Duvraska Mendoza was born in Venezuela, where she lived for 35 years before immigrating to the United States. She earned a master’s degree in Creative Writing in Spanish from New York University in 2023 and currently teaches Spanish at Union College in Union County, New Jersey. As a first-generation immigrant, single mother, and someone living with an autoimmune disease, she has personally experienced language barriers and the challenges of navigating identity and belonging in a new culture.An artist, poet, storyteller, and advocate, Duvraska’s creative work reflects themes of resilience, grief, identity, and healing, often drawing on her lived experiences as an immigrant and mother.
At Cornerstone, she has played an active role as a Spanish-speaking Presenter and Interventionist, delivering workshops and intervention sessions for the Spanish-speaking team. Through these efforts, she creates spaces where forced migrant communities can share their voices, confront challenges, and strengthen resilience, while fostering hope and connection across diverse experiences.