November 2021 – Honors Blog

Author: Amalia Sordo Palacios, junior

This summer, I was a research associate for a study led by Dr. Acevedo, Dr. Ross, and Dr. Azhar from Fordham’s Graduate School of Service in collaboration with the BronxWorks food pantry. Established in 1972, BronxWorks is a nonprofit organization with locations all across the Bronx that has grown to serve over 60,000 people in 2020 by providing numerous services to families and individuals, including immigration services, workforce development, housing assistance, youth education, and nutritional assistance. Along with the other undergraduate students Olivia Youngblood, Hasib Mia, Ver Sogueco, and Camila Da Silva, I surveyed food pantry clients to hear about their experiences during the pandemic and learn about the impact COVID-19 has had on food insecurity throughout the Bronx.

Amalia Sordo Palacios, Honors Class of 2023

After taking Dr. Acevedo’s Bronx Exploration seminar as a freshman and reading South Bronx Battles: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Renewal by Carolyn McLaughlin, the former executive director of BronxWorks, I was excited for the opportunity to engage with and work alongside the nonprofit that we had learned so much about. I began the summer hoping to gain a better understanding of public health research and community-engaged work through my hands-on role as a Research Assistant.

Honors senior, Olivia Youngblood, conducts a survey with a BronxWorks participant.

While I did learn a lot about qualitative research, the most memorable aspect of this project was the relationships that I formed. After a year of being at home and taking classes remotely, it felt really special to be back in the Bronx and meeting new people face to face. As a Spanish speaker, I connected with immigrant clients from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and other Latin American countries and was fully attentive to the stories that they shared during the surveys.

Honors students conducting surveys with BronxWorks.

I am especially grateful for the support and wisdom imparted to us by Dr. Azhar, Dr. Acevedo, and Dr. Ross. They were always excited to share their research interests, current projects, career/life advice, and experience in academia with us. The staff at BronxWorks was also incredibly welcoming to our team and inspiring in their dedication to their work. I am excited for the next stage of the research project and hope that the results will be able to support BronxWorks as they continue their mission of empowering individuals and families in the Bronx community.

This is the final post in a series of six posts written by the Summer 2021 Honors Internship Fellows. The students received a stipend that enabled them to work at non-profit organizations for the common good.

Author: Aya Harel, sophomore

Aya Harel, Honors Class of 2024

I was thrilled earlier this year to be chosen as an Advocacy Intern for Unchained At Last, the only organization dedicated to ending forced marriage and child marriage in the United States through direct services and advocacy. The nonprofit boasts a variety of direct services for survivors of forced and child marriage, including pro bono legal aid, childcare, and emergency financial assistance. On the advocacy side, where I worked, the organization tirelessly fights to end child marriage through legislation. When I started at Unchained, only four U.S. states had ended all marriage before age eighteen, no exceptions. Now, New York has recently become the sixth state to end child marriage. My work consisted of contacting legislators in states with pending bills to end child marriage and encouraging their support. Being a fellow this summer allowed me to purchase new personal electronics with which I made calls, sent emails, and participated in company events. I have found a new passion in the fight to end child marriage, which would not have been possible without the support of the Honors Program Summer Fellowship Grant.

As my work was supported by the Honors Program, being an intern at Unchained called upon abilities I had gained and strengthened during my first year as an Honors student and hope to apply to my future career. Cold-calling legislators and convincing them to listen—or even answer the phone, in all honesty— is no easy task. I relied heavily on the communication and persuasion skills instilled by my Honors professors, who encouraged clear, concise writing with carefully chosen words. I kept their advice in mind and produced a convincing script for my calls and emails, leading to many productive conversations with legislators and staffers.

My first experience in the professional world was invigorating and inspirational. The support of the Honors Program allowed me to pursue a new passion, fostering a new belief in myself and my capabilities.