Maria Pastrana is a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and resident of White Plains, NY, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an activist. Maria began her organizing journey with Make the Road New York, an immigrant-led group that campaigns around education, health justice, housing, and environmental justice. Maria and her mother have faced rent hikes every year for the past several years – even as their apartment’s condition has deteriorated. Her mother has taken on extra jobs to make ends meet, and when she’s complained about pests, her landlord has threatened to evict her. She’s seen her neighborhood change as rents skyrocket — Good Cause would have protected her family and preserved what’s left of her neighborhood. Maria firmly believes that everyone is impacted by the housing crisis and that every story deserves to be heard.
