ABOUT JULISSA.

Julissa Arce is a nationally recognized author, speaker, and social justice advocate who, with America Ferrera, is currently developing and executive producing a television series for a major network optioned from her bestselling memoir, My (Underground) American Dream. Her young adult memoir, Someone Like Me is used in classrooms across the country. Her new book, You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation is a dual polemic and manifesto, where Julissa dives into and tears apart the lie that assimilation leads to belonging. Instead Julissa offers a bold new promise: Belonging only comes through celebrating yourself, your history, your culture, and everything that makes you uniquely you. Only in turning away from the white gaze can we truly make America beautiful. An America where difference is celebrated, heritage is shared and embraced, and belonging is for everyone. Through unearthing veiled history and reclaiming her own identity, Julissa shows us how to do this.

She was named one of People en Español’s 25 Most Powerful Woman of 2017 and 2022 and 2019 Woman of the Year by the City of Los Angeles. She is a leading voice in the fight for social justice, immigrant rights and education equality. Julissa has contributed to The New York Times, TIME, Buzzfeed News, Crooked Media, CNBC, and is one of the hosts of Crooked Conversations. She has provided political commentary across numerous TV networks including NBC News, Bloomberg TV, CNN, and MSNBC.

In order to help other young people in similar circumstances, Julissa co-founded the Ascend Educational Fund (AEF).  AEF is a college scholarship and mentorship program for immigrant students in New York City, regardless of their ethnicity, national original or immigration status. She also serves on the board of directors of the National Immigration Law Center. She was officially sworn in as an American citizen in August of 2014.  Read her full biography here.