Ajay Lucas’s journey is one of resilience and a deep commitment to advocacy. Born in Mexico, Ajay migrated to the U.S. as a child, facing the harsh realities of crossing the border with his siblings. Growing up undocumented in Los Angeles, he quickly learned the challenges of navigating life in a new country. These experiences fueled his passion for understanding and improving the systems that affect immigrant communities and drive economic opportunity.
Despite significant obstacles, Ajay pursued his education with determination and is now working toward a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Southern California. Ajay serves as the Senior Manager of Public Policy for UNITE-LA, collaborating with businesses, government leaders, and community advocates, to develop policies that create economic opportunities for marginalized communities.
Ajay views the Bryce Harlow Fellowship as a valuable opportunity to expand his network, refine his advocacy skills, and gain insights that will help him make a broader impact. His long-term goal is to run for office, where he aims to represent California’s diversity and drive meaningful change in areas like immigration policy, economic equity, and workforce development.
With a rich background in advocacy, Ferdous has served as Legislative Director at the Afghanistan-U.S. Democratic Peace and Prosperity Council, representing the Afghan Parliament before the U.S. Congress. Now, as a Policy Analyst at Wise Capital Strategy, he focuses on domestic policies, including trade communication and environmental law. Ferdous sees climate change as an existential threat and is dedicated to environmental policy, alongside his interests in national security and emerging technologies like AI.
This connection led him to pursue a degree in environmental science at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where he realized how vital it was to protect and preserve the natural world for future generations.
Alex Melillo’s career is a testament to the power of cross-cultural understanding and the importance of trust in global relations—two values that deeply resonate with the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s mission. Raised in New Jersey, Alex’s passion for Japan began at just nine years old when she started learning Japanese, and this early interest grew into a lifelong commitment to U.S.-Japan relations. After earning her undergraduate degree, she spent a decade in Japan, where she worked in education and with the American Chamber of Commerce, bridging cultural and commercial gaps between the two nations.
