Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership
Silvia Trevino ’19
Major: Biology and Society
Minors: Microbial Sciences and Latina/o Studies Program
I’m passionate about … immigrant rights, meaning that I believe that everyone has the right to migrate. Immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, are discriminated against and are deprived of the most basic rights and resources such as education, healthcare and safe working conditions.
Engagement experience: Cornell DREAM Team member, Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights intern and volunteer, Public Service Center Leadership Council facilitator, Farmworker Legal Assistance Clinic volunteer/research assistant
As an Engaged Ambassador, I … facilitate the Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership capstone dialogue and other leadership workshops throughout the year.
I got involved because … I took part of the capstone dialogue in spring 2017 and felt that I learned a lot about myself, my work, the community around me and about my peers. I knew I had to be a part of the program that had created this space for growth.
My friends would say I’m … not afraid to stand up to injustices. I am very outspoken about my opinions, and I choose to use my voice to fight back against the systems of oppression that target marginalized communities.
Best Cornell memory (so far!): Some of my favorite memories have been from the yearly Bienvenidos BBQ that occurs in the Latino Living Center. We get to come together as a community to eat, dance, laugh and share our cultures.
Fun fact: Before coming to Cornell, I didn’t know how to swim, and I only learned because I really wanted to swim at the Galapago Islands during a class trip. I ended up swimming with sharks!
Future plans: After I graduate in May, I hope to begin working as a community organizer in Los Angeles. I hope to do work around immigrant, worker, and healthcare rights.
Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership
Build on your interests and apply your experiences (from courses to extracurricular activities) to this program to develop the skills you need to be a community-engaged leader.