MPA student Yaritza Holguin's passion for social justice grows into a career of community service

Yaritza Holguin has a longstanding commitment to social justice and serving her community. As a student in the Master’s in Public Administration program (MPA) at CCNY, her passion has led her to build upon her grassroots experience and forge a career in social impact.

After graduating from John Jay with a degree in forensic psychology, she spent three years as a community health worker in the Bronx, promoting health equity and access in underrepresented neighborhoods.

Bilingual, born and raised in the city, Holguin wanted to continue serving her community by making change on a broader scale – by changing the unjust policies underlying unequal health care access, which was intertwined with other social injustices, such as gentrification.

This desire for change led her to the MPA Program at CCNY. With support from the Changemaker Scholarship program, Holguin interned in New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat’s district office, which led to an internship in the congressman’s Washington, DC office.

Although highly qualified for her internship on Capitol Hill, Holguin felt a lingering doubt about whether she belonged – a deep unease aggravated by the frequent acts of racism and anti-immigrant bias she and her colleagues encountered on Capitol Hill.

This feeling, known as impostor syndrome, is common among women of color, she learned. Holguin coped by connecting with others she identified with, seeking advice from women leaders she admired, and practicing self-affirmation. Read her story here.

Currently interning at the New York City Mayor’s Office, Holguin is on track to graduate with an MPA degree in May and to continue building her career as a social impact professional.

The MPA Program, part of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, prepares students to be leaders and managers in government, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises. MPA students bring a passion for solving social problems, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to serve with integrity. Applications are now open for Fall 2019

About The City College of New York
Since 1847, The City College of New York has provided a high quality and affordable education to generations of New Yorkers in a wide variety of disciplines. CCNY embraces its role at the forefront of social change. It is ranked #1 by the Harvard-based Opportunity Insights out of 369 selective public colleges in the United States on the overall mobility indexThis measure reflects both access and outcomes, representing the likelihood that a student at CCNY can move up two or more income quintiles. In addition, the Center for World University Rankings places CCNY in the top 1.2% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. More than 16,000 students pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in eight professional schools and divisions, driven by significant funded research, creativity and scholarship. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and visionary as New York City itself.  View CCNY Media Kit.

 

Contact Susan Konig

skonig@ccny.cuny.edu

212 650 8437

View CCNY Media Kit.