Deja Villanueva

Deja Villanueva

Deja Villanueva was born and raised in Merced. Deja graduated from Merced High School in 2014. Deja now attends Merced College where she is studying for an Associates Degree in Sociology to transfer to UC Merced to earn her Bachelor of Sociology Degree.

Attending the John Sperling Fellowship was a big accomplishment for Deja. The training gave Deja the confidence and encouragement she needed to continue the work of Communities For A New California (CNC). Deja joined CNC in 2015 in the capacity of canvasser and phone banker. The Fellowship have Deja the opportunity to move up in CNC as a Team Lead. In Deja’s new position she continues to work of helping citizens transform their own communities. Deja is grateful to have attended the Fellowship, because it not only opened up new doors, but taught her that “your story” is very compelling and… “the way in which we share our story with others can make a lot of change.”