Why be part of The Collective Identity Mentoring?
My "TCI why" is I strive to utilize every opportunity to uplift Black youth. I am a first-generation college student who attended a PWI with a 2% Black student population. Navigating that as a queer, Black person was difficult, but I overcame it with persistence and help from my support group. Now, I will take the wisdom I gained from my experience and reallocate it back into my community. I am passionate about helping Black students feel supported during their higher education journey. No one should have to do it alone. We got to have each other's backs.
You can learn a lot about a person's vibe by their musical taste.
Check Miranda’s Vibe
And in her spare time…
In my spare time, I enjoy practicing yoga, traveling near and far to see any live music I can, watching Lakers games, and snuggling with my cat.
Get to know Miranda.
Miranda is a professional advocate and educator passionate about teaching relationship-building skills, empowering individuals to reach their goals, and reallocating resources into the LA community. Miranda is proud to be a born and raised Los Angelino. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in Political Science and Legal studies and a concentration in grassroots organization. Miranda used this degree to develop a background in legal advocacy and community restoration by working at the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office and various family law firms throughout Los Angeles County.
Miranda currently works as a Career Program Manager with the Posse Foundation, where she counsels 350+ scholars across nine top 100 universities in their academic and professional success. In this role, she ensures that her Los Angeles-based scholars from diverse cultural backgrounds have the specialized resources and support necessary to achieve a 90% program and university graduation rate. Her time in this role exemplifies her drive to uplift first-generation, multi-cultural, gender-expansive youth in her community.
Miranda has worked with The Collective Identity since January 2021. She initially onboarded as a volunteer and quickly co-founded the organization’s Youth Advisory Board. Here, she advised on program activities and topics to enrich participants with new experiences around Los Angeles County. From this position, she transitioned into the organization’s first Case Manager for their inaugural cohort, working closely with the mentees and mentors to ensure successful relationship building. After an academic year in this position, Miranda was elected to serve on The Collective Identity’s Executive Board, where she proudly continues to advocate for gender-expansive Black youth. Miranda is indescribably honored to be a part of this organization, and experiencing the program from multiple positions has given her a unique perspective that further adds to the organization’s endless success.
Q&A with Miranda
Tell us about a time when you experienced "Imposter Syndrome" and how did you overcome it?
I experienced the most imposter syndrome in my first job after college. In the first few months at a corporate job, I remember thinking, "I have no idea what I am doing," or "Why didn't college prepare me for this?" I felt like a fish out of water. I felt like I was behind my peers. However, the more experience I gained, the more I learned to trust myself. With time and reflection, I was able to shift my mindset. I realized I am skilled, talented, and learn fast. I don't have to know everything right now, but I CAN learn anything. The challenge of building that knowledge is actually fun!
One question for Michelle Obama?
How do you prioritize holding space for yourself alongside your other roles and responsibilities?
What are you reading?
I am currently reading Brave Not Perfect by Reshma Saujani.