LEAD 2025 Scholarship Recipients
Alex Santiago
Alex Santiago (They/She) is a first-generation student at UC Santa Cruz, pursuing a BA in Politics and Latin American Studies. Born in Chicago to low-income immigrant parents, Alex's upbringing, marked by housing instability, has deeply influenced their understanding and advocacy for housing policy. This personal experience fuels their passion for addressing systemic inequities and advocating for marginalized communities. By examining the intersections of immigration, housing and labor, they hope to dismantle the barriers that perpetuate inequality for the same low-income and undocumented communities they emerged from. Alex plans to attend law school after graduation and pursue a career in public interest law.
Leslie Cruz Urquilla
Leslie, a first-generation Salvadoran American from San Francisco Bay Area, is passionate about addressing societal inequalities. As Student CEO for Rock the Street, Wall Street, with Dodge & Cox, she creates bilingual financial literacy resources. Leslie interned at San Francisco City Hall advocating for the citizens of District 8, participated in UCSF’s BAYS research program, and volunteers with Adventist Community Services: Richmond, where she initiated an annual Free Health Fair, now in its fourth year. She is a 2024 Bank of America Student Leader and San Francisco’s High School Elections Ambassador, where Leslie promotes youth civic engagement. She plans to become a lawyer and elected official to increase political bipartisanship and reduce political polarization.
Alynn Jimenez Miranda
Alynn Jimenez Miranda is a triple major in International Studies, Political Science, and Communications at Trinity University. Originally from Tamaulipas, Mexico, she founded Revolución Violeta MX, a nonprofit advocating for gender equity in Latin America. Her work focuses on raising awareness about issues such as femicide, domestic violence, and the empowerment of marginalized communities across borders. Alynn is also a competitive powerlifter, demonstrating determination and perseverance in both her sport and her advocacy. Passionate about meaningful social change and fostering global connections, she is eager to connect with driven Latinas at the LEAD conference who share her vision of empowering communities and expanding opportunities for all women.
Darianny Bautista
Darianny Bautista, a first-generation Dominican American from Newark, New Jersey, is a senior at George Washington University majoring in Political Science and Philosophy with a Public Affairs concentration. She serves as a Congressional Fellow on Capitol Hill, a Pathways Intern at the U.S. Department of Justice, and founder of “Reshaping the Future,” a campaign empowering underserved students. As a member of the New Jersey Legislative Youth Council, Darianny advocates for education equity. Her experiences navigating systemic barriers inspire her goal to become an attorney and congressional representative. She looks forward to the LEAD conference to connect with changemakers and explore innovative solutions to empower Latino communities through reform and representation.