A Journey from El Venadito to Capitol Hill
Leading up to my arrival in the Capitol, it still had not hit me that I was going to be returning and living here again. It was not until I landed that I realized I was really back. The moment I stepped outside, the humidity instantly hit me–that was something I did not miss. We were greeted by Ilda Martinez, our wonderful National Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Association (NMSHSA) Program Manager, and Itzia Barraza-Córdova, NMSHSA Social Media and Communications Coordinator. The whole car ride to my host’s house, I just stared out the window.
Last summer, I had the opportunity to intern in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, here in Washington D.C., so this is my second summer returning to this impactful city. Back then, the monuments were something I never got tired of looking at and to this day I still look at them in awe. My first metro ride brought back all the nerves and excitement. I was figuring out where to go, checking the map, and taking in how alive the city felt. Coming from a small town like Weiser, Idaho, and a quiet college town like Moscow, Idaho, D.C. always feels exciting and new.
This summer, I’m here as a UnidosUS Policy Intern for higher education, but my journey started a while ago somewhere special. As previously mentioned, I’m from Weiser, where I attended El Venadito, a Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) program through the Community Council of Idaho (CCI). That early support laid the foundation for where I am today. Now, I’m a student at the University of Idaho, double majoring in political science and philosophy, and planning to attend law school to advocate for immigrant and farmworker communities, people whose struggles I’ve seen and lived alongside.
During our first week, we had the chance to visit Capitol Hill and meet with the offices of our state's representatives. There, we shared the incredible work that NMSHSA does and I got to share how it personally impacted me.One of the most meaningful moments was meeting Irma Morin, the CEO of CCI, along with Kathy Bayless and Lucy Ruiz from the CCI team—the organization that supported me growing up. It was a cool feeling to be with the leaders of my center beside me in these powerful spaces. I felt proud to represent my roots and honored to show them the impact their work has had.