Social justice and community care were at the forefront of our summer work. Our internships provided us with opportunities to engage directly with our local community members and contribute to the betterment of their well-being. This was accomplished through hands-on experiences and meaningful projects related to the field of wrongful incarceration, mental health access, LGBTQIA+ rights, food insecurity and poverty. In our panel, we are going to discuss what we have gained from these internships both on a professional and personal level as well as the challenges that we have encountered. Overall, the development of practical skills, a deeper understanding of community needs, and the cultivation of a sense of civic responsibility were few of our greatest takeaways while navigating power dynamics, and building trust with community members posed as the greatest trials. We will share our strategies for overcoming these challenges and making community engagement work meaningful.

Moderator: Jonencia Wood

Panelists:

• Naomi Okumura, Building Sustainable Relationships Through Food Justice
• Chelsea Gyimah, The Intersections of Ministry and Social Justice
• Jeno Zhuo, Breaking the Silence: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of the LGBTQIA+ Community
• Jules Camargo, Centering Care in Incarceration Reintegration: My Summer Internship with Families and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted