Carlos Mark Vera is a labor entrepreneur, activist, and co-founder of Pay Our Interns, the only organization in the United States fighting to ensure all students—especially Black, Latinx, and Native American students—have equitable access to professional career paths through the implementation of paid internships countrywide. Carlos was raised in California, by way of Colombia, and moved to Washington, D.C., to attend American University. While there, he navigated feelings of isolation and frustration due to the lack of access afforded to him and others because of their background. Once he landed his first Congressional internship, he decided it was time to do something about it. That decision put him on the path to where he is today.