Iris [pronounced EE-rees] Mercado was born in Buenos Aires, grew up in Miami, and raised to be a community organizer. She grew up surrounded by social justice activists and from an early age was sent out to explore NGOs.
In 2008, Iris probably hand-addressed your letters from the Workers Interfaith Network. Maybe she was your child’s BRIDGES PeaceJam or Bridge Builders facilitator. But Iris has definitely been involved in something you care about in Memphis. Iris first joined MSPJC through the Alternatives to the Military Project in 2009 and soon after graduated the G.O.T. Power Training.
Over the past ten years, Iris has been involved with local and national organizations to advance immigrant rights. After graduating from White Station HS, Iris had no choice but to stay in Memphis in order to continue organizing around tuition equity for undocumented youth. In 2013, she became the West TN Organizer for the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. This year, she’ll be graduating from Rhodes College with a Bachelor’s in Urban Studies and minor in Anthropology/Sociology. Iris will also be joining the MSPJC staff as an organizer for the Immigrant Rights Project with Memphis United and promises to use her hulk smashing powers to take down dirtynotarios. You can contact her at iris@midsouthpeace.org.