UNLV student, DNC delegate: Harris’ life inspiring for first-generation Americans

Kamala Harris’ personal journey has long been key in defining her approach to politics, but since becoming the Democratic nominee, Harris has become an even more inspiring figure for first-generation Americans, Salvador Avila said. 

To Carolyn Salvador Avila, Vice President Kamala Harris is the embodiment of the American Dream in action. 

Harris, the child of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, paved a career in public service thanks in part because of the sacrifices made by her parents, said Salvador Avila, a 20-year-old UNLV student and the national president of College Democrats of America, who herself is the child of Chilean migrants. And it’s those sacrifices that have in turn led to Harris becoming the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to become the Democratic presidential nominee.

Harris’ personal journey has long been key in defining her approach to politics, but since becoming the Democratic nominee, Harris has become an even more inspiring figure for first-generation Americans, Salvador Avila said. 

“Harris quite frankly represents the American Dream that my mom came to this country to give me,” Salvador Avila told The Nevadan during a recent phone interview. 

RELATED: Joe Biden passes the torch to Kamala Harris on night one of the Democratic Convention

Salvador Avila is serving as one of Nevada’s 49 delegates representing the state at this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and has perhaps become one of the faces of the state party’s next generation. In addition to College Dems, Salvador Avila is the executive director of The Chilean American Association, a non-profit organization that connects Las Vegas residents with ties to Chile with community and cultural events. 

As president of College Dems, Salvador Avila was automatically tapped as a delegate but despite the pleasantry, she remains keenly aware of the stakes of this year’s election — the first presidential race she will be able to cast a ballot in. 

“We’ve seen what the first four years of having Donald Trump in the White House looks like, and we’ve seen how dangerous that can be for so many people,” Salvador Avila said. “The hate he has for so many groups in the United States, which is already an incredibly diverse country, and the hate he inspires in other people — it’s not the way that our country should be going.” 

Salvador Avila’s role as College Dems national president exempted her from the usual delegate selection process, so she’s been using any extra time she’s had in the runup to make connections with other young delegates representing other delegations this week. Like many young people, she’s worried about affordability as well as preserving reproductive rights. 

“From what I understand from previous conventions, there has been youth involvement, but not in the amounts we’ve seen this time,” Salvador Avila said. “It’s not easy, because being younger — I say we have a college student budget. So it’s not always easy to make sure you’re going to be able to fly to Chicago for the DNC, and for an entire week at that.” 

Once the convention concludes, however, Salvador Avila will be tasked with not only energizing college students nationwide, but also persuading them to turn out for Harris. Politicians on both sides have long said the youth vote could tip the scale in any election. 

This one is no exception, Salvador Avila said. 

“I think my generation is one that has no problem with calling out the BS,” Salvador Avila said. “We want to see progress, and one of our options this year is somebody who not only isn’t giving us progress, but wants to take us backwards.” 

And while Harris will be the focus of this week’s festivities, Salvador Avila has become a rising star in her own right. She’s the first UNLV student to lead the national chapter of College Dems, and she also interned for Nevada US Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (who is also a delegate). 

All of that before earning a bachelor’s degree. As a criminal psychology major with a minor in public policy, Salvador Avila says her ultimate goal is to become a trial lawyer so she can continue to help her community. 

Perhaps it could be her one day running for public office.

“To be completely honest, politics was never the goal. It just kind of happened,” Salvador Avila said. “Obviously, I’m thankful that it has. I’ve learned so much, and I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to represent so many people in my community.”

“I do intend on staying involved with respect to my community, however that ends up working out” she continued. “If that means that I do end up running for office, then I guess it happens.”