Elizabeth Ramirez Arreola

Elizabeth is originally from Coahuila, Mexico where she was born and raised. Currently a Ph.D. student, her academic research focuses on exploring the transnational migration experiences of Mexican and Dominican women in relation to work and education. Using tools such as testimonio as epistemology and Chicana feminism she analyzes how constant interconnections across international borders negotiate women's identities in the context of ethnicity, gender, race, and class. Her interests are a direct result of her own journey as an immigrant woman whom after arriving in the US experimented limited employment opportunities due to her lack of English and educational skills. Her goal of attaining an education and passion for community organizing, led her to become involved in her receiving community. In 2001 she was hired as program coordinator for the only Latino resource center in Everett, Washington where she designed and created annual events first of their kind, such as Cinco de Mayo festival established in 2003 and Raices Latinas youth summer camp established in 2004. Raices Latinas was a program developed to help Latino youth connect with their roots, build community engagement, and strengthen their academic growth. Elizabeth earned a BA in International Studies Latin America and a second BA in American Ethnic Studies both from the University of Washington. In 2010 she presented one of her thesis at the University of Washington Undergraduate Research Symposium under the title: “Mexican Immigration to Snohomish County: A Social and Economic Analysis”. During her doctoral journey she has maintained her community involvement through her participation in the annual conference Beyond HB 1079, a student-run conference that provides support to undocumented students, their parents and educators with awareness, empowerment and resources in the greater Seattle area.