Angelica Velazquez

Angelica Velazquez is a third-year undergraduate at UCLA studying International Development Studies, with minors in Global Health and Community Engagement & Social Change. 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 early experiences sparked her commitment to community-driven solutions in public health and development.

Her commitment to public health and social justice began in high school, where she joined the Harbor-UCLA Summer Urban Health Fellowship, organizing local health fairs, shadowing doctors, and leading her school’s affiliated health club. Beyond the fellowship, she launched a community mask distribution initiative at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in collaboration with Harbor-UCLA, mobilizing resources to keep vulnerable residents safe. At the same time, she volunteered weekly at the Boys & Girls Club’s Weekend Wellness Food Drive, helping distribute essential supplies to Wilmington families. Her work to address health disparities aligns strongly with ICEC’s mission to promote equitable access to cancer care and locally informed global health strategies.

At UCLA, Angelica continues to advance her advocacy through academic work in global political economy, development theory, and American foreign policy. She supports underserved students at 826LA, an educational NGO, and actively seeks out opportunities to advance education and health equity.

Professionally, Angelica has interned at the Port of Los Angeles, most recently coordinating cultural events with international delegations and modernizing planning systems to support equitable urban development. She brings a community-centered perspective to all of her work, grounded in lived experience and academic insight. Angelica aspires to a career in global development and public health, designing programs that amplify local voices, promote equity, and strengthen community resilience.