For Alina Sanchez (Miwok – Wilton Rancheria), summer 2025 was a season of powerful advocacy. Fresh from the June 26–July 1 National UNITY Conference in San Diego, where she attended workshops and regional caucuses with Native youth leaders, Alina stepped confidently into her new role as Pacific Region Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee.
Soon after, she joined the Native Sisters Circle at the Capitol to advocate for Senate Revenue and Tax AB 564 & AB 8, pushing for critical funding for youth councils and organizations. “This opportunity allowed me to attend meetings at the Capitol and utilize my voice to speak up for what is right,” she said.
Her policy engagement continued at the Third Quarter 2025 California Priority Legislature Native American Caucus Update, led by Assemblymember James C. Ramos. There, Alina learned about pressing Native issues, met legislators, senators, chairpersons, and advocates, and expanded her network of partners in change. These experiences reflect UNITY’s mission to represent the UNITY Network so that common concerns are studied and addressed with a positive and unified voice — a mission Alina is carrying forward across the Pacific region.
In addition to her work on the regional and state level, Alina led locally as the President of her school’s Student Government. Throughout July, she hosted and attended three planning meetings to prepare for the upcoming school year — setting ideas and goals, outlining class and school priorities, creating a year-long calendar, rehearsing and delivering a freshmen introduction, and organizing a full student government meeting with her executive team and representatives. “It was important to plan ahead and entirely prepare ourselves for the upcoming school year, especially as an incoming senior!” she said.
As Pacific Region Representative on the National UNITY Council Executive Committee, Alina’s summer reflects UNITY’s mission to represent the UNITY Network so that common concerns are studied and addressed with a positive and unified voice. Her work — from national conferences to state advocacy, cultural engagement, and school leadership — demonstrates the impact one committed leader can make in empowering Native youth, honoring heritage, and building a stronger future for Indian Country.