This week we feature Mariana Lopez, who serves CCUIH in two capacities, as a Policy and Legislative Intern and a Data Support Intern. As one of our two Data Support Interns, she supports the GONA Research Project, which is a cross-site evaluation of Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) youth activities that are facilitated by our member clinics. As our Policy and Legislative Intern, Mariana helps us track California Legislation that is relevant to Urban Indian Health through our California Legislative Tracker.
Learn more about Mariana, in her own words:
Hi! My name is Mariana and I am from San Diego, California. I am currently a senior graduating in May 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of San Francisco. I am currently the Vice President of a student organization, Latinas Unidas. With my executive board, we work towards providing support and encouragement for academic endeavors, social pursuits and professional planning within the realm of a positive sisterhood. We focus on issues that affect us as women, college students, and the Latin@ community in San Francisco.
My education at a Jesuit institution and involvement in helping the Latino community has led to a greater understanding of disparities that affect communities of color.
Being a Latina and experiencing how health care policies and practices affect underserved communities of color has encouraged me to intern at CCUIH and work for another underrepresented community. I hope to become more involved in research, policy and outreach before continuing my education towards a masters degree in public health.