Paris Villarreal Marquez is an Afterschool Program Assistant for RiseUp Partnership. In her role, she supports the middle and high school students in the afterschool program by helping to provide academic and social-emotional support. 

As a teen growing up in Red Wing, Paris sought a safe, supportive space where she could spend time with friends, which led her to RiseUp Partnership. She participated in the program through middle and high school – first as a mentee, and then as a mentor to younger students. She is passionate about creating opportunities for youth to spend time in their communities in spaces that offer both social opportunities and academic support. 

Paris is a student at Minnesota State College Southeast, where she is studying phlebotomy. In her spare time, she enjoys drawing, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which includes her two cats.