Jacqueline White
Arizona State University
Jacqueline White, a first-generation Mexican-American ASU student studying Public Service/Public Policy with an emphasis on Homeland Security, brings a critical perspective and a persistent commitment to tackling social inequities facing both our local and national communities. She actively seeks to increase legislative representation of the Latinx community in public office and is currently advancing a pilot project in Title I schools to empower young students to understand and look forward to their civic roles.
As a transfer student, Jacqueline has demonstrated a sustained focus on civic issues across her post-secondary journey and has assembled more campus and community accomplishments in one year at ASU than most do in four. She has served as a student leader at ASU's Changemaker Central and in Undergraduate Student Government, and is a member of ASU's Next Generation Service Corps - a leadership development program which cultivates cross-sector collaboration skills. In the community, Jacqueline has assisted Congressman Ruben Gallego to respond to constituent issues from Hispanic communities and is currently pursuing leadership experiences in global affairs and national security at the McCain Institute in Washington, D.C.
Jacqueline's commitment exemplifies the principles and values of the Newman Civic Fellowship and we are proud to nominate her for the 2019-2020 award.
Personal Statement
Of the many challenges facing the Latinx community, the gravest, and perhaps most impactful, is the disproportionate representation of Latin Americans in government. Latinx, people of color, women, and other minorities continue to make strides to fill the gap, but it is imperative to remain critical of current social inequities in the public sector. As a first-generation, Mexican/American student, I recognize the importance of having representatives who reflect our ethnicity and experiences. Our uniquely Latinx cultural experience grants us the ability to understand issues few face and allows for representatives of our background to advance solutions or positions that can ease the challenges our community faces. Since the Latinx population is one of the fastest growing in the country, it is vital that the needs and challenges that our community faces are addressed. In order to provide the Latinx community with opportunities to be civically engaged, I will be developing a program that focuses on empowering youth in Title I schools to understand the importance of voting, running for office, and participating in civil dialogue so that we are teaching children at an early age that their voice matters and we all deserve a seat at the table.
