Mónica Esquivel
Voces News InternEducation: Boise State University
Highlights
- Trilingual (Fluent in English, Spanish, American Sign Language)
- Youngest of four siblings and only girl – we are all comfortably aware that I am the favorite
- Voces Intern
Experience:
I am currently a junior at Boise State University majoring in Communication with Minors in Spanish and Mexican American Studies. I have also earned my certificate in American Sign Language (ASL). I am fortunate to have taken several educational and inspirational communication and media writing courses while at Boise State. I have been able to witness the power of communication at its best, and the dire consequences of a lack thereof. I seek to exist in a space where I am part of the flow of information, catalyst for positive change and a facilitator for inclusivity and respectful discourse.
I am currently serving as the President for the 2024-2025 school year for the Organización de Estudiantes Latino Americanos (OELA) at Boise State. Our student organization is primarily responsible for planning and hosting the annual Project: Dream for Tomorrow in collaboration with the Boise State Admissions Department. The main goal of our program is to connect Hispanic and Latino students with opportunities for higher education and resources to help them engage and be successful.
In my other experience I have been a social media manager for our family business providing embroidery and swag to Treasure Valley businesses and organizations; and I have served as the Marketing & Promotions Officer for OELA.
Interests:
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing my guitar, various crafting shenanigans and long walks on the Boise Greenbelt.
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In a biology lab on the Boise State campus, a rare and mysterious creature sits in a tank. It has a rich cultural background and looks like it’s wearing a feather boa around its neck. It swims and it sways as if dancing to a Latin rhythm from its homeland, but its livelihood is threatened in the wild. -
Following a string of record-breaking temperatures, many Idahoans are looking for ways to beat the heat like staying indoors, floating the river and using cooling devices. The City of Boise is participating in an urban heat study this summer to combat the effects of climate change. -
The Boise City Council has voted to scale down temporary shelter operations at the Red Lion in Boise. 95 residents live at the downtown hotel, but As local organizations join the city’s efforts to combat the local housing crisis, more opportunities for permanent housing and funding are available. The city anticipates 400 affordable homes to be built within the next three years, providing families with a permanent home. -
An Idaho law barring women and girls who are intersex or transgender from participating in women’s sports is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. -
With much of Idaho under an excessive heat warning through Saturday, some of Boise’s most vulnerable populations are turning to shelters for relief. -
OSHA calls for Idaho employers to protect their workers from extreme heat, as temperatures continue to climb this summer. Only five states in the U.S. have plans to keep workers safe, but the White House has proposed a new federal rule to protect about 36 million workers from heat-related injuries or death. -
A severe storm hit Nyssa, Oregon and central Idaho Wednesday afternoon, leaving a trail of significant damage to crops, homes and power lines. Wildfires have also been reported – some in Payette and parts of eastern Oregon, which were small and have since been contained. -
A fund to raise money and collect donations for migrant workers in extreme heat is honoring J.J. Saldaña, an advocate for Idaho’s Hispanic and Latino community. -
The Federal Railroad Administration conducted a recent study to determine next steps for restoring intercity passenger rail service that could go through Boise. The federal agency has proposed routes that would serve multiple cities in the West, one from Seattle to Denver would go through Boise and Pocatello and on to Salt Lake City. The second would go from Los Angeles to Denver through Salt Lake. -
The bilingual advocacy workshop this summer will help advocates and immigrants better understand the legal system. The SOMOS program, which means “We are” in Spanish is for anyone interested in advocacy work and civil rights. The five-week training series in Caldwell and Twin Falls starts in July. The application for the Treasure Valley sessions is tonight (June 21) at midnight Mountain Time.
