Erica Puentes Martínez is a proud daughter of Ecuadorian and Colombian immigrants and a proud native of West Baltimore. Her background has informed her passion for social justice. Erica is a student activist at the University of Maryland, College Park where she majors in African American Studies and minors in U.S. Latina/o Studies. Additionally, Erica has served as the president for the Political Latinxs United for Movement and Action in Society (PLUMAS), the social action chair for the Black Student Union, and is a founding member and leader for various social justice coalitions such as the UMD Social Justice Coalition, Women of Color Coalition, and most recently the #ProtectUMD coalition. Erica is passionate about politics, social justice, education, and her native West Baltimore and plans to dedicate her life to uplifting her community via grassroots organizing. Above all, she is brown, Latina, and proud.