91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ

I would like to thank Mr. Harry Samuel for his generous support through the Armando and Ann Manfredi Arts Internship Award and Mr. Garvin Brown for supporting me through the Hon. Paul & Yvonne Casey Internship Award. I’m a Political Science student entering my third year at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ. My primary academic interests are U.S. politics and criminal justice reform.

I chose my internship at the Fortune Society in New York City because of my deep interest in law and commitment to justice reform. This interest is directly related to my passion for my studies as a Political Science student and understanding systemic injustices on a global scale. My goal in pursuing this internship was to gain hands-on exposure to the legal mechanisms that shape parole and reentry processes in New York City.

The Fortune Society is a non-profit organization founded in 1967 that advocates and provides services for incarcerated individuals navigating re-entry. Their mission is to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of NYC communities.

My work at Fortune has been a rude awakening to the human consequences of mass incarceration in New York City. In the Bronx County Re-Entry Task Force, I supported clients with job placement and reentry resources. Helping clients navigate job searches and reentry challenges reinforced my understanding of the systemic obstacles they face. As a Parole Outreach Intern, I addressed these injustices through broader efforts, including screening parole cases, collaborating with legal professionals, and advocating for alternatives to incarceration.

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.