Paulina Martin is a 2022 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Fellow who grew up in Mansfield, MA. In 2021, she earned her B.A. with honors from the College of the Holy Cross in history and peace and conflict studies, where her primary focus was gender, race, and social movement theory. As an undergraduate, she helped lead the college’s Feminist Forum and Spring Break Immersion Program. She completed multiple internships oriented toward equity, notably at the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, the United Way, and the Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren. After graduating, Paulina completed an AmeriCorps year of service with Maggie’s Place in Phoenix, AZ. She lived in a home with pregnant and newly parenting women experiencing homelessness, extending support and love, as they worked toward self-sufficiency. Paulina remained in Phoenix after her service, earned a M.Ed. from ASU, and currently teaches US History in the Phoenix Union public high school district. She is passionate about community building, local politics, and the power of public education to disrupt cycles of poverty. Paulina is currently studying for her M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from William & Mary in the hopes of becoming a therapist for educators and adolescents. Outside of the classroom, Paulina is a CrossFitter, reader, and budding hiker. She is thrilled to be a Segal Fellow to collaborate across disciplines to improve outcomes for disadvantaged young people.