Nine students complete DC internships at WCSC over fall 2024

Six Eastern Mennonite University students, two Bethel College students and one Bluffton University student gained professional experience last fall at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC).

The center, located in the nation’s capital since 1976, is a program of Eastern Mennonite University.

The semester-long experience is also a community-building endeavor, with students living together in the Nelson Good House in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C. The semester’s placements included several organizations that are longtime hosts of EMU students, highlighting WCSC’s deep ties within the region. Many alumni can trace their careers back to a pivotal experience at WCSC.

Read on to learn more about the students, their placements and the organizations they were involved with. 

Ella Brubaker, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was an advocacy intern with Latin America Working Group. She assisted staff with main campaigns by helping with social media, writing news alerts, assisting with research, attending meetings with human rights defenders, and supporting any events planned by the organization. She said her most significant learning experience was in gaining a deeper understanding of the advocacy world and learning from human rights defenders and their stories.

Adrian Delgadillo, of Dakota, Illinois, taught photography class at Latin American Youth Center. His most significant learning experience was in helping young artists grow as well as learning to appreciate various aspects of life through photography.

Andrew Graber, of Divide, Colorado, was a marketing intern for Manna Inc. Some of the projects he worked on last semester included marketing outreach materials and events. He said his most significant learning experience was in learning how to navigate new spaces. 

“Learning how to be confident without being cocky, bold but not mean, and comfortable while still being aware of those around you is an important skill no matter where you go,” the Bethel College student said. “This will help shape how I approach new spaces for the rest of my life.”

Sara Kennel, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, was a climate justice intern with the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns. She constructed  newsletters, participated in NYC Climate Week, wrote action alerts, collaborated to organize climate awareness demonstrations and attended global webinars. She said her most significant learning experience was in gaining a better understanding of Catholic social teaching and learning how to build connections with other organizations working to collaborate effectively.

ML Lormejuste, of Fairfax, Virginia, was a health care policy and advocacy intern with Young Invincibles. He created blogs and advocated on issues facing young adults from ages 24-34, bringing awareness to issues not only to the public, but also to senators and representatives. He said his most significant learning experience was in learning effective ways to make policy, as well as different strategies to make voices heard.

Lauryn Moore, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, was with One DC, where she worked on “a little bit of everything,” including administrative work and community outreach. She said her most significant learning experience was in learning how to organize the community to help fight for change. 

Eli Regier, of Newton, Kansas, was placed with Gonzaga College High School’s student-teaching music department. He taught band, orchestra, percussion, jazz band and AP music theory. His most significant learning experience was in how to manage work-life balance.

Caleb Stoltzfus, of Manheim, Pennsylvania, was with MCC, where he wrote articles, worked on lobbying (specifically on issues of immigration), and did data entry. He said his most significant learning experience was in learning how advocacy work happens and “seeing how the sausage is made, to an extent.”

Jordyn L. Thompson, of Broadway, Virginia, was with the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archive, where she worked on projects including yearbook inventory, Western High School history and inventory, artifact care and management and oral history. She said her most significant learning experience was in inventorying and artifact care and management.

Dima Kassem, WCSC’s associate director of communication and recruitment, collaborated on this article.