Youth Board Member —

Aztaxelli Vargas, also known as Xela, was born and raised in San Francisco and is currently a third-year Anthropology student at UCLA. As a child of an immigrant, a proud Xicana Nicoya, and a product of the vibrant Mission District, her passion for immigrant justice and advocacy has guided her academic and personal journey. Her lived experiences have shaped her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, mainly through pursuing equity and representation for BIPOC individuals in higher education. Beyond her academic pursuits, Xela is also a dedicated visual artist whose work reflects the cultural richness and resistance rooted in her identity and community. Ms. Vargas has exhibited her art at iconic institutions such as the Mission Cultural Center and, most recently, Galería de la Raza. Xela contributes to her community’s collective memory, resilience, and empowerment through her creative and scholarly endeavors, affirming her role as a student and cultural worker committed to transformative change.

Board of Directors