In her own words
Caroline Romero
I am a proud daughter of immigrants, a Chicana/Latina political thinker, and mutual aid activist at the frontlines of my local community in Anaheim, California. I use these identifiers to pay tribute to my origins and lineage by dispelling misconceptions, labels, discrimination, and self-doubt. Being born, raised, and rooted in Southern California exposed me to diverse communities like Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Los Angeles, which are rich in culture, tradition, and solidarity. These characteristics are amplified in times of struggle and communal hardships, just as they are during the Covid-19 pandemic and the protests after the murder of George Floyd. I have been able to create a network of communities across Orange County in order to provide basic necessities to those most impacted by the pandemic; build connections with community members; and contribute to notions of solidarity. I am seeking a Masters in Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies from CSULA to explore how communities have historically built coalitions during social justice movements. Obtaining this Masters will allow me to research sociocultural relations, shared disparities, and connections across communities with a focus on Chicanx/Latinx demographics. Ultimately I hope these findings may inform, shape, and strengthen relationships to meet the demands of social equity movements. Our community constantly finds themselves in a position where we have to prove our abilities, validity, and strength. We constantly have to be above social expectations, misconceptions, and stigmas to prove that we belong in spaces of academia. This Masters program has empowered my voice as Chicana mutual aid activist and community solidarity organizer. I have found a space where I can speak and be heard. To answer the question, I am pursuing higher education to expand these spaces of solidarity and communal equity so that our demands for social mobility are not in vain.