Welcome Esther Li-Chen to the team!

CCB’s secret weapon has always been the amazing students who spend time with us, be it for a few years or a few months. This fall we’ve been lucky enough to have our latest Cal Bear, Esther Li-Chen, as a new addition to the team! Here’s a few quick facts about Esther:

University and grade: UC Berkeley, Junior

Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

Major: Architecture & sustainable design

Professional aspiration: I’m not entirely sure yet. I’m currently pursuing my interests in Architecture at Cal and activism with CCB, but I also have goals in product design and user experience (UX) research. Currently, I’m just trying to appreciate my time at school, and learn as much as I can with the team at CCB!

Most recent book finished: I recently read Gods of Jade and Shadow which I got in celebration of Latinx Heritage Month, and I really enjoyed it. I’ve always loved well-written fiction books, and this one was interesting because it's inspired by Mexican folklore, which I didn’t know much about beforehand. Other books that I loved reading are A Little Life, The Goldfinch, The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, and Anxious People. I’m also always open to suggestions for good literature, so I'd love to hear what other people’s favorite books are.

Things Esther’s better at than most people: Fashion and food! I have a deep appreciation for fashion, I really enjoy discussing about other people’s styles and picking out what to wear, so my friends usually ask for my input on their outfits (and I ask the same of them). Also, I recently made kimchi stew and it was perfect for the onset of the cold weather. It was so easy to make, which is a crucial factor as a college student!

What Esther’s working on at CCB: I've worked a lot with social media management and design in my past jobs, which I’m hoping to bring into CCB’s Twitter (@CACommBuilders) and into the new website! I also have some research projects in the works, as well as some interviews with CCB’s amazing former intern Riena.

Difference Esther wants to make in the world: I’m studying sustainable design because I believe that there are many ways that we as individuals can leave a positive impact on our environment and communities. Currently, my main goal is to help amplify historically underrepresented voices through grassroots activism and joining organizations such as CCB to effect this change.