For the past fifteen years, Comcast has proudly supported the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project (CLYLP) and its mission to enhance and build the leadership potential of California’s youth to create a stronger more prosperous state and nation. Each year, Comcast and CLYLP host a five-week fellowship program for CLYLP alumni who have completed at least one year of college. During the five weeks, Fellows stay and work in Sacramento with state policy makers to learn about California state government and public policy. CLYLP also developed satellite programs known as Institutes, where students can have similar experiences across California.
This year, Comcast supported seven fellows: Colette Chankai, Elsa Cuenca-Rubio, Diego Torres, Ricarda Suarez Moreno, Vivienne Chankai, America Gonzalez, and Imelda Meza Torres.
Meet the 2024 CLYLP-Comcast Fellows:
Colette Chankai (She/Her, Xey/Xem) is a second-year student at the University of California Santa Cruz studying Environmental Science. She is originally from Aptos, California. She has participated in environmental science programs affiliated with UC Santa Cruz, UC San Diego, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She is an alumni of the CLYLP Sacramento Leadership Conference which sparked her interest in the political side of environmental conservation. She hopes the CLYLP Comcast Fellowship can inform her about the legislative process and learn about Californian issues. Outside of work, Colette likes to draw, write, read, and voice-act.
Elsa Cuenca-Rubio (She/her) is a senior at the University of California Berkeley. She is majoring in Environmental Economics and Policy and minoring in Public Policy. She is interested in sustainability, immigration, and social justice. Looking at history, it is easy to see the urgency for a solution to issues, and those most urgent to me are climate change and immigration. Her hope is that with the experience she will gain through the fellowship this summer, she can really put her thoughts into action by working and learning from others and bringing her perspective into an administrative space.
Diego Torres (He/Him) is a second year undergraduate student at the University of California Los Angeles. He is majoring in political science. He was born in Fremont, California, and continues to live in the Bay Area. He previously has participated in Boys State and Georgetown University high school programs. In high school, he was a student school board representative and Puente Club Vice President, as well as on the cross country and tennis team. He is a current member of Hermanos Unidos at UCLA. He hopes to pursue a career in law. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing with his dogs, and hanging out with friends.
Ricarda Suarez Moreno (She/Her) is a junior at the University of California, Berkeley, studying Political Science with a minor in Chicano Studies. She resides in Santa Rosa, with roots stemming from Michoacan and Guanajuato, Mexico. She is a first-generation college student fueled by the power within her community to pursue transformative change within institutionalized systems. At Cal, she is actively engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities. She is a member of Frontera, a border policy club, and Unidad en Educación, a club dedicated to fostering empowerment through education. Additionally, she has pursued research opportunities through the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program. She is an alumni of the Sacramento Leadership Conference, which sparked her interest in the intersectionality between public policy and advocacy. Her unwavering commitment to social justice drives her aspiration to bring about positive change on campus and beyond. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, card games, and spending time at the lake.
Vivienne Chankai (She/Her) is a second- year undergraduate at the University of California Santa Barbara majoring in Environmental Studies. She is originally from Aptos, California. She is interested in environmental policy and hopes to work in environmentalism to increase racial and economic equality. She has participated in environmental science opportunities affiliated with institutions such as UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This upcoming year she will hold the position of Advocacy Co-Chair for UCSB’s Associated Students Environmental Affairs Board. Outside of academics, she is an avid music enthusiast and watercolor artist .
America Gonzalez (She/Her) is a current third year student at the University of California Santa Cruz where she is majoring in Environmental Studies and Legal Studies. She is originally from the San Fernando Valley. Moving to Santa Cruz has been a journey especially as a first-generation student who is slowly starting to understand how the higher education system works. Throughout her time in Santa Cruz, she has been involved on campus by being an ambassador for the UC Advocacy Network, working at the Sustainability Office, Programs Office, Latin Dance Team, and a co-leader of the Period Equity Coalition. She is most excited about starting the fellowship since she enjoys learning how to work for a Legislator. Most importantly, she wants to connect with her fellow peers and foster a strong community with them.
Imelda Meza Torres (She/Her) is an incoming junior at the University of California Davis studying Food Sciences. She is originally from Cosala, Sinaloa, Mexico, and now resides in Delano, CA. Imelda is a transfer student from Bakersfield Community College where she attained two associate degrees in Business Administration and Liberal Arts. In her local community, she is involved with Loud for Tomorrow, a non-profit that helps provide voices for the unrepresented youth. Imelda is an alumni of the 2022 Central Valley Institute, and the Sacramento Leadership Conference which sparked new aspirations and goals and led her to build a better future for herself. She is interested in learning more about the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Imelda is an undocumented, first-generation college student. Outside of work, she is interested in social justice, activating for those who can’t, and viticulture topics.
Celebrating Fifteen Years of Community and Impact
The fifteenth year of the CLYLP Comcast Fellowship comes with many opportunities for celebration between the Fellows and Comcast team.
Several Fellows, CLYLP Board Members, Lennies Gutierrez, and Delia Estrada, Community Investments Manager at Comcast, attended a CLYLP Comcast Quince Celebration. The gathering honored the past fifteen years of community and partnership and a chance to learn more about this year’s Fellows. On July 15, Comcast invited this year’s Fellows to the NBC Bay Area station in San Jose for Tech Day, a day-long program for Fellows to learn about the media and news entertainment at NBC. Fellows learned more about potential career paths at Comcast and NBCUniversal, spoke with representatives from NBC and Telemundo, and toured the studio’s production rooms and newsrooms.
In addition to the Quince Celebration, there was a special luncheon with the Fellows and Alejandra Garcia, Government Affairs Manager at Comcast. Alejandra connected with this year’s cohort and shared more about broadband policy, Comcast’s commitment to digital equity, and her personal career journey at Comcast.
The CLYLP Comcast Fellowship concluded at the end of July with a farewell event at Sacramento State University for CLYLP Comcast Fellows and community partners. Over 120 students were invited, including all Fellows from across the state and alumni, along with representatives from the University of California and California State University systems. Comcast wishes the 2024 CLYLP Comcast Fellows all the best during their time in the fellowship and beyond!
The fellowship holds a special place in the heart of Lennies Gutierrez, Director of Government Affairs at Comcast and CLYLP Board Member. Lennies was introduced to the program in high school, where she participated in their Statewide Leadership Program and attended a week-long conference in Sacramento. “This experience kickstarted my career and inspired me to pursue a job in public policy. I now serve on the CLYLP board and am deeply invested in this partnership,” says Gutierrez.
To learn more about the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership Project Comcast Fellowship and to apply, visit clylp.org/fellowship.
