Christopher Anderson (University of Colorado-Boulder, 2009. Age 19)

Chris, a first generation college student, is studying for a degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado-Boulder. Chris is committed to the advancement of human rights and equality. He was instrumental in establishing a Gay Straight Alliance in his high school.  In addition, Chris organized an Acceptance Week in his community, which generated media attention about discrimination against GLBT residents. Chris also served as an assistant editor on his high school newspaper for three years in order to raise awareness about issues affecting the GLBT community.  Chris is working this summer with the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Marcos Alcorn (Arizona State University, 2008. Age 23)
Marcos, a first generation American from Mexico, is currently pursuing an MPA from Arizona State University. Marcos’s community activism has involved providing counseling services to those directly affected by HIV/AIDS and working with physicians and health care professionals in order to determine how to best serve those living with the disease. In his current position as a Program Coordinator for the University of Arizona AIDS Education Training Center, Marcos is helping to plan a state-wide conference that will unite medical providers with HIV patients. He also facilitates educational trainings in English and Spanish aimed at alerting the general public about any new developments in the HIV/AIDS community. Marcos will be interning at the Human Rights Campaign this summer.

Tyra Banks (Southeastern Louisiana University, 2008. Age 22)
Tyra is pursuing a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Southeastern Louisiana University. A native of New Orleans, Tyra is an advocate for minorities, families, and children. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Tyra volunteered at community meetings in order to provide support for disaster victims.  She also started a fundraising campaign at her church to raise money for those affected by the hurricane. Tyra served as a Resident Assistant on her campus and spent a semester interning at Walt Disney World Co. in Orlando, Florida. Tyra will spend this summer at Campaign for America’s Future.

Alexandria Barabin (California State University-Northridge, 2008. Age 24)
Alexandria is currently a graduate student in Pan-African and Women’s Studies at California State University-Northridge. Alexandria has been a leader in campus activism, including protesting fee increases and unequal funding for student groups.  As part of the residential life team at CSU-Northridge, Alexandria has helped coordinate and support over 100 educational and social programs. She is also the Executive Editor of Hip Hop Think Tank, a progressive publication dedicated to the critical analysis of hip-hop as an art and cultural influence. Alexandria has been able to use the magazine as an educational tool to inform and engage young people and inspire action about contemporary social problems.  Alexandria is interning this summer at Progressive Majority.

Nicole Barringer (Metro State College of Denver, 2008.  Age 20)
Nicole, a senior at Metro State College of Denver, is studying for a degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies with a minor in Political Science. She is an elected member of the Metro State Student Government Assembly and serves as the student representative on the Auraria Board.  She is the current treasurer of her campus chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice Auraria, and will serve as President next year.  Recently, Nicole has been instrumental in helping her campus make the transition to use more sustainable forms of energy. Her current activism on environmental issues led to Metro State investing in solar energy for three buildings on campus.  She is also committed to women’s rights and will be interning at Women’s Voices. Women’s Vote this summer.  

Imran Battla (Binghamton University.  Age 25)
Imran, a first-generation American from Pakistan, is currently a Young People For Fellow. He has done disaster relief work in Lebanon and Pakistan, as well as in New Orleans. He is strongly committed to progressive causes and co-facilitates the Student Action Collective at Binghamton University. He has also worked on building alliances among diverse student groups at Binghamton, including creating a joint event for the Muslim Student Association and Hillel, designing a cultural awareness program for high school students, and serving as an Intercultural Awareness student representative.  Imran is working this summer with Campaign to Defend America/Americans Against Escalation in Iraq.

Robert Boden II (Central Michigan University, 2006. Age 23)
Rob, a 2006 graduate of Central Michigan University, is a first-generation college student who has a passion for politics and grassroots organizing. His work experiences during the last two campaign cycles have allowed him to develop an affinity for campaign planning and management. He served as the office manager and public relations director for a state representative’s campaign. In this capacity, he managed daily operations and the phone banking program, in addition to generating newspaper and television coverage. As the newly elected treasurer for the Isabella County Democratic Party, Rob helped to coordinate a direct solicitation mail campaign. During college, he studied abroad in Cuba, and last spring, he worked on a humanitarian project in Mazatlan, Mexico. He will be interning at M + R Strategic Services this summer, and in the fall, he will be entering George Washington University’s School of Law.

Jesse Boodoo (Brown University, 2006. Age 23)
Jesse, a 2006 graduate of Brown University, will be attending law school this fall at the Boston University School of Law.  An alumnus of the Arabic School at Middlebury College, Jesse's academic interests include Middle Eastern Affairs, Arabic, national security policy, and civil liberties.   He hopes to use this summer as an opportunity to get better acquainted with the changes, challenges and opportunities facing the greater progressive movement at this critical moment. In 2006, Jesse worked as a field organizer with the Washington State Democratic Coordinated Campaign.  In this role, he was responsible for organizing voter mobilization efforts and managing volunteers in Washington’s 21 st Legislative District.  In 2004, Jesse was a recipient of the City of Providence's Mayoral Fellowship, which allowed him to help coordinate the city's first Resident Satisfaction Survey.  He will be spending the summer at the Democracy Alliance.

Teresa Bravo (University of Arizona, 2008. Age 27)
Teresa is a first generation Mexican American and first-generation college student. Having attained her Associates degree in Social Services, she supplemented her academic interests with diverse experiences working with several local non-profit agencies in Tucson, Arizona. Participation in the development and execution of outreach in under-served communities fueled her desire to reach higher levels of education and participation in the community, such as her participation in the Summer Institute for Latino Public Policy in the summer of 2006. Consequently, she has enrolled at The University of Arizona as a Mexican American Studies major and chose to complement her studies with a minor in Sociology. Her deep commitment to serve and invest in the Latino population in Arizona, and across the U.S. is reflected in her impassioned advocacy for underrepresented Latinos at all levels. Teresa will be interning at the Center for Progressive Leadership this summer.

Kesia Brown (Vassar College, 2008. Age 20)
Kesia, a rising senior at Vassar College, is pursuing a degree in philosophy. During her first two years at Vassar, Kesia helped start a mentoring program called Sistah Power. This program designed and implemented educational programs for pre-teen girls, connecting the female inner city youth in Poughkeepsie with women of color at Vassar. Kesia was also elected the Social and Political Chairperson for the Black Student Union and is the editor of the Vassar College Philosophy Review.  Last fall, Kesia presented a paper on the importance of black feminism for an academic panel at her college.  She plans to attend law school and pursue a career in civil rights law.  This summer, Kesia is interning at the National Partnership for Women and Families.