Susy is the eldest of three sisters in a Latinx and farmworking family and her experiences with social and racial inequality have informed and shaped her career goals.
Through her experiences as a History and Chicano Studies double major at UCLA, Susy learned the language to identify and describe the systemic barriers her immigrant and farmworker community continues to face. She received her masters in counseling from Fresno State which will enable her to holistically support youth and her team at yli. She is passionate about supporting marginalized communities in accessing necessary resources and higher education to in turn achieve social and economic mobility.
Susy is excited to support the Youth United and Moving Forward programs as well as the new Juvenile Justice focused Concrete Rose program. Youth United is a program made up of 10-12 youth who are currently advocating for increased investment in Merced parks alongside a park tax measure with the Merced City Council. Moving Forward annually engages 4 cohorts of 10-15 youth in a restorative justice program at several school sites. Moving Forward is also focused on increasing youth input on mental health resources with the Merced County Board of Supervisors.
In her free time, Susy loves to read historical fiction by authors of color and keep learning about the history of Latin America. She enjoys making matcha, coloring, and playing cozy games on her switch.