Garcia has been involved in organizing for immigration rights, voter registration, and electing more people of color to school boards. It was a first-year course at Whittier College, though, that turned her attention to humanity’s impact on the Earth.
“I learned so much about the environmental movement, about the harm of plastic, those little things I didn’t learn in high school. It ignited this really big passion for environmental justice for me,” she said. Garcia is double majoring in Spanish and a self-designed degree through the Whittier Scholars Program, plus a minor in Latino Studies.
Looking for an opportunity to get involved, she was attracted to Sunrise Movement. The new, youth-led climate action group has been strongly advocating the Green New Deal—legislation that aims to address climate change and economic inequality. Garcia felt the group’s scope matched the scale of the threat of climate change.
Even within the movement’s local hub, she’s been helping make a difference. As a member of the outreach team, Garcia made a particular effort to reach out to young people in areas like Boyle Heights and East L.A. Before long, she was promoted to youth director of the Environmental and Climate Crisis Council.
“It makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. It also makes me feel like the impending doom of climate change is a little bit smaller and more manageable because there are so many people who are passionate about it and working on it,” Garcia said. “Now I see people who look like me in the movement, and it makes me more motivated to keep doing the work that I’m doing. It makes me feel like we’re being seen. We’re being involved in the movement. It’s inspiring.”
She’s also gotten involved on campus through student government, which has complemented both her political science education and her real-world organizing experience. Garcia’s the Diversity Council representative for the Associated Students of Whittier College (ASWC) Senate, where she gives the various cultural and interfaith student groups a seat at the table and shares their needs.
“I’ve been able to see the other side of organizing… what that’s like in reaching out to constituents and talking to people and working within the system to create change,” she said. “It’s definitely been different for me. But I definitely enjoy it because it gives me this new perspective on organizing.”
Looking to the future, she’s keeping her political options open. Wherever she winds up, there’s no doubt that she’ll be making a difference.
