Cynthia Moreno

Cynthia holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington in Seattle. Before her graduate degree, she received a BA in Psychology and Women’s & Gender Studies from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. Cynthia is interested in using qualitative research methods to highlight the varied and unique experiences of immigrant communities throughout the U.S. During her time at the University of Washington, she completed a master’s thesis that examined the impacts of the Trump Administration’s rhetoric and policies on Mexican immigrants on the West Coast. She also interned with the Human Services Division at the City of Bellevue where she reviewed non-profit grant proposals and administered internal research efforts surrounding language access and racial equity.

As a South Los Angeles native, Cynthia was raised in a Mexican immigrant family whose experiences have greatly inspired her passion for social justice and her value of making spaces for communities to speak for themselves. Before her position with the Equity Research Institute, Cynthia was a Research Assistant for the Seattle Minimum Wage Study Team where she interviewed immigrant and minority-owned businesses about the impacts of Seattle’s $15/hour Minimum Wage Ordinance. Cynthia has also served as an intern and Spanish translator for Colombian foster youth through Kidsave International and campaigned for immigration reform with the Coalition for Humane and Immigrant Rights Group of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). She enjoys spending time with her nieces and nephews, being active, and traveling.