Arana headshot

Emerson Fellow

Jarymar Arana

19th Class, 2012-2013

Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Jarymar graduated from St. Edward’s University in 2011 with a degree in environmental science and policy. She interned with the south-central regional office of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she worked with border community leaders to assess the success of the Border 2012 grant program and provided technical assistance to Native American water system operators with the Safe Drinking Water Act compliance. Jarymar has also led organizing efforts to advocate for environmental justice, volunteered at food banks and homeless shelters, supported home reconstruction projects in Austin and New Orleans, mentored at-risk students through an after school program in Austin, and conducted youth leadership development trainings in Puerto Rico.  She served as a 2009 Morris K. Udall Fellow and a 2011 EPA Greater Research Opportunities Fellow.

Field placement: Causa Justa :: Just Cause

Oakland, California

Jarymar led organized Latino community members through Causa Justa’s Immigrant Rights Campaign in Oakland and San Francisco. She conducted outreach and met with community members to help build leadership and recruit community members to be active members of Causa Justa’s immigrant rights campaigns.  Jarymar also facilitated Know Your Rights trainings in Latino communities and connected community members to legal immigration resources, eviction defense clinics and other services.

Policy placement: Housing Assistance Council

Washington, D.C.

Jarymar worked with key housing and nutrition practitioners in poor, rural regions and American Indian nations to create a series of articles for the Rural Voices quarterly magazine on the intersection of food insecurity and housing needs. She also co-authored a report on partnerships within the U.S./Mexico border colonias that work to address housing and health needs.

Publications