Efren Velazco is an intern on the PreK-12 Education Policy Team, supporting the English Learner and Grow Your Own program. As a first-generation university student and a K-12 public education student, he strives to improve the education system by developing policies and educational practices that acknowledge the diverse needs of students and educators.
Efren most recently interned at the Learning Policy Institute, where he researched strategies and policies to strengthen and diversify the teaching profession. He graduated from UC Irvine, where he majored in Political Science and was involved in student advocacy and outreach. As the Fund the UC Coordinator, Efren led state and federal lobbying efforts to advocate for equitable higher education policy. He was also a teaching assistant for high school students through a UC Irvine Law school program that introduces students to higher education. Efren has had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France, for a Social Justice and Activism program that explored the French education system. He is always ready for the next adventure and in his free time, he enjoys visiting new coffee shops.