Born and raised in the East Village of Manhattan to Filipino immigrants, Brian Paragas graduated from Stuyvesant High School and now is majoring in political science at CCNY. The foundations of his political beliefs stem from a longstanding passion for the arts, which has offered him an understanding of the importance of individuality and openness in life. During his sophomore year at CCNY, Brian interned with the Center for Constitutional Rights, a progressive nonprofit law and advocacy organization. The organization introduced him to the social justice movement and the possibility of progressive change. Brian is specifically interested in the intersection of human rights and culture, and hopes to contribute to positive social change and development through public policy research and analysis.