Washington, DC – Senator John Kerry today honored 22-year-old Patricia de Oliveria of Everett in Washington DC.

Kerry selected de Oliveria to represent Massachusetts at the 1st Annual Senate Democratic Latino Youth Summit being held today.

“Patricia is living the American dream. Her perseverance and her will to overcome adversity made her who she is today: an inspiration to her peers. I am thrilled that I could help bring Patricia to the inaugural youth summit, and I hope that she will continue to help other young men and women realize their full potential,” said Senator Kerry.

The summit provides Latino students nationwide with the opportunity to discuss the impact of federal policies on their generation and on their communities. The designees are given the chance to work with Democratic Senators and talk about ways to achieve their shared goals.

De Oliveria and Kerry have met before. She traveled to Washington in June to discuss his support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which would restore states’ rights to offer in-state tuition to immigrant students who were brought to the U.S. as young children who pursue higher education or military service. Kerry has long been a supporter of the Act and hopes that the Senate will have the chance to vote on it in the coming weeks.

She is currently a student at Bunker Hill Community College and an intern at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. 

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