Meet Our Interns

Karla Vásquez Pérez (she/her/ella) was born and raised in El Salvador, Central America. She is double majoring in Political Science and Labor Studies with minors in Central American Studies and Community Engagement and Social Change at UCLA. She is passionate about volunteering and advocating for underserved communities. Karla dedicates her time to RCC to give back to her immigrant community. She says that being at the center makes her feel at home where she can connect with her culture, her mother language, and with resilient people that inspire her to work harder for a better future. She hopes to serve her community and dedicate efforts to social justice and immigration rights.

​I received my bachelor's degree in Sociology from CSUN and am currently an intern in CSUN's Master of Social Work (MSW) program. My years of experience in the healthcare field have not only exposed me to marginalized populations, but have also sparked in me the desire to help those in need in any way possible. My goal is to support families in overcoming their challenges and difficulties, whether by being a direct resource or connecting them with other support services. In my free time, I enjoy reading, walking, watching movies, and collecting Pokémon cards.

Sarahi is Central American, of Guatemalan origin, and bilingual in English and Spanish. She earned her bachelor's degrees in Political Science and in Chicano and Latino Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Her life experiences and connection to her community inspired her passion for social work and advocacy. She previously volunteered with undocumented youth, connecting them with community resources and services. Sarahi is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work (MSW) and is excited to learn more about family advocacy within the legal system through her experience at the Refugee Children Center. She is committed to creating safe, welcoming, and supportive spaces for children and families as she continues to grow as an advocate.

María is a Master of Social Work (MSW) student at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) and lives in Pacoima, California. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a proud mother of two. Her path to social work was inspired by her experiences as a foster and adoptive mother. Through her experiences with the foster care system and raising a child with autism, she has developed a strong passion for advocacy and support for children and families. These experiences motivated her to study social work with the goal of supporting others as they face difficult circumstances, connecting families with resources, and making a meaningful impact on the lives of the people and communities she serves.

Allegra is of Mexican-American descent and was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She has 15 years of experience working in the arts as an art instructor and education coordinator for the City of Los Angeles. She earned her bachelor's degree in art with a minor in psychology. Since childhood, art has been very important to her. Her creativity has always been a powerful tool for solving problems and expressing her emotions throughout her life. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Social Work at CSUN, hoping to combine her love of art with social work to eventually become an art therapist. Through this, she hopes to share the healing aspects of creating art with others and support people as they process their experiences through creative expression.