america leon
(she/her/hers/ella)

America Leon is a generation 1.5, low-income, DACAmented student that was born in Ruiz, Nayarit, Mexico. She was brought to the U.S. as a child and was raised in South Central Los Angeles then made a move to Alhambra. Upon graduating from Alhambra HS, America enrolled at Pasadena City College (PCC) and with the guidance of PCC counselors joined programs like EOP&S and the Puente Project. America transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and a minor Chicanx Studies.

America’s mission is to provide students in higher education a safe space where everyone is respected and belongs. She envisions educational equity for historically marginalized communities. 

America has experience tutoring K-8th grade students at San Fernando and is honored to be a part of Adelante Youth Alliance.

Fun Facts: America’s first and last names are both Mexican league soccer teams. America’s favorite drink is Tejuino (estilo Nayarit) and is an extreme boy-band fanatic.

Peter Aung

My name is Peter Aung and I am a Burmese American who immigrated to America, when I was 8 years old, to escape the dictatorship, by the military, in Myanmar. It was difficult at the start, I didn’t know any English at all and had difficulty socializing with my peers. But through hard work and practicing my English language with my friends, I gained enough confidence to participate in class. I had decided that I wanted to be a teacher by receiving the desire to learn from my teachers in high school. Now that I’m an adult, I want to install in children the same desire to learn and transform their outlook on school into a positive one. I’m currently a sophomore at Pasadena City College pursuing an Associate in Science Degree for Transfer. It will be a couple of more years until I’m a fully fledge Biology teacher, but it doesn’t mean that I can’t get a headstart in helping students. 

hiroko takenaka
(she/her/hers)

Hiroko is majoring in Child Development and Psychology. She plans to obtain a Master’s degree in M.F.T or School Psychology. Hiroko is passionate about supporting children and their families so that their lives will be enriched and fulfilled with many possibilities. She believes that a personal empowerment is a key to a successful and elevated life. 

Hiroko’s family is from Japan, but she was born in England and raised in Texas. Consequently, she grew up with British and Texan accents! Hiroko loves to travel and get to know different ethnic groups and their cultures. She enjoys a variety of global cuisines as well. The craziest thing that she has done is skydiving and would love to one day zipline through the rainforest in Costa Rica.