Our interns are awesome! Learn more about our Internship Program here.
Spring 2016 Intern Cohort
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Renee BabcockSENIOR INTERN |
Renee is a California native and recent UC Davis graduate where she earned a BA in Evolutionary Anthropology and a minor in Philosophy. Through her work as a law professor’s research assistant, Renee became interested in our current legal structures and how they are unjust and rooted in systemic oppression. Her passion to work for Move to Amend stems from her desire to see radical legal and social change in America by tackling the roots of corporate constitutional rights. Renee came to Move to Amend in Fall 2015 as an on-site intern and is driven to continue this meaningful work as she begins a new life chapter in the Monterey Bay.
Her interests include the Nonhuman Rights Project, cooking, family, local ecology, sci-fi, and animation. |
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Coressa BrownAtlanta, GA |
Coressa Brown is a graduate of Spelman College where she studied Political Science. First bitten by the advocacy bug as a child watching a court case of a wrongfully convicted felon, she knew that social justice would shape her future. She combined her love of law and politics and became a field manager for Working America, helping to spread awareness of issues such as healthcare and corporate greed. Her passion for social justice and the desire to see elections no longer monopolized by money led her to Move to Amend. Her interests include history, reading, music, and reality television. |
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Millicent HarmonSENIOR INTERN |
Millicent (Milly) Harmon grew up in rural Arizona. In high school she began engaging in anti-bias education as a member of the anti-defamation league. A heightened awareness of the ever-prevalent prejudices and inequalities surrounding issues such as race, sex, religion, nationality, and wealth, propelled her into activism. After moving to Northern California she joined the Occupy movement, and got involved in local environmental justice issues. Most recently she worked to pass Measure S, a community Rights initiative to ban fracking in Mendocino County. Milly joined Move To Amend because she believes corporate personhood to be a major factor behind the social political and environmental injustices she works to overcome. |
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Fayruz LamaSENIOR INTERN |
Fayruz Lama is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She plans on attending law school upon graduation. She is an active speaker against social injustices. She hopes to help bring about change in government and society as a whole by interning with Move to Amend.
Her interests include writing, reading, music, and watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban an inordinate amount of times. |
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Natalie NorcuttElon, NC |
Natalie is currently a junior at Elon University where she double majors in Political Science and Psychology. Her interest in the movement stems from the classes she’s taken and the understanding she’s gained of corporations and the role of money in the political world. She believes changing the system in a way that limits the power of money in today’s world is a necessary step in saving our democracy. Her passion for social equality as well as limiting all forms of oppression led her to become involved with Move to Amend.
Her outside interests include Elon’s Women Rugby team and her university’s chapter of I Am That Girl. |
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Grace NovakFairfax, VA |
Grace is in her last semester as a undergraduate student at George Mason University studying Communications and Computer Science. Her expertise is in video production and creating multimedia content, but she has a large variety of interests in other fields and areas of education; she's always looking for ways to expand her mind and talents. Her political surroundings in the D.C. metro area and her wish to use her skills for the greater good led her to working with Move to Amend. Her interests include yoga, video games, reading and drinking orange juice. |
Kelsey ReedySENIOR INTERN |
Kelsey is a Northern California local and a recent Graduate from Humboldt State University. It was while obtaining her degree in sociology with a focus in criminology that she became aware of the many social issues in the country that are not being addressed holistically. She feels this is a result of corporations having the power to make increasing capitol the priority and not supporting humanity . This new knowledge has sparked a life long passion for doing everything she is capable of to not only understand how society works and how it affects people, but to support and advocate for those who have been negatively impacted by its policies and procedures, and take action to address those issues. This is currently being accomplished by working with Move to Amend, Teen Court, and Incarcerated Voices. |
Fall 2015 Intern Cohort
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Cristina AwadallaSENIOR INTERN |
Cristina is a recent UC, Santa Barbara graduate where she studied Sociology, focusing on climate change and social movements. Her interest in Move to Amend stems from an understanding of the pervasive role of corporations in driving climate destabilization. With a systemic view, she sees reigning in on corporate power as the necessary step in reclaiming our democracy. Alongside MTA Cristina is active with several politically left and environmental organizations, as well as with The Feminist Wire, as a co-editor for a forum on climate change and ecofeminism. Her personal interests include radical thought, tarot reading, organizing and eating Thai food. |
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Renee BabcockEureka, CA Office |
Renee is a California native and recent UC, Davis graduate where she completed a BA in Anthropology and a minor in Philosophy. Through her work as a law professor’s research assistant, Renee became interested in our current legal structures and how they are unjust and rooted in systemic oppression. Her passion to work for Move to Amend stems from her commitment to radical legal and social change in the United States by tackling the roots of corporate constitutional rights and money as free speech. Her interests include the Nonhuman Rights Project, farm-to-table cooking, family, and anime. |
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Jordan BrandonCharlottesville, VA |
Jordan is a third year at the University of Virginia, where she is double majoring in Foreign Affairs and Women, Gender & Sexuality. She has always maintained an interest in politics, but did not decide to further pursue those interests until college after she began to feel more knowledgeable and able to speak out on such issues. Her involvement with Move to Amend stems from her desire to make politics and democracy accessible to all people, not just those able to buy influence. Her personal interests include French existentialism, Nineteenth Century Russian literature, human rights/ethical issues, feminism, and yoga. |
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Jeff EasterlingChicago, IL |
Jeff Easterling is a recent graduate of DePauw University, where he studied Political Science, concentrating in global affairs. His experience in grassroots organization and desire for constitutional reform drew him to Move To Amend. His past work includes English tutoring, children's rights advocacy and supporting progressive candidates. Jeff enjoys riding his bike, keeping up with current affairs and drinking coffee. |
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Millicent HarmonSENIOR INTERN |
Millicent (Milly) Harmon grew up in rural Arizona. In high school she began engaging in anti-bias education as a member of the anti-defamation league. A heightened awareness of the ever-prevalent prejudices and inequalities surrounding issues such as race, sex, religion, nationality, and wealth, propelled her into activism.
After moving to Northern California she joined the Occupy movement, and got involved in local environmental justice issues. Most recently she worked to pass Measure S, a community Rights initiative to ban fracking in Mendocino County. Milly joined Move To Amend because she believes corporate personhood to be a major factor behind the social political and environmental injustices she works to overcome. |
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Fayruz LamaOrlando, FL |
Fayruz Lama is a sophomore at the University of Central Florida studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations and Comparative Politics. She plans on attending law school upon graduation. She is an active speaker against social injustices. She hopes to help bring about change in government and society as a whole by interning with Move to Amend.
Her interests include writing, reading, music, and watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban an inordinate amount of times. |
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Daniel LewisJacksonville, IL |
Dan Lewis is a senior at Illinois College majoring in political science and history. On campus, Dan has served as Vice President of the Student Body, Editor in Chief of The Rambler, the school newspaper, and President of the College Democrats. He has also served on multiple Student-Faculty Committees and Coalitions. Off campus, Dan has worked for Senator Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association, Margaret Vaughn Consulting, and others. He loves to read fantasy novels, binge-watch tv shows with his fiance, and learn as much as he can about politics. Dan hopes to have a career in political communication. |
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Kelsey is a Northern California local and a recent Graduate from Humboldt State University. It was while obtaining her degree in sociology with a focus in criminology that she became aware of the many social issues in the country that are not being addressed holistically. She feels this is a result of corporations having the power to make increasing capitol the priority and not supporting humanity . This new knowledge has sparked a life long passion for doing everything she is capable of to not only understand how society works and how it affects people, but to support and advocate for those who have been negatively impacted by its policies and procedures, and take action to address those issues. This is currently being accomplished by working with Move to Amend, Teen Court, and Incarcerated Voices. |
Spring 2015 Intern Cohort
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Cristina Awadalla
Los Angeles, CA
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Cristina is a recent UC, Santa Barbara graduate where she studied Sociology, focusing on climate change and social movements. Her interest in Move to Amend stems from an understanding of the pervasive role of corporations in driving climate destabilization. With a systemic view, she sees reigning in on corporate power as the necessary step in reclaiming our democracy. Alongside MTA Cristina is active with several politically left and environmental organizations, as well as with The Feminist Wire, as a co-editor for a forum on climate change and ecofeminism. Her personal interests include radical thought, tarot reading, organizing and eating Thai food. |
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Geoff Blackwell
Oxford, OH
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Geoff recently completed a BA in Comparative Religion and Latin American Studies. Through travel and volunteer opportunities in the global south and at home, he saw how our political and economic system creates suffering across the globe. He believes that corporate power and the role of money in politics corrupt both our economic and political systems. Geoff has been involved with his local partner as a co-coordinator and board member. He is also interested in immigration, economic justice, and the corporate impact on foreign policy. |
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Ambrosia Danu
Reno, NV
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Ambrosia is a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ashford University, with a BA in Liberal Arts. She is also a certified English as a Second Language teacher and has plans to be a property manager for a sustainable farming community.
Her interest in Move to Amend includes the desire to return democracy to the people and ensure that constitutional rights extend only to humans. Her personal interests include outreach & education, attending music festivals that focus on community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance, dancing, camping, astrology/horoscopy/interpreting natal charts, modeling, watching documentaries and traveling. |
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Millicent Harmon
Mendocino, CA
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Millicent (Milly) Harmon grew up in rural Arizona. In high school she began engaging in anti-bias education as a member of the anti-defamation league. A heightened awareness of the ever-prevalent prejudices and inequalities surrounding issues such as race, sex, religion, nationality, and wealth, propelled her into activism.
After moving to Northern California she joined the Occupy movement, and got involved in local environmental justice issues. Most recently she worked to pass Measure S, a community Rights initiative to ban fracking in Mendocino County. Milly joined Move To Amend because she believes corporate personhood to be a major factor behind the social political and environmental injustices she works to overcome. |
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Naomi Pena
Eureka, CA Office
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Naomi Pena holds a Masters in City and Regional Planning from UNC Chapel Hill. Her career spanned regional environmental planning and climate change. After working in climate change in the United States she took a position at a research institute in Austria. On returning to the United States she was shocked at the condition of this nation on a number of fronts: the wealth distribution, health care, gun violence and infrastructure are all in a deplorable state. After investigating various options to make a contribution to setting this nation on a better path she came to the conclusion that Move to Amend’s agenda was relevant. |
Fall 2014 Intern Cohort
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Iraina Chaney
Bakersfield, CA
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Iraina is 21 years old living in Bakersfield California. Her interests in politics started in high school when she began doing forensics. After learning to articulate her thoughts, she could not shut up about the injustice she saw on a daily basis. Apart from her internship with Move To Amend, she is a house wife, an expecting mom, and a blogger. |
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Dana Floberg
Philadelphia, PA
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Dana is currently a senior at the University of Pennsylvania. After studying politics and telecommunications policy for several years, she became convinced that the only way to really move forward on the issues that matter is to stop corporations from blocking the way. She believes that most of our world's evils come from systemic corruption instead of evil people, and is committed to creating systemic change. As a Seattle native, she loves cloudy days, evergreens, and efficient public transportation. |
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Ambrosia Danu
Austin, TX
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Ambrosia is a recent Magna Cum Laude graduate of Ashford University, with a BA in Liberal Arts. She is also a certified English as a Second Language teacher and has plans to be a property manager for a sustainable farming community.
Her interest in Move to Amend includes the desire to return democracy to the people and ensure that constitutional rights extend only to humans. Her personal interests include outreach & education, attending music festivals that focus on community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance, dancing, camping, astrology/horoscopy/interpreting natal charts, modeling, watching documentaries and traveling. |
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Christan Bufford
Oakland, CA
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Christan Bufford is African American male from The South side of Chicago. He currently is attending school at Laney College in Oakland, California. He has been organizing for the past eight years mainly around Juvenile Justice, but he has also done organizing around housing, mental health issues and education reform. He believes capitalism and the corporation that promote it are the main drivers of the school to prison pipeline. Christan has dedicated himself to dismantling the school to prison pipeline and sees the work of Move to Amend as an integral part of that work. |
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Celene Barrera
Bennington, VT
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Celene is a senior at Bennington College in Bennington, VT studying Politics & Economics with a focus on social/political movements and elections. Her primary interests include immigration politics and national elections, but she is very invested in the movement to end corporate personhood. She has previously worked with Democracy for America, Youth Policy Institute, and the Chicano Latino Youth Leadership. Find her at http://spotwriting.wordpress.com or on twitter @celenebeats. |
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Keyan Bliss
Fishers, IN
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Keyan Bliss is a graduate of Indiana University currently working out of central Indiana as a Field Organizing and Communications intern for the Move to Amend Coalition. Inspired to join Move to Amend by his brother’s participation within the Occupy movement and student power movement, Keyan sees the goal of ending corporate personhood and money as protected speech to be a crucial first step towards serious reform within American society. Once the “We the People” Amendment is adopted into the Constitution, he hopes to expand constitutional reform to include a new bill of rights to expand the protection of civil liberties. |
Spring 2014 Intern Cohort
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Joshua Hoffman
Kansas City, KS
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Joshua grew up in small-town Nebraska among the farmers and ranchers of the Great Plains. He later migrated to Arkansas for college where he earned a degree in journalism and graphic design and worked to organize his university into greener and more inclusive place. After graduation he struck up residence in Kansas City where he immediately got involved in bicycle advocacy and community development. Discovering happiness as a bicycle commuter he took a part-time job teaching kids bicycle safety. Unhappy with the injustice in the world he took a life-time job building the democracy movement. He hopes everyone will join. |
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Kevin Cambell
Lafayette, IN
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Kevin is a father, activist, musician, and a passionate supporter of the democracy movement. Raised where Prophet's Town was decimated by Harrison's troops in the first battle of the War of 1812, Kevin's study of oppression and passion for history ignited at a young age. He studied History and Political Science and earned his BA from the University of North Carolina Asheville. He has worked as a political organizer, bartender, real estate investor, landlord, and promoter. Kevin is relocating to Seattle where his education and experience will forge a career effecting change through activism and the political process. |
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Keyan Bliss
Fishers, IN
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Keyan Bliss is a graduate of Indiana University currently working out of central Indiana as a Field Organizing and Communications intern for the Move to Amend Coalition. Inspired to join Move to Amend by his brother’s participation within the Occupy movement and student power movement, Keyan sees the goal of ending corporate personhood and money as protected speech to be a crucial first step towards serious reform within American society. Once the “We the People” Amendment is adopted into the Constitution, he hopes to expand constitutional reform to include a new bill of rights to expand the protection of civil liberties. |
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Luke Keohane
Eureka, CA Office
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Luke grew up in Nebraska and North Carolina, and has roots throughout New England. Luke graduated in 2013 from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics, dual-majoring in Philosophy, and is excited to join MTA’s Spring 2014 Intern Cohort as a Law & Research/Communications Intern. He has a passion for data-intensive strategy, and is honored to be working with Move to Amend to tackle the complex issue of corporate influence in government. Since getting his first pair of drumsticks for his fifth birthday, Luke continues to support the Performing Arts, and will enjoy exploring the great outdoors while in Eureka. |
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Ruthi Engelke
Eureka, CA Office
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Ruthi is a writer, actress, teacher, yoga practitioner, grammar guru, gardener, mother, friend, and all-around good sport from Texas. She grew up in the Houston/Galveston area and went to college in Austin at the University of Texas where she studied theater, dance, and music and earned a BA in Fine Arts. She recently completed a MA in literature and writing from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. She taught high school theater and English for the last thirteen years and has taught writing at the university level. |
Fall 2013 Intern Cohort
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Ambrosia Danu
Eureka, CA Office
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Ambrosia is currently a senior with Ashford University. She is a Liberal Arts major with 9 credits remaining, having maintained her position on the Dean’s List for the past 2 years. She is also a certified English as a Second Language teacher and has plans to be a property manager for a sustainable community.
Her interest in Move To Amend includes the desire to return democracy to the people and ensure that constitutional rights extend only to humans. Her personal interests include attending music festivals that focus on community, radical self-expression and radical self-reliance, dancing, camping, astrology/horoscopy/drawing up natal charts, modeling, watching documentaries and traveling. |
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Bria McHenry
Chicago, IL
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Bria is a current senior at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. An economics major, she is passionate about systemic reform to help reduce economic inequality, educational disparities and democratic participation. She has worked on a variety of projects, from rebuilding efforts in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and New Orleans, Louisiana, to human trafficking awareness campaigns in Chicago. In addition to working with Move to Amend, she is involved in developing the Humane Initiative, a national organization supporting community based youth development programs. In her spare time, Bria enjoys dancing, reading and analyzing data in ArcGIS. |
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Dave Ballance
Portland, OR
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Originally from TN, Dave also lived in Miami for 10 years and now Portland, OR for 12 years. Dave is an IT professional with various skills focusing on project management and team development. The youngest of four kids, Dave grew up on a farm raising beef cattle and soybeans in Tennessee. He and his father also built their family home. In Miami Dave did a lot of work with the LGBT community on Florida's AIDS ride and with the Dade Human Rights Foundation. Working with Move to Amend will be his first foray into political work. Dave's constant companion is his Jack Russell terrier mutt Nikko who turned 17 in June of 2013. Dave is also an avid amateur photographer. |
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Jimi Doyle
Eureka, CA Office
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A southern California native living in Austin Texas for the last 6 years, Jimi received his Bachelors Degree in 2010 from the University of Texas, majoring in Comparative Politics and International Relations, with minors in history, philosophy and communications. Working from a foundation of 3 years of Speech and Debate, Jimi has no fear of speaking to crowds or telling politicians the truth, organizing and lobbying for environmental reform, progressive social reform and renewable energy with several non-profits in Texas. His interest with Move to Amend stems from a deep passion to restore justice and equality to the American system, and sees ending corporate personhood as the lynchpin to solving countless other issues. His other interests include travelling, hiking, camping, yoga, dance, and getting into long conversations on the meaning of life, energetic observations, and grand visions for a better future on planet Earth. |
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Johannes is a California native who hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is our current Law & Research Intern working out of the Humboldt office. His recognition of corporate power as a central and pervasive problem was the inevitable result of his work in environmental law and his interest in electoral reform. He is a bicycle and computer hobbyist, and a beverage aficionado. |
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Keyan Bliss
Fishers, IN
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Keyan Bliss is a graduate of Indiana University currently working out of central Indiana as a Field Organizing and Communications intern for the Move to Amend Coalition. Inspired to join Move to Amend by his brother’s participation within the Occupy movement and student power movement, Keyan sees the goal of ending corporate personhood and money as protected speech to be a crucial first step towards serious reform within American society. Once the “We the People” Amendment is adopted into the Constitution, he hopes to expand constitutional reform to include a new bill of rights to expand the protection of civil liberties. |
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Kimberly Waddy
Indiana, PA
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Kimberly is currently a senior, attending full-time at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). She is pursuing dual baccalaureate degrees in Management Information Systems and International Studies/Political Science. Kimberly was accepted into the McNair Scholars program for the 2012 term and continues as a second year scholar this year. She was also selected as a 2012 Provost Scholar. Kimberly hopes to attend graduate school in Fall 2014. She would like to study International Development Management at the Masters level and Conflict Management at the Doctorate level. Kimberly would love to work for the United Nations, the Carter Center, or similar organization after she completes her graduate work.
Kimberly is the mother of one daughter, Kristina. Kristina turned eleven years old last December and she just graduated from the fifth grade. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Kristina and Kimberly moved to Indiana, PA in November 2011, so she could finish her degree. Kimberly and Kristina have a cat whose name is Sunny. Sunny is one year old. |
Spring 2013 Intern Cohort
Brian Alenduff |
Brian is originally a son of the South, and after graduating in 2012 from Appalachian State University with his BS in pre-law and minors in geography and peace, Judaic, holocaust studies he acted as USPIRG’s New Voters Project, Campus Director for Rice University in Houston, TX. Following this, he became a outreach intern for the Keever for Congress campaign and a Regional Director for the Borgen Project in North Carolina’s 10th Congressional District. Brian is a field-organizing intern who will eventually pursue a career in democratization work. |
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John Gallagher |
John is a Field Organizing Intern with Move to Amend. Originally from the Chicago area, he graduated with a BA in International Studies and Spanish from the University of Denver in 2012. In the fall he will go on to earn a Master's in Public Affairs from the Evans School at the University of Washington. John is passionate about social justice and international development. In his free time he enjoys sci-fi books and films, hiking, and taking pictures of cats. |
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Heather Buckner |
Heather graduated from Tufts University in 2010 with a BS in Environmental Science and American Studies. She has spent the last few years working as an environmental educator, and has also been involved in a number of grassroots campaigns fighting climate change and promoting social justice. She is working as a media and communications intern for Move to Amend, and hopes to gain more experience in blogging, media, and organizing on a national scale. |
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Robin Woerner |
Robin is a social activist from Stony Creek, CT. She has mentored youth in Brooklyn public schools, taught adult literacy on Manhattan's Lower East Side, and worked as a museum educator and union organizer. She went on to study epistemology and philosophy of science in college, and radical politics at the Institute for Social Ecology. In addition to working with the Move to Amend Coalition, Robin is active with prison abolition and climate justice groups in CT. She is passionate about empowering young people to push back against the dehumanizing effects of global capitalism through self-education, artistic expression, and cooperative self-determination. |
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Roman Collins |
Roman is an unapologetic progressive loud mouth activist, beginning his activism during the Occupy Movement in October 2011. He’s a former Lansing Move to Amend Affiliate Coordinator, and a former Policy Intern with the Michigan Sierra Club. |
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Sabina Khan, a Pakistan native has a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California. She is a regular Op-ed contributor to Express Tribune newspaper in Pakistan, an affiliate of the International Herald Tribune. Sabina is committed to the cause of education and democracy for all individuals to better their lives and to give them the tools to avoid exploitation. She blogs at http://coffeeshopdiplomat.wordpress.com/ and tweets @ksabina. |
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Sage Gerson |
Sage Gerson is a current (as of spring 2013) senior at the University of Chicago, where she is majoring in English Literature and minoring in Environmental Studies. She is a social media and communications intern for the Move to Amend Coalition. Sage will be working for Cook County's IT section after graduation as a social media and communications consultant. |
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Shannon Fritts-Penniman |
A wealthy lawyer once told Shannon he was not “boring” enough to have a traditional legal career. Taking it as a compliment, he has chosen to follow his passions in yoga, partner dancing, and political organizing. He currently resides in Denver, Colorado after spending five spandex-clad years in Boulder. |
