Brisa Santana, Staff Writer
An Oakland born and raised Native, Brisa Santana, 21, is a proud member of the Tecutnut Ohlone and Mexica nations. Now starting her third semester at Merritt College, Brisa has made deep connections with her passion for education, history, writing, politics, and social justice. She has a strong knack for physical movement, as she was raised doing Aztec dancing with her mother and three sisters, and more often than not you’ll find her outside engaging in something extremely active. Whether it be softball, soccer, martial arts, skating, or her more recent obsession in rock climbing, Brisa is constantly moving and having fun in order to stay sane and happy. In her more professional life, Brisa is very committed to and invested in community work surrounding the East Bay housing crisis, immigrant rights, Black Lives Matter, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women awareness, environmental justice, and much much more. She also continues to support her father in their family business at Cafe Santana as a barista, and has been doing so since she was 13. In her relaxed time, Brisa enjoys watching and breaking down films, shooting some photography, and listening to or playing music.
