School: J.D. Clement Early College High School
Hometown: Durham, NC
Roots: El Salvador
The daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Nayeli Reyes Rivera is a social justice warrior and a dog lover. A scholar of the Emily K Center, Nayeli currently attends JD Clement Early College High School, where she leads the human rights and activism club, founded a Latinx Club, and co-hosted a Hispanic heritage festival. Passionate about the quality of education for first-generation and students of color, Nayeli is a member of Made in Durham, an organization that focuses on racial equity and cultural sensitivity throughout Durham Public Schools, and has previously taught English in a local school in the Dominican Republic. She is also passionate about gun violence in predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods, and led a school walkout for the anniversary of Columbine. She hopes to attend Brown University and major in Latin American Studies and enter the Peace Corps before attending law school. Nayeli aspires to be an immigration lawyer who leads social change and launches a nonprofit supporting and mentoring aspiring social activists.