PACURH RLC at UCLA
November 9th to 11th, 2018
#LeadwithOptimism
Keynote Speakers
Each of our speakers at opening ceremonies will be doing a 1919 talk on a predetermined topic.
What is a 1919 Talk?
Inspired by the PechaKucha format, 1919 Talks are a simple presentation format where one shows 19 images, each for 19 seconds. This was created at UCLA in consistency with the year that the institution was founded (1919).
About Our Speakers
Carmel Wright
Optimistic, determined, and driven to transform society, Carmel exudes a passion for excellence which encompasses her academic and extracurricular activities. Facing and overcoming hardships as a child instilled in Carmel thankfulness and determination, and now she approaches life with both. Her drive to become a stateswoman who reforms the education system is the product of working with children for many years. This passion grew as Carmel spent two years researching and living in Sacramento’s most under-serviced neighborhood while attaining her associate degrees at Sacramento City College. Carmel is a Summa Cum Laude, honors graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles and obtained her bachelors degree in Political Science and Education while continuing research on issues of mass incarceration and inequalities in our education system. She currently directs the UCLA Transfer Mentorship Program and works with the UCLA Prison Education Program while continuing to pursue a degree in law.
Lorelei The Drag Queen
Lorelei is an award winning drag queen musical comedian and activist based in Los Angeles, CA. She has hosted and performed in comedy shows, cabaret shows, and drag shows across LA and Southern California. She just finished producing her one woman show “Lorelei: I’m Coming Out” which featured 6 original musical comedy pieces, tap dancing, and stand up comedy. In addition, she has hosted an annual concert series dedicated to donating money to Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. Along with those projects, she’s been featured across LA hosting parties and events for Evita, Daddy Issues, Tigerheat, Queen Kong, and more. She is pursuing her BA in Theater at UCLA.
Maripau Paz
Hometown: Miami, FL
Majors: Political Science and Global Studies
Future Plans: Masters and PhD in Political Science, Work for the United Nations
Work Experience: Resident Assistant, New Student Advisor, tutor, Intern at ProSocial consulting, Academic Advancement Program
Extracurricular Activities: Residential Life, UCLA Student Alumni Association, Bruin Guardian Scholar, movie-watching, playing the ukulele, concerts, exploring California!
Zahra Hajee
Zahra Hajee is a fourth-year Psychobiology major and Urban Studies minor at UCLA. She is interested in the intersections of urban development, sustainability, social justice and their applications in public policy. Her first exposure to peer-led community organizing and activism was in college, and it was here that she learned the importance of sharing experiences to create informed, effective change within her communities. Zahra has worked to understand the process of community-based research and other tools for policy change as a UC student organizer, within academia, and through roles in local and state government. At UCLA, she recently completed her term as the Undergraduate Student Association’s Facilities Commissioner, where she worked to improve campus infrastructure, environment, and resource accessibility for the 30,000+ student body. She is also a board member of California’s Young Democrats Progressive Caucus, performer in V-Day Coalition’s LIPS which challenges mainstream notions of feminism, and part of several cultural and faith-based organizations including the Pakistani and Bangali Students Associations. In her free time, she loves to sing, tag her peers in quality memes, and continue her quest to find the cutest puppies in California.