Alejandra Ferris, Centro Cultural de Washington County

Congratulations to Alejandra Ferris, our first virtual Free Spirit! Alejandra was nominated by someone in the community who noticed her dedication to the Latinx community. Alexandra is a 3rd Year Clinical Psychology Student with a Sabiduría Latinx Emphasis.

Alejandra selected a favorite quarantine cocktail kit made with a Freeland Fresh hibiscus mixer. She renamed it “Verano Sin Fin” (endless summer, in Spanish, because that’s what it tastes like to her!) A portion of the proceeds from the Verano Sin Fin and the Verano Sin Fin (2 ways with Geneva and Gin) will benefit Centro Cultural de Washington County for the next month.

Alejandra has poured hours into building and implementing a curriculum for culturally- and linguistically-sensitive health promotion for Oregon Latinxs. She is a leader on a team who have trained community leaders on how to promote health and wellness within their communities. Even now during COVID-19, she works to put together online and remote trainings for community members. She is a leader in social justice movements and inspires others to do more, speak up, or be louder about important social issues. Community outreach and engagement is a huge part of her focus as a psychology trainee, which will undoubtedly set her up to continue to make meaningful change for social equity.

*Some* of her outreach work includes: volunteering in our university's interdisciplinary diabetes clinic, visiting vineyards in the Willamette Valley to talk to workers about mental wellness, coordinating and/or hosting community trainings, training others to carry on psycho-educational work. Thank you, Alejandra, for everything you do for our community!