Author: Andres Caballero, senior
This summer, I had the privilege of interning at Jonas Bronck Academy (JBA) in the Bronx through the support of the Fordham Honors Program and the nonprofit Friends of JBA (FOJBA). FOJBA’s mission is to support the academic and social-emotional development of JBA scholars, and my work was aimed at strengthening that mission while laying foundations that can last beyond my time at Fordham.
A central focus of my internship was creating a well-being intervention for incoming 6th- and 9th-grade students during summer orientation. Over four weeks, we introduced daily practices of mindfulness, loving-kindness, and gratitude, led by teachers using guided scripts I developed. Early feedback was encouraging, and the next steps involve refining the program and exploring ways for teachers, counselors, and social workers to adapt it into their ongoing work with students.
In addition, I helped design several initiatives that are set to launch in the coming year. These include a Spanish-language wellness series for JBA parents (to be facilitated by my mother), a weekly newsletter for families to improve communication, and a new partnership with the local nonprofit POTS (Part of the Solution). With POTS, we’re planning a YEP volunteer day this fall and developing flyers and presentations to connect families with services such as meals, legal assistance, and employment support.
I also worked on expanding the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) by building a partnership with Fordham’s Psychology Club. Their involvement will help with mentor recruitment, event planning, and even potential funding—strengthening YEP’s ability to support students long-term.
This experience has affirmed my passion for working in schools to improve student well-being. The Honors Program’s support allowed me to combine intellectual inquiry with community engagement, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute to JBA in ways that I hope will last well beyond my time there.