Angelica Velazquez

Angelica Velazquez is a senior at UCLA studying International Development Studies, with minors in Global Health and Community Engagement & Social Change. She brings a community-centered perspective to all of her work, grounded in lived experience and academic insight. Raised in Wilmington, California, (a predominantly Latinx community burdened by industrial pollution and home to the third-largest oil field in the U.S.) she witnessed firsthand the effects of environmental injustice and systemic neglect. These experiences sparked her commitment to community-driven solutions in public health and development.

Angelica’s public health and social justice initiative began in high school through the Harbor-UCLA Summer Urban Health Fellowship, organizing local health fairs, shadowing doctors, and leading her school’s affiliated health club. She launched a community mask distribution program at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with Harbor-UCLA, mobilizing resources to keep residents safe. Simultaneously, she volunteered weekly at the Boys & Girls Club’s Weekend Wellness Food Drive, distributing essential supplies to families. Her interest in addressing health disparities aligns with ICEC’s mission to promote equitable access to care and locally informed global health strategies. At UCLA, Angelica continues to advocate through her work in global political economy, development theory, and American foreign policy. She supports underserved students through the educational NGO 826LA, and is continuously seeking opportunities to advance education and health equity.

Prior to her work with ICEC, Angelica spent several years with the Port of Los Angeles, coordinating events for international delegations and optimizing planning systems to support equitable urban development. Long term, Angelica hopes to continue pursuing global development and public health, developing programs to amplify local voices, promote equity, and strengthen community resilience.