Bank of America Student Leaders Ivette Alonso Garcia, Ammar Mukadam, Ryan Jun, and Ky Dang.
This summer, Habitat for Humanity Portland Region is excited to host four participants in the Bank of America Student Leaders program, which works to foster community- and civic-minded service in young adults across the country.
The Student Leader program engages more than 300 high schoolers each year with local nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity. In addition to gaining practical work and life experience in helping the community, all the students in the program will spend a week in Washington, D.C., learning how nonprofits, governments, and businesses collaborate, as part of the Student Leadership Summit.
Joining Habitat Portland Region this summer for an 8-week paid internship are Ammar Mukadam, Ky Dang, Ryan Jun, and Ivette Alonso Garcia.
The Student Leaders will work on summer-long projects within the ReStore Development Department and the Post-Purchase Homeowner Education Department. These two projects will encourage growth in the skill areas of marketing, community engagement, and project management. To supplement their summer projects, each week the Student Leaders will be meeting with a different department within Habitat to understand the inner workings of nonprofit operations.
Ammar Mukadam was born and raised in Portland and recently graduated from Westview High School. This fall, he will be attending Purdue University to study computer engineering, with the goal of developing inclusive technology that can bridge the accessibility gap for underrepresented groups.
“Learning about how big of a step homeownership is toward feeling safe, successful, and independent is what initially piqued my interest in Habitat’s mission,” Ammar said.
Ky Dang grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for the first nine years of his life. He and his mother immigrated to America in 2016, and he will be a senior at Leodis V. McDaniel High School. His goal is to study computer science, specifically AI analysis, and finance, and to apply his experience working in social media to support Habitat’s work.
Dang said he relates to Habitat’s mission of partnering with individuals and families who need safe, affordable homes.
“I know the struggle of living paycheck to paycheck, with the fear of not knowing if the place you call home could be taken away from you,” Dang said.
Ryan Jun lives in Beaverton and recently graduated from Mountainside High School. This fall, he will be heading to Cornell University to study applied economics. He is passionate about music and music education and accessibility, and gives free violin lessons to underserved elementary students through Project Prelude. He said he wants to apply that experience in community service to Habitat’s mission in helping people realize the strength and stability of homeownership.
“I am incredibly thrilled to work with everyone at Habitat!” Jun said.
Ivette Alonso Garcia is a first-generation Latina woman and a recent graduate from Liberty High School in Hillsboro. Garcia has been highly engaged in school and civic leadership programs that serve underrepresented communities, as well as the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Oregon Health Authority Youth Advisory Council, Oregon Health Authority Youth Data Council, and Hillsboro School District Board of Directors serving as a student representative.
Next year, Alonso Garcia will attend Oregon State University Honors College as a Ford Family Foundation Scholar to study engineering and public policy.
“I am beyond excited to be working with Habitat for Humanity Portland Region and learning how to serve the community!” Alonso Gracia said.
Habitat is thrilled to have these Student Leaders join us this summer and looks forward to their continued contribution to our community.
Last year, Habitat Portland Region was selected for Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders Award, a multi-year grant funding and leadership training award, which will be invested in creating equitable housing.
