|
 Alexander Villaverde
Field Placement: Center for Economic Progress (Chicago, IL)
Alexander provided financial education services to Latino community groups, assisted with the Center’s marketing projects and benefits screening services, and supported Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN) outreach activities. He also helped promote asset-building initiatives through the Center’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and developed training materials for site supervisors and tax preparers.
Hunger Free Community Report: Expanding the EITC’s Effect outlines the supportive services needed prior to tax season to increase the impact of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The report presents a case study of the Center for Economic Progress’ pilot program, Chicago Supports Workers, which provides financial assistance, financial education, and tax preparation services.
Policy Placement: Corporation for Enterprise Development (Washington, D.C.)
As a member of the Self-Employment Tax Initiative (SETI) project, Alexander is researching federal, state, and local best practices to help self-employed businesses utilize the tax system to build assets.
Education and Experience: Alexander is a 2007 graduate of Colgate University where he majored in Japanese and minored in economics. Alexander studied the factors that led to the current political and economic conditions in Zambia and conducted research on local businesses in the Ogasawara Islands in Japan. Originally from Spanish Harlem, NY, Alexander has worked with low-income teenagers in the Bronx where he facilitated workshops on leadership and community service and organized community-based projects.
 Elizabeth Oquendo
Field Placement: Logan Square Neighborhood Association (Chicago, IL)
Elizabeth worked with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association to create a wellness council at a local elementary school bringing together parents, community members, and school staff to talk about student health and school wellness. She also contributed to the planning and implementation of the first universal breakfast in the classroom in a Chicago public school and studied its impact on students’ health.
Hunger Free Community Report: Elizabeth created a video documentary of McAuliffe Elementary School’s implementation of the Chicago Public Schools’ pilot program for universal breakfast in the classroom. The film captures the experiences and thoughts of teachers, parents, administrators, and students to showcase the program’s early success.
Policy Placement: The Food Research and Action Center (Washington, D.C.)
Elizabeth is researching and writing a national report on federal and state policies and practices in school food service that are improving quality and participation in the school lunch, breakfast and after-school snack programs. Elizabeth is also developing a guide for after-school providers, school administrators, school food service directors, and other key stakeholders to support local efforts to improve children's access to nutritious food throughout the day.
Education and Experience: Elizabeth graduated from Emory University in 2007 with a degree in sociology and Latin American studies. On campus, Elizabeth was an active volunteer in many Atlanta charities including My House and Project Open Hand. A native of Miami, FL and fluent in Spanish, Elizabeth has worked in Peru on maternal and child health issues, including malnutrition and prenatal care.
top
|
