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Rachelle Zavalza-Arellano

Research and Policy Fellow, LULAC National & Undergraduate Student, Stanford University

Rachelle Zavalza-Arellano

Rachelle Zavalza-Arellano is a Research and Policy Fellow at the LULAC's office in Washington, D.C. She was born in Portland, Oregon, but raised outside the city, in Salem, the state’s capital. Growing up in an immigrant family showed Rachelle the significant contributions that Latinos play in the United States, despite the systemic barriers that have been put in place for them.

Rachelle is a first-generation college student attending Stanford University, where she studies a mixture of Sociology, Political Science and Spanish. On campus, she spends her time directing programming for Stanford Habla, a student-led initiative supporting Latino janitorial, landscaping and service staff. Additionally, working with Stanford’s Center for Innovation in Global Health, specifically with their “Families at the Border” team, to improve the health and wellness of immigrant families and youth at the US-Mexico border. Outside the classroom, Rachelle has worked with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) in Washington, D.C., while also working with several non-profits in the Bay Area advocating for labor, employment, and immigration reform.

Rachelle’s ambitions extend beyond her undergraduate studies. Her end goal is to become a Professor, where she hopes to direct and teach projects related to labor and immigration reform. She hopes to inspire her community, who continue to be her motivation as she takes on these opportunities.

Panel Information

Uprooted: Migration and the Climate Crisis

11:00 AM

This session dives into a growing reality: climate-related disasters are fueling migration across the Americas—and Latino migrant communities, especially farmworkers, are on the front lines. From hurricanes and droughts uprooting families to rising temperatures worsening already harsh working conditions in the fields, the pressures forcing people to move—and the challenges they face once here—are intensifying. Participants will unpack the connection between natural disasters, migration, and labor conditions. Practice how to communicate these issues in a way that drives awareness and change. Through peer discussion and real-world scenarios, attendees will leave with sharpened advocacy skills and deeper understanding of how to uplift migrant voices.