Although now based in the Bay Area, Lauren is committed to amplifying the collective power of workers in the Central Valley through communications and data campaigns. Lauren became a part of the labor movement during their time as a student at UC Santa Cruz, where they supported AFSCME 3299 members on strike for a better contract. Before their time at NVLF, Lauren was a communications intern at Teamsters 856, an organizer at United Students Against Sweatshops, and a Starbucks barista.