/ en /news-and-events/latest-news/motivated-by-personal-experience-inspired-by-professors-schar-school-junior-dalacio-works-for-social-change <span>Motivated by Personal Experience, Inspired by Professors, Schar School Junior D鈥橝lacio Works for Social Change</span> <span><span>Anonymous (not verified)</span></span> <span>Sat, 01/02/2021 - 23:05</span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_associated_people" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-associated-people"> <h2>In This Story</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-associated-people field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">People Mentioned in This Story</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/mschere2" hreflang="und">Matthew Scherer</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/profiles/gcorreac" hreflang="und">Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><figure role="group" class="align-right"><div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/g/files/yyqcgq291/files/2021-01/Isabella-DAlacio%20%281%29.jpg" width="400" height="400" alt="Isabella D鈥橝lacio" loading="lazy" /></div> </div> <figcaption> Isabella D鈥橝lacio: 鈥業 dove into activism having recognized the injustices affecting my identities in this country鈥︹€�</figcaption></figure><p><em>Originally published on November 9, 2020</em></p> <p>Coming from a family of Cuban immigrants, <a href="http://schar.gmu.edu/">Schar School of Policy and Government</a> junior Isabella D鈥橝lacio has made it her goal to uphold the legacy that her grandparents wished for their family to pursue higher education to fight for issues that matter most to her.</p> <p>D鈥橝lacio is currently working with the March for Our Lives Campaign (as a federal policy associate 鈥渨here I lead all policy initiatives for the organization and will be working on redrafting the Peace Plan鈥�) and United We Dream Action Campaign, the largest youth-led immigrant network, as a Florida 鈥渞elational organizer.鈥� 鈥淚 recruit volunteers who are either immigrants or allies to the Here to Stay Squad where we focus on getting out the vote in Florida to ensure that although all immigrants can鈥檛 vote, they are still represented in the upcoming election,鈥� she said.</p> <p>On top of that, she鈥檚 an intern at the Library of Congress鈥� Congressional Research Service 鈥渨riting my own report of current and past energy laws in Puerto Rico with special attention to Puerto Rico鈥檚 Electric Power Authority, the renewables mandate to get to 100 percent renewables for electric power generation, and the prospects for Puerto Rico to end its use of fossil fuels.鈥�</p> <p>Though these may seem like random causes, for D鈥橝lacio鈥攚ho is a <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/prospective-students/programs/undergraduate-degrees/ba-in-government-and-international-politics">Government and International Politics</a> major with a minor in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a concentration in Law, Philosophy and Governance鈥攖here is meaning behind all of the roles she has chosen to champion.</p> <p>As an out-of-state student and a native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., D鈥橝lacio has direct connections to both the March for Our Lives and the United We Dream campaigns. Having a sister who previously attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School鈥攚here the March for Our Lives movement was created out of response to the tragic 2018 mass shooting鈥攁nd having firsthand knowledge of the barriers that immigrants face in every election cycle, D鈥橝lacio found it impossible to ignore these issues.</p> <p>鈥淚 dove into activism having recognized the injustices affecting my identities in this country鈥攁 Gen-Z, Latinx women鈥攚hile also recognizing the power I have to change that,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 realized that my family worked hard to assimilate to this country, but now it is my time to change this country to accept all people, like my family.鈥�</p> <p>D鈥橝lacio said during her freshman year at Mason, her passions were greatly reaffirmed and amplified by courses taken with Schar School associate professors <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/mschere2">Matthew Scherer</a> (<em>Democratic Theory and Contemporary Political Theory</em>) and <a href="https://schar.gmu.edu/profiles/gcorreac">Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera</a> (U.S./Mexico Border).</p> <p>鈥淲ith Dr. Correa-Cabrera, she was so being able to understand that immigration experience鈥攁nd connect that with the work I do at United We Dream,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hile Professor Scherer helped me identify the theories and roles of government and helped me feel more connected as a citizen to my government in different moments of my work.鈥�</p> <p>鈥淚sabella was always very motivated and has a true passion for human rights and social justice issues,鈥� recalled Correa-Cabrera. 鈥淪he is especially interested in contributing to fix the broken immigration system in the United States. Isabella has a very clear idea of what is wrong with it.鈥�</p> <p>Through her experiences at Mason and the Schar School, D鈥橝lacio has realized that she wants to pursue a law degree after graduation.</p> <p>鈥淚 want to go to law school and focus on labor law to bring justice for working-class Americans and focus on rebuilding my hometown in South Florida to be the change I want to see for my people and my community,鈥� she said.</p> <p>Though Isabella鈥檚 grandfather, Jorge Vizcaino, passed away during her freshman year, D鈥橝lacio is only further motivated to work hard to honor his legacy and to continue to honor her family鈥檚 experience, in the classroom and through her activism.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/556" hreflang="en">Schar School of Policy and Government</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/8656" hreflang="en">Schar News November 2020</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Sun, 03 Jan 2021 04:05:01 +0000 Anonymous 83921 at