Dear Councilman Aníbal Ramos Jr.

My name is Gabrielle Vera, I’m 18 years old and a student at Rutgers University Newark. I grew up in Newark and live in our city’s North ward. I am the former secretary of the Newark Student union, an organization that worked tirelessly for the return of local control in our city.

Throughout my high school career I dedicated countless hours to engaging, supporting, and empowering my community. I have done work with Sadie Nash to support young woman of color and was recently selected as an Aspen young leaders fellow in Newark.

I began my college career early after dropping out of high school at 16 years old and returning to a non-traditional program known as gateway to college , located at Essex County College. After returning to school, I graduated at 17 with a high school diploma and 40 college credits, and immediately began Rutgers University in the Fall of 2017. All of my experiences combined led me to decide to become a political science major and legal studies minor at Rutgers.
As a political science major, I have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to intern at our nation’s capital with the Washington Center. Unfortunately the costs of the program total to approximately $14,700. I have already earned a residential scholarship through the Honors Living Learning Community at Rutgers Newark to help minimize costs, however I am still in need.

Is there any way that you, Councilman, can assist me with scholarship funds? I have and still am an active member in my community and see this as a great opportunity for my community to help me. As we all know, it takes a village

Please keep in touch and read part of my story through my GoFundMe account.

Thank you for your time,

Gabrielle G. Vera
GoFundMe.com/sendgabrielletoDC
C-201-887-2534
E- [email protected]