Notre Dame's Leadership Team

I became a member of CASH first semester of my freshman year thanks to a friend who had been a part of the club, and it has become much more to me since then. As the daughter of two immigrants, CASH's mission is incredibly important to me, and I love getting to be a part of it. To me, CASH is a way to give back to the South Bend community and to help families have access to opportunities that epitomize the American Dream - which I believe should be accesssible to everyone. This club has also allowed me to meet some very incredible and inspiring people who I get to look up to. Every week, I look forward to going to La Casa, forming connections, and interacting with students in such a meaningful and important context. 

When I initially joined CASH, I was very excited to help the mission of teaching ENL classes. Now in the club's new capacity as a facilitator of citizenship classes, I am thrilled to help members of the South Bend community become full-fledged participants in American democracy. My primary goal for the year is to build a strong base of volunteers as we begin a new chapter in the organization's mission and goals. I look forward to working this year both with our incredible Notre Dame volunteers and with our dedicated students at La Casa de Amistad!

I joined CASH my sophomore year after a friend told me about her incredible experiences as part of the club and how it would be a great fit for me. As a Puerto Rican, it’s important for me to give back to the Latino/a/x community in South Bend and beyond, so CASH’s work is very close to my heart. I also love the relationships we build with our exceptional students at La Casa. Listening to their stories, learning from them, and getting to play a role in their journey are definitely some of the most fulfilling and meaningful aspects of our work. 

In high school, I did a lot of volunteering with members of my local immigrant community, and one of the many difficulties I noticed during those years was the language barrier. When I came to Notre Dame, I wanted to continue working with that same community, and that's where CASH came in! Through CASH, I was able to help those in South Bend with backgrounds different from my own to improve their English skills through weekly ENL classes. During each semester, I was also able to build relationships with my students as I watched them get closer to reaching their goals! In 2022, CASH transitioned to volunteering with La Casa de Amistad's citizenship courses to help students in a new way! This year, I'm excited to continue with my role as a Co-Director of Citizenship Classes and to keep building relationships with students new and old!

As a Mexican woman growing up in El Paso, TX, bordering Ciudad Juárez, México, I want to help people understand the borderlands' diverse culture and growing needs in a predominantly migrant and Hispanic/Latino community. Having family members who have and still are in the process of becoming naturalized citizens, CASH has been a way for me to give back to the South Bend community by volunteering at the citizenship classes. I joined CASH my sophomore year and have truly loved every minute of volunteering at La Casa and holding meaningful conversations with the students. As an aspiring immigration lawyer, I am grateful to have worked with so many hardworking students who all support each other so dearly. I am excited to take on the role and grow along with fellow board members. 

I’ve always enjoyed volunteer work and joined CASH my Junior year because I learned it was a club that would allow me to do so. However, once I started volunteering at La Casa de Amistad, I realized I felt connected to the people I was helping. Both my parents are immigrants from Mexico so many of the stories I heard from students felt familiar.

Being part of CASH is one way I feel I can give back to my parents and thank them for all the hard work they’ve done. I hope others see the importance of CASH and feel encouraged to join.