NextGen SPA Profile: Xitlaly Mendoza

• Pronouns: She/Her/Ella
• Hometown: Mesa, WA
• College/University: University of Washington, Seattle
• Major: Sociology and Law, Societies, and Justice

Proudly rooted in my Oaxacan-Mixteco Indigenous heritage and shaped by my migrant-agricultural upbringing, I am a first-generation college student at the University of Washington, Seattle. Double-majoring in Sociology and Law, Societies, and Justice, with minors in Leadership and Spanish, I aim to empower underrepresented communities through education, law, and policy. Passionate about advocacy and equity, I strive to create systemic change for marginalized families and migrant communities.

I aspire to work with non-profit organizations and government agencies to increase access to essential resources, both in the U.S. and abroad as well. I also dream of writing a book and establishing a scholarship in honor of my migrant parents and to inspire and empower future first-generation students. Personally, I hope to settle down while embracing opportunities to travel the world and learn more about my Mixteco indigenous heritage. I want to share my experiences and knowledge wherever I go, while also learning from others and gaining new perspectives. Ultimately, my vision is to create lasting change by broadening access to resources and shedding light on the struggles faced by marginalized communities, empowering individuals to reach their full potential, and contributing to a more equitable and inclusive world.

I would love to have dinner with current Mexico president, Claudia Sheinbaum so I can pick her brain about the current political climate of Mexico, the indigenous community, migrants, her vision for Mexico even after she is no longer president, ask her for advice as a women in a men’s world/country, and maybe even karaoke with her….

Dolores Huerta—she fought tirelessly for farm workers’ rights, co-founded UFW, and inspires change through activism and her “Si, se puede” spirit.