One of my favorite aspects of my work this past summer has been the diversity of responsibilities and tasks. I started the summer working at the Bronx County Hall of Justice in the mornings, doing parole outreach. In the afternoon, I assisted the BCRTF at the Fortune Society’s nearby Bronx office. This first month gave me an engaging balance of direct service and advocacy. Most notably, I successfully advocated for a 74-year-old re-entry client by securing a reasonable accommodation that enabled him to terminate an unsafe housing lease without penalty.In July, my supervisor had a meeting with the supervising judges at Kings County Criminal Court in Brooklyn, and they emphasized the necessity of a Fortune representative at their parole courts. Starting in the new environment was difficult because I had to make new introductions with parole specialists and attorneys. Another problem was a lack of familiarity with the services at the Fortune Society and how they could assist in ‘revoke and restore’ outcomes for their clients. I managed this challenge by going out of my way to introduce myself to the key players there and putting together a community outreach one-pager that could be easily distributed among staff. Shortly after, attorneys began approaching me with cases that met the proper criteria.

Through this internship, I witnessed the way policy decisions impact people’s lives, and it deepened my resolve to be part of the change. I am now certain that I will attend law school with the goal of practicing in NYC. As a recipient of the Armando and Ann Manfredi Arts Internship Award, the financial support covered the entirety of my rent in a prime location for working in the NYC courts. I am beyond grateful to have received the Armando and Ann Manfredi Arts Internship Award and the Hon. Paul & Yvonne Casey Internship Award. Thank you again, Mr. Harry Samuel and Mr. Garvin Brown, for your generosity.