In the midst of the Civil Rights Movement, an African American woman dedicated herself to the strenuous fight for equality. Though she could not vote, her voice would contribute to a lasting victory. This woman, CU-Boulder student Joseph Soto鈥檚 grandmother, inspired her grandson to fight discrimination with the same zeal.
Senior Joseph Soto attributes his passion for politics to his grandmother, who fought for the election of President John F. Kennedy and later, for Bobby Kennedy鈥檚 campaign.
鈥淗earing my grandmother鈥檚 story resonated with me,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淚t inspired me to pursue politics and policy.鈥�
The and major from Aurora is dedicated to combat various types of discrimination. For Soto, in a changing world, understanding people is the best way to understand how to avoid discrimination.
鈥淟earning about people is a great way to learn about the world,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淚 was fortunate enough to grow up in a community that was incredibly diverse, so I spend my life making the world a little bit more diverse.鈥�
Diversity in all policies is important, Soto said, but sometimes diversity comes with complications in politics. For example, with K-12 standardized tests, Soto explained that districts who welcome refugees often perform poorly. Low test scores therefore result in low state funding.
鈥淚t shows how complicated diversity can be,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淒iversity is good, but how do we account for the unaccounted for?鈥�
The self-proclaimed 鈥減olicy wonk鈥� dreams of defending policies that make for a better tomorrow. He plans to run for office someday and has already made his debut at the White House, where he worked in the Office of Presidential Correspondence during the summer 2013.
鈥淚 want to get involved with policies that affect our futures,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淚 want to make sure my family is okay.鈥�
According to Soto, his minor in has helped him connect the past with the future, regarding policy making. Soto attributes much of his success on campus to History Professor Patrick Tally.
鈥淒r. Tally made it easy to understand historical precedent and connect why things are the way they are because of history, which is so undervalued,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淗e helped connect that concept to what I鈥檓 trying to do on campus.鈥�
As a Tri-Executive member, UMC Board Chair and Scholar Ambassador for the Daniels Fund, Soto鈥檚 passion for making the future better is evident. Soto contributes largely to the well being and future of CU-Boulder, but gives credit to the university for helping make his vision for the future more clear. 听
鈥淭he nature of CU has helped me to rediscover that policy and politics is what my life is. It鈥檚 just so big that if you don鈥檛 get involved, you鈥檒l slip and fall through the cracks,鈥� Soto said. "Being in that kind of environment has taught me that not everything will go the way you want and sometimes your ideas won鈥檛 be the ones that win at the end of the day.鈥�
Soto didn鈥檛 slip through the cracks, but learned how to make his voice more effective.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get involved in politics if you aren鈥檛 thick skinned. You鈥檙e one voice, and that one voice has to find its way,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淏eing forced to find my voice and develop a backbone and thick skin is a gift that CU has given me.鈥�
After graduating in May 2016, Soto plans to get involved in policy. With a bright future, Soto holds fast and exemplifies the same promise as his grandmother did.
鈥淓ven though this country was so discriminatory and so oppressive, she had promise in America,鈥� Soto said. 鈥淚鈥檝e got two brothers and I want them to grow up to be adults in a more accepting society.鈥�