect with fellow youth from my own community.

Future Plans: With my community engagement and social impact work, I hope to create opportunities for local youth, ensuring they don’t face the challenges I did in accessing education. My goal is to foster a supportive environment and empower them to thrive within their community.