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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Zelia Gonzales

Meet Zelia Gonzales

Hometown: Sacramento, CA
College: School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Major: ILR
Year: 2021

Recipient of this year's Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award, Zelia Gonzales returned to Cornell after a year off exploring local government, cannabis policy and consulting, retail entrepreneurship, and cultural arts non-profit work, her most meaningful work was with young people, serving as a mentor in my community. Industrial and Labor Relations gave her the space to articulate and build on all that she had learned, and her peers in MEChA de Cornell allowed her to practice her leadership.

After graduating this May 2021, she looks forward to working full time with Rebel Ventures Network, creating a radical program for youth development. Rebel Ventures Network is a curriculum and training for youth development through individualized project incubation and peer-support-networks. They welcome young people to develop their sense of self & self-efficacy, to challenge institutions and re-envision power structures, and to realize a lifelong network of reflective, grounded leaders. Their curriculum rewards learning from failure and practicing the actions most often used against black and brown young people: disrupting, fighting, questioning, building, and inciting for good. The award funding will allow them to compensate mentors and facilitators for their time as they guide participants through the curriculum in our pilot this Spring! Rebel Ventures Network has challenged Zelia to think outside of the box for post-graduate studies. Instead of following a traditional route into graduate school right away, she will be pursuing a certificate in sustainable entrepreneurship to better build and grow this project and whatever comes next. 

"We are so grateful for the Robinson-Appel Humanitarian Award as it will allow us to compensate mentors and facilitators for their time as they guide participants through the curriculum in our pilot this Spring! Rebel Ventures Network has challenged me to think outside of the box for post-graduate studies. Instead of following a traditional route into graduate school right away, I will be pursuing a certificate in sustainable entrepreneurship to better build and grow this project and whatever comes next."