People

Sharan was a double major in literature and philosophy, minoring in history. She joined the center because it provided an opportunity to connect the knowledge she learned in classrooms to real social justice issues plaguing communities around the globe. She found connecting with Right Livelihood laureates to be a continuously engaging and fruitful educational experience. Her activist interests have been in human rights and climate change. Outside of RLC, she enjoyed being involved in many other organizations on campus, including KZSC and Gamma Phi Beta. She hopes to continue to connect students with activism opportunities to make a difference in international causes.

Fatima Hernandez was a community studies major with a proposed GISES minor. She grew up in Stockton, CA, and UCSC was her dream school. She loves the beaches, nature, and community here. She worked to foster community through the center and our weekly gatherings. In her free time, she has liked going to the park or beach, going on walks, rollerblading, and climbing. Social justice issues she has been passionate about are education reform, water justice, and immigration. She hopes to one day go back to her community in Stockton and start my own nonprofit.

Megan is from Littleton, Colorado and was a second-year environmental studies and global information and social enterprise studies student at UC Santa Cruz, involved with Right Livelihood to make lasting social change. Social justice issues she has been interested in include climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice. She managed communications and media for the center, including our student fee measure campaign.

Isaac Recinos was a senior in anthropology who grew up in various communities across the US but I calls Los Angeles home. He wants to pursue anthropology as a graduate student. Through the center, he connected with other people who see the importance of grassroots efforts for societal change as well as the importance of academia’s place in an active role in those efforts.

The courage and ambition of the laureates of the Right Livelihood Award inspired Carmela, and  learning of the accomplishments individuals have made all over the world to improve their community’s lives has given her hope for the future of humankind and the earth. She is thrilled that the Right Livelihood Club gave her the opportunity to incorporate activism for social change and sustainability into my undergraduate education. She is passionate about all that embodies ‘right livelihood’, pursuing an honest occupation that not only respects the environment but allows all beings to flourish. The knowledge that other individuals around the world share these same ideals and are willing to dedicate their lives to systematic change motivates her to create change within my community. She was a senior at UC Santa Cruz studying anthropology.

Emily was born and raised in Los Osos, California where she became fascinated with the natural world around me and my place in it. She was a politics student interested in creating a more just and sustainable society. Transferring to UCSC strengthened her passion for environmental and social justice but also gave her the opportunity and tools to pursue these endeavors. Becoming involved with Right Livelihood became a crucial avenue of her pursuit to integrate activism with academics. Through the Right Livelihood College, she was connected with diverse and like-minded individuals who inspire and encouraged her to use her voice to seek change.

Sara Durghalli graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a concentration in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies and a minor in education. While finalizing her degree, Sara spent time organizing diverse events, including the Right Livelihood Conference and Common Ground Speaker Series, where she took on the role of planning, coordinating, hosting, and raising funds for Common Ground events and outreaching to various audiences and speakers. These experiences solidified her commitment to social and environmental justice and pledge toward acting in ways that are anti-oppressive and accountable to historically marginalized groups. 

Ethan Mulberg attended UCSC from 2019-2021, achieving his bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in Global Information and Social Enterprise and a minor in legal studies. While at university, he developed a special interest in supporting the Right Livelihood College while working with the Everett Program and the RLC students. He wanted to form connections with people who are making great changes in social and environmental justice. We all come from different cultures, backgrounds, and time zones, but we come together to make the right livelihood possible. Upon graduating, he continues to promote and teach the core values of the Right Livelihood in his community.

My name is Benjamin, I graduated with with a Bachelor of Science in MCD biology and joined Right Livelihood to help facilitate community spaces and engagement.

Jordan-Hunter Jimenez (she/her) is from San Diego, California, and is a recent UCSC graduate. She received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and minored in Global Information and Social Enterprises Studies. By finding an interest in social justice communities and a passion for open dialogues between her peers and mentors, she found RLC at UCSC. For over two years, she connected with and worked alongside RLC students, Right Livelihood Foundation leaders, and Laureates, which promoted the fostering of a global community of collaborative thinkers and change makers. And in her fourth year of undergrad she completed a fellowship program focusing on collaboration with non-profits to help analyze and solve key information and communication challenges around issues of social justice and environmental sustainability. Since graduating, she has applied for a clinical psychology master’s program at the University of San Francisco to embark on a rewarding career path to be a local change maker within her community.