Monica Medina, West Coast Program Manager

Monica Medina, Fellows Program Manager - West

Monica was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and now serves as the Fellows Program Manager - West at IGNITE. She is passionate about mentorship, advocating for her community, social justice, and the political process. Prior to IGNITE she was at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) where she helped provide professional development opportunities for Latino Elected Officials to strengthen their leadership and ensure they had the skills and information needed to serve their communities. She also spent time as a volunteer mentor coach with America Needs You, an organization that serves first-generation college students. Monica holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies and a minor in Anthropology from the University of California, Irvine. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, rollerblading, and spending time with friends and family.
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The Dr. Anne Moses Fellowship Experience: Q&A

The Dr. Anne Moses Fellowship Experience: Q&A

Dr. Anne Moses Fellows (aka IGNITE Fellows) are community leaders and organizers who mobilize and empower others in their cities and states to become civically and politically engaged. They are helping young cis women, non-binary and gender expansive youth explore new ways to flex their political power, and together, change the face of politics across the country. Keep reading to learn more about the Fellowship from former IGNITE Fellows. 

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Emily Ultan, Development Coordinator

Emily Ultan, Development Coordinator

Emily brings five years of nonprofit fundraising experience to IGNITE. She has worked primarily for arts organizations and holds a BA in Theater from Connecticut...

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2021-2022 End of Year Reflection from IGNITE CEO Sara Guillermo

2021-2022 End of Year Reflection from IGNITE CEO Sara Guillermo

It’s hard to believe that it has been just over a year since I first started as IGNITE’s CEO. I feel incredibly lucky to have marked this milestone alongside hundreds of passionate young women in Washington, D.C. for our first 3-day, in-person Young Women Run national conference since 2019. For so many reasons, this conference looked and felt different than its predecessors, from the daily Covid-19 testing and masking, to the barricades around the Supreme Court and U.S. Capitol as a result of protests erupting across the city.

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IGNITE Statement on the Supreme Court Opinion Overturning Roe v. Wade

IGNITE Statement on the Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade

Washington, D.C. - Today, the United States Supreme Court released its decision on the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. The decision is expected to trigger abortion bans across twenty-six states, and has put in peril other constitutional rights founded on Roe v. Wade, including same-sex marriage. The decision comes at the end of a week of disheartening decisions directly impacting some of the most important issues for Gen Z, including yesterday’s landmark decision broadly expanding gun rights.

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A look at LGBTQ+ representation in politics

A look at LGBTQ+ representation in politics

Representation matters, because if you can see it, you can be it. When Marvel’s Doctor Strange 2 premiered earlier this year, it featured the debut of America Chavez, a Latina LGBTQ+ character. Despite the movie being censored in some countries, fans said they felt empowered and inspired because they saw themselves in the character. That’s the power of representation. And as more people identify as LGBTQ+, we should see even more LGBTQ+ representation across the board, including in politics. 

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We need more AAPI representation in politics, and we need it now

We need more AAPI representation in politics, and we need it now

This month is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Each May, we celebrate the diverse cultures that comprise the AAPI community. Currently, there are over 20 million Asians in the U.S. That number is expected to double by 2060, making them the fastest-growing demographic (and fastest-growing electorate of the major racial and ethnic groups) in the country. Despite making up a sizable portion of the population, there is a lack of AAPI representation from Hollywood to Capitol Hill. The lack of representation is especially significant for AAPI women. 

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