Alejandra Cruz is a first-generation Mexican-American from a low-income immigrant home in Oklahoma City. Through her studies and lived experiences, she has become incredibly passionate about advocating for immigrant rights, early exposure to civic and political information, and access to higher education for undocumented and first-generation students. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma with dual degrees in Women and Gender Studies and Constitutional Studies.
Over the last six years, Alejandra has honed her organizing and youth leadership development skills with the goal of increasing the representation and leadership of Latine and other immigrant communities. She has specific experience organizing large-scale voter registration drives and community mobilization efforts. During her time at the University of Oklahoma, Alejandra launched an initiative to increase civic engagement among Latine youth by registering over 300 people to vote and committing over 400 people to fill out the 2020 Census. She also volunteered on the political campaigns of Senator Brooks and Representatives Alonso-Sandoval and Menz, working to increase the representation of Latine legislators in the Oklahoma State Legislature. During this time, Alejandra also facilitated youth leadership groups for Latinos Without Borders, Sooner Discovery, and the Oklahoma Association of Student Councils.
After graduation, Alejandra worked in the Oklahoma State Senate as an Executive Assistant for Senator Brooks. She then went on to become the Informed Immigrant Intern at FWD.us where she created widely used digital resources for immigrant communities. She is excited to put her experience and passion to work as the End SIJS Backlog Coalition’s Youth Organizer where she will partner with impacted youth to train and grow the coalition’s base of youth advocating directly for their own protection and for an end to the SIJS backlog. Alejandra is dedicated to ensuring that impacted youth's voices are continuously centered in the coalition's work.