Samantha Garcia is a New Mexico Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies with a main focus on the Criminalization of Race and Poverty. Born in Mexico and raised in New Mexico, she is a NM state licensed clinical mental health specialist. In her clinical experience, she has worked with diverse populations and deepened her practice at local substance abuse and domestic violence health clinics. She graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Human Development Family Studies and an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health. Samantha has been involved with grassroots organizations in New Mexico such as, Engaging Latino Communities for Education (ENLACE), NM Dream Team on immigration justice, and the UNM Community Engagement Center (CEC). At CEC, she worked as a graduate and research assistant advancing anti-racist social justice projects through educational development and anti-racism trainings in communities across New Mexico. Samantha’s professional interests and passion merge in bringing an awareness to the impact that institutional, interpersonal, internalized and systemic oppression have on the individual, family, community and overall global health.