Itzel Vargas-Valenzuela - Program Coordinator

Itzel Vargas-Valenzuela was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and immigrated with her family to the United States in December 2003 at the age of 11. She grew up and went to school in Overland Park and graduated from Emporia State University in 2016 with a BFA  in Painting and BS in Art in Pre-Art therapy.
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After graduating high school, she had to navigate the world of higher education before DACA as the first immigrant college student in her family. The process showed her how little some institutions and school districts knew to help their undocumented students. Motivated by her fighting spirit, her passion to help people (especially those who are oppressed, underprivileged and underrepresented) and the events that were happening around her community, she became involved in grassroots community organizing around immigration issues.

Itzel hopes to bring her lived experience and knowledge in community organizing to AIRR to continue serving and advocating for the immigrant community in Kansas City.

Itzel lives in KCK with her husband, daughter, dog and three cats :)