Social Justice – Honors Blog

Honors Summer Internship Fellow: Andres

Author: Andres Caballero, sophomore

This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Jonas Bronck Academy (JBA), a middle school located in the Bronx, through the non-profit Friends of JBA (FOJBA) because of the generous fellowship grant given to me by the Honors Program. As a psychology major, I aim to help others through personal connections and advocating for mental health. After a whole academic year of helping out my mentee at JBA through the mentorship program offered through the Honors Program, I knew I wanted to keep impacting students’ lives in the summer.

The mission of FOJBA is to enhance the academic and social-emotional growth of JBA scholars, which was certainly something I wanted to be part of. My time during the internship was divided into three main tasks:

Working with my mentee and other students during summer school.
Researching and planning ideas that could be implemented in the school.
Planning long-term ideas to collect donations for the organization.

During the first three weeks of the internship, much of my focus was on writing documents of ideas I wanted to implement in the school; one could say “proposals” in some way. The three papers I spent most of my time writing about involved mindfulness, meditation, and journaling; implementing positive habit formation; and a college preparation program for the future high school.

I also helped with researching companies we could contact and apply for funds, prepared and sent emails, and brainstormed and planned ideas that could be executed within the school to raise money. It is essential to establish long-term partnerships and school fundraiser ideas that bring a satisfactory amount of money for expenditures within the school that could be used, such as for the future college preparation program.

The work I have mentioned above is most of the work I have done behind the scenes. The other part of the internship was working with the kids during summer school, which was my favorite part. Seeing the students making progress daily was very satisfactory. After the internship, seeing my work over the summer was very fulfilling. I am very grateful for the Honors Program, the staff at JBA, and the donors who made this experience possible.

Honors Summer Internship Fellow: Thomas

Author: Thomas Lercari, junior

This summer, I interned with the World Youth Alliance, a non-profit organization seeking to promote human dignity in education, policy, and culture.

The organization is a coalition of young people from developing and developed countries united in solidarity for this cause. It has over one million members from over 160 countries and is present in every continent of the world.

As the Project Management Intern, I had the opportunity to assist the European sector of the organization with day-to-day tasks, as well as important projects. One project I helped spearhead is the Dignity Defenders Campaign, which helps raise funds for the organization.

Being in Brussels, I was able to attend a multitude of conferences at the European Parliament, where I monitored and took part in the conferences. I was able to bring the importance of human dignity and the role of young people in protecting it into the discussions. My experiences as a dignity defender at the World Youth Alliance echo my experiences as a scholar for justice in the Honors Program.

My internship at the World Youth Alliance this summer greatly contributed to my professional growth. I was able to hone my communication skills by networking with numerous people of all backgrounds, as well as by advocating for human dignity in the European Parliament and with other international organizations.

I also cultivated a deep sense of responsibility during my internship, as I was trusted with important tasks such as representing the organization at conferences, as well as leading important projects such as the Dignity Defenders Campaign.

Overall, I am pleased with how my summer internship went. I gained a great deal of professional experience in a rewarding internship. I am very grateful to the Honors Program for giving me the opportunity to go to Brussels for this internship through their generous fellowship. I look forward to utilizing the new skills in my repertoire during the upcoming school year.

Honors Summer Internship Fellow: Andy

Author: Andy Diaz, junior

This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with The PVBLIC Foundation, which is a media, technology, public advocacy, and sustainable development-focused registered 501(c) nonprofit. This organization “mobilizes media, data, and technology for sustainable development and social impact.” For example, working with the UN Department of Global Communications, the PVBLIC Foundation has created the SDG Media Zone. This zone, constructed as a physical space for the United Nations General Assembly, advances the 2030 Agenda out of the policy sphere and into the public discourse through impactful in-depth interviews and conversations on global issues. My internship began the week of June 7th, and I split my week assisting with communications work for the Media Zone and the parent, PVBLIC.

In my role assisting with the Communications team, I was able to apply my media knowledge and develop my interpersonal soft skills with fellow interns and my superiors. Something I especially valued was that interns were offered the opportunity to be connected with people, offices, and organizations that we were interested in, and PVBLIC found connections to those bodies and coordinated mentorship sessions. I was provided a mentorship with someone highly involved in ambassadorial work in the United Nations, and they provided me with invaluable insight on the networking and career-building process within the UN. In fact, since my internship, I was offered a job with PVBLIC Foundation, and have since been helping the group with their initiatives as well as prepare for this year’s United Nations General Assembly taking place in New York City in September.

I am incredibly grateful for Dr. Keller for encouraging me to apply, and Hannah for her guidance throughout the Fellowship process. The Honors Summer Fellowship allowed me the freedom to look at unique work opportunities and provided me with the opportunity to work for an organization that does incredible work towards issues I care about. It is because of the financial support from the Honors Program that I was able to explore professional and academic interests and consequently secure a job at a positive mission-driven organization. I highly encourage students to pursue opportunities within the Honors Program because they open doors for invaluable creative, academic, and professional endeavors.

Honors Summer Internship Fellow: Olivia

Author: Olivia Griffin, sophomore

Through the generosity of the Rose Hill Honors Program, I had the opportunity this summer to intern in the events department at the Oklahoma City Myriad Botanical Gardens. The Myriad Gardens is a public, 17-acre urban park in the middle of the downtown district that hosts a large number of events for the community. The Gardens’ mission is “to increase the quality of life and vibrancy by creating and sustaining a world-class public garden and offering quality horticultural, cultural and recreational programs and events for all.”

In my role on the events team, I was able to develop my problem-solving, professional correspondence, and project management skills. My experience was invaluable in exploring my future career path in the nonprofit sector. However, my favorite part of the internship was developing and executing my own public event, “JUMP! At Myriad Botanical Gardens.” The goal of the event was to provide an engaging opportunity for the community to participate in a free, fitness-focused jump rope event, with an emphasis on educating participants on jump rope culture and heart health. I managed all aspects of the event, including securing sponsors, contracting performers, budgeting, and marketing. Ultimately, I wanted to create an environment that fostered community building. I procured a sponsorship from the American Heart Association, and they provided free jump ropes to all participants. The event went smoothly, and it was a joy to see the smiles on many faces, young and old.

One of the main concerns of the Myriad Gardens is accessibility, whether financial, physical, or social. I consider their attention to this issue extremely important to the fabric of Oklahoma City. We hosted sensory activities for children with disabilities, a variety of free weekly fitness classes, and many cultural events. Our free summer movie series was a big draw for many individuals experiencing homelessness in the downtown area. By providing free, educational, and interactive activities, the Myriad Gardens has transformed itself from a green space into a key community magnet.
I am incredibly grateful to the Honors Program for granting me an Honors Summer Internship Fellowship, which allowed me to learn from this organization. It has been wonderful to aid in the growth, vitality, and visibility of the downtown district of my home city, especially as an Urban Studies major. I look forward to sharing my newfound knowledge in accessibility-focused event planning and community building with the Fordham Honors community!

Connecting the Honors Mission and Curriculum to a Community-Based Research Opportunity

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.

Honors Summer Internship Fellows: Aya

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.

Honors Summer Internship Fellows: Harry

This is the fourth 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: Harry Parks, sophomore

Over the span of eight weeks from late May to late July, it was my privilege to intern at the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America (“GOA”) within the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations (“the Ecumenical Office”). I was honored to work under the direction of Fr. Nicolas Kazarian and with the much needed and valuable support of Dr. Keller and the Honors Program through the Summer Internship Fellowship.

Under the archiepiscopal direction of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, the Ecumenical Office is expressly tasked with preserving Orthodox unity in the United States, sustaining efforts of dialogue and collaboration with Ecumenical partners, engaging in constructive relations with interfaith communities, and advancing “Church and Society” initiatives.

Before this internship, I wanted to engage in the Ecumenical Office’s creation care and racial reconciliation initiatives, but soon realized that I needed to commit myself fully to the tasks that were asked of me in order to yield the best fruits from this opportunity.

During my time in the Archdiocese, I was given a variety of assignments, compelling me to adapt to the various areas and concerns of the Office within Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith relations as the mission of the Church intersects and transcends these arenas. Generally, my work centered around three areas: administrative briefs, ghostwriting and editing, and initiative brainstorming and content creation.

My work constructing briefs was undertaken either to prepare the Archbishop for meetings with religious or secular leaders, or to advocate for the positions and safety of the Church. I found myself engaged in meaningful work to produce concise, yet instructive documents for the Church. Regarding ghostwriting and editing, I was privileged to write and/or edit multiple texts, giving me an intimate glimpse into the importance of accurate, tempered, and consistent spiritual and social messaging within the GOA. I was fortunate to help preserve the Ecumenical Office’s creation care initiatives by creating social media content for the Office’s Facebook and brainstorming new projects and structures to implement in the future.

Undoubtedly, this internship was the oil needed to fuel the fire of my spiritual journey in the Orthodox faith and my academic aspirations at the intersection of international studies, Orthodox Christianity, and Ecumenical dialogue. I pray that I may find just as potent a fuel in the future to “set [myself and] the world on fire,” as attributed to Ignatius of Loyola, in offering myself to the missions of the Orthodox Church.

A Budding Bronx Partnership Takes Root

Author: Danielle D’Alonzo, senior

Last year, we could only see our classmates’ faces in little Zoom boxes. All of the events that usually bring people together, like Club Fair and Spring Weekend, were canceled. Many of our friends did not even come to campus. At a moment when human interactions were so restricted, I was grateful for a chance to experience myself and others as social beings.

The new Youth Engagement Program builds unity and understanding between two communities: Fordham Rose Hill Honors Program, and Jonas Bronck Academy, the middle school across the street from our campus. Each Fordham student is paired with a JBA student in a one-on-one mentoring relationship. As preparation for the program, Fordham students met with JBA staff to complete training sessions on the theory and practice of mentoring. Some of the main lessons were that the mentors should encourage goal-setting, a healthy work/life balance, and personal and civic responsibility.

Once the weekly meetings began, things became more free-form, with each mentor-mentee pair charting their own path. Whether it was through casual chatting or helping with homework, talking about mental health, or playing video games, the mentors helped the mentees achieve their goals and maintain their social and emotional wellbeing. That is not to say that the mentors did not learn and grow from the meetings, as well. At the end of the semester, when all of the program participants came together, mentors and mentees alike expressed the same sentiments. “It’s so nice to have somebody to talk to, and somebody to listen to.” “It’s really fun to share my interests with my mentor/mentee.” “I am learning so much from the weekly meetings.”

I truly appreciate the trust and rapport that my mentee and I built together, and I hope that she feels the same way. I have high hopes that this program will keep thriving, and expanding our social lives even after we say goodbye to Zoom!

Honors Summer Internship Fellows: Megan

This is the third 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: Megan Farr, senior

This summer, I interned with the Housing Rights Initiative (HRI), a New York-based non-profit group working to educate the public on source of income discrimination and research the debts that real estate companies owe New York City from violations of city policies.

As an intern, I was able to participate in this mission through my work on HRI’s project to uncover discrimination against Section 8 voucher holders. Section 8 is a federally-funded program providing housing opportunities to low-income tenants. Tenants can use vouchers on any apartment below a rent limit set by their caseworker. Discrimination against the use of Section 8 vouchers is illegal, but landlords and brokers continue to deny prospective tenants based on their sources of income. In order to meet the need for greater public awareness of tenants’ rights surrounding source of income discrimination, HRI trains testers, including myself, posed as Section 8 tenants and called real estate companies to determine if they are in compliance with laws surrounding Section 8 vouchers. HRI also works to educate these companies about source of income discrimination laws, so they can ensure their practices are in line with local and federal laws. As a tester, I was able to hone my ability to think on my feet when speaking to landlords and brokers, as well as experience the investigative side of the public interest legal work I hope to pursue after graduation.

I also researched the debt owed to the City by real estate companies. This portion of my work involved interpreting legal documents, collecting data, and utilizing public records to conduct research. I found this work invaluable for developing skills I will need later in my legal career, including how to read legal documents and collect data in an efficient manner.

My internship would not have been possible without an Honors Summer Internship Fellowship, and I am grateful to the Honors Program for giving me the opportunity to pursue work for a cause I am passionate about. Not only have I deepened my understanding of housing rights issues and further developed my own skills, I have also had the opportunity to participate in the Honors Program’s mission to be a “community of scholars for justice.” HRI values community engagement in their work for housing justice, and working with HRI this summer has allowed me to engage with the New York community and further the work for justice the Honors Program encourages.