He is the Chair for the DC AfroLatino Caucus, is originally from the Dominican Republic and moved to Washington, D.C., at the age of nine. After graduating from Bell Multicultural High School, Mendez received his bachelor’s degree in African Studies and Communication at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Fortunate to have a host of mentors in his adolescence, Mendez’s passion for supporting positive youth development and the issues that plague the people of the African Diaspora are ever-apparent themes in his pursuit of affecting progressive change in his community. As a constant staple in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, Mendez’s dedicated support has allowed him to forge long-term, meaningful relationships with members of the community. Currently, as the chair of the DC AfroLatino Caucus, Mendez’s goal is to unite “black and brown” people of the Washington metropolitan area. He is also a Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland’s School of Information Studies.