Current Social Justice Interns
Learn more about some of our current Social Justice Interns, their work, and what they're learning from the experience.
Payten Butler
ONE Northside Community Organizing
Ella Daugherty
My name is Ella Daugherty, and I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago studying Environmental Studies and Political Science with a minor in Advocacy and Social Change. This year, I will work with ONENorthside as a Community Organizing Intern. ONENorthside works to build collective power within neighborhoods to fight inequality. I am excited to join their environmental justice campaign to create a city where all residents live in a sustainable, healthy environment. ONENorthside is helping to make this a reality through campaigns targeting emissions reductions and supporting sustainability efforts in Chicago Public Schools. I am eager to bring my passion for environmental justice to ONENorthside, learn from experienced local leaders, and contribute to building a more just Chicago.
Janelle Le Roy
My name is Janelle LeRoy, and I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago double-majoring in Economics and Global Studies, with double-minors in Statistics and Peace, Justice & Conflict Studies. I am excited to serve as an Administrative Restorative Justice Intern with Foraging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA). In this role, I look forward to supporting the organization's administrative and programmatic efforts while advancing its mission of fostering inclusion and empowerment within refugee communities. Through my academic studies and international research experiences in Japan and Italy, I have developed a strong interest in migration, food security, and the ways public policy shapes access to resources. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to advancing equitable systems that promote opportunity and belonging. As an intern, I hope to apply my analytical skills and passion for restorative justice to support FORA's work in building more inclusive, community-centered environments.
Candace Mack
My name is Candace Mack, and I am a current junior at Loyola, where I am pursing a double majoring in Secondary Education and History with a minor in African Studies and the African Diaspora. I am excited to serve as the Education Intern at Girl Forward, an organization dedicated to supporting refugee, immigrant, and asylum-seeking girls throughout their high school journey. As an aspiring educator, this internship provides a meaningful opportunity to deepen my understanding of educational equity and explore how it shapes my future goals. I am passionate about advocating for students both inside and outside the classroom by promoting equitable practices, engaging with communities, and eventually contributing to policy efforts that address systemic disparities in education. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and eager to learn, grow, and make a meaningful impact this year.
Olha Mahdii
My name is Olha Mahdii, and I’m a sophomore at Loyola University studying psychology on the pre-law track. This year I’ll be interning at GirlForward, which is a nonprofit organization that helps girls that have been displaced globally by conflict and persecution. As a Ukrainian refugee myself, I understand the impact and confusion a new country brings to your life and how important it is to have a community that guides you in the right direction and provides an opportunity to grow and integrate into a different culture. Through this program I hope to learn what it takes to create and sustain an organization that offers safe spaces for marginalized communities and bring positive change into the lives of other people. In the future I would love to continue advocating for values GirlForward embodies while working in law
Amayrani Martinez
Julia McDaniel
My name is Julia McDaniel, and I am currently a sophomore at Loyola University Chicago, where I am double majoring in Social Work and Psychology with a minor in Political Science. As a social work major, my goal is to advocate for individuals and communities who may find it difficult to have their voices heard. I have always taken pride in challenging stereotypes surrounding people who are often misunderstood or misrepresented in society. For my Social Justice internship, I have been placed at Misericordia. During my time there, I will work alongside behavior therapists to better understand the wide variety of needs among the residents. Later in the internship, I will collaborate with these therapists to develop, coordinate, and lead a group for residents that is designed to provide meaningful support while addressing their specific needs and interests.
Maggie McGill
My name is Maggie McGill and I am a third year at Loyola in the Interdisciplinary Honors Program studying Spanish and Political Science with a minor in Peace, Justice and Conflict Studies. I have the opportunity of serving as the Development Intern at GirlForward, a nonprofit which supports young female asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants. As the Development Intern, I will support fundraising, donor engagement, and community outreach efforts that will aid the populations we serve. I look forward to learning more about nonprofit development, its social impact, and creating equitable access to education. Especially in our current social and political climate, I believe there is no better way to support one another than by uplifting the voices of the young adults who have found community through GirlForward. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and am eager to learn from the staff, volunteers, and participants who live out GirlForward’s mission.
Diego Moreno
My name is Diego Moreno (He/Him), and I'm a second-year student at the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago. I'm currently studying political science on the pre-law track with hopes of becoming someone who can serve and help others in the near future through law and politics. I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, in a first-generation, mixed-status family, which has greatly contributed to my passion for social justice and advocacy work. Having worked with local non-profits and organizations that assist immigrants in the United States, my internship with the Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services will open the door for a future career in law, while also caring for and cultivating a safe space for the immigrants and refugees that Catholic Charities serves every day. I'm excited for the new experiences that will come with this amazing internship!
Madison Nelson
Kate Ostrowski
Amanda Poole
