Blog: IGS Fellows in the World

Being back in sunny California, I still have not fully processed that my time on Capitol Hill and in D.C. have concluded. Looking back, it was a bitter-sweet ending. On one hand, I desperately missed California’s weather, the diversity, the food, and of course, my friends and...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Farewell D.C....for now

As I closed the zipper of my last suitcase, I could not believe that my adventures in Washington DC were coming to an end. Spending an entire semester in Washington DC was not only a dream come true, but a transformative and fulfilling experience. I deeply enjoyed having the...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Centering Intersectional Identities to Increase Bilingual Literacy at ULC

My last few weeks in Washington, DC were full of uncertainty but I left with a few opportunities to consider in the future. Being in D.C. exposed me to unlimited possibilities, and the city itself was refreshing to live in for almost four months. I really enjoyed having access to...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: "They Are the Authors of Their Own Story"; Social Work isn't about 'Saving' People

People tell you that as you get older the years go by faster. I have found that as I worked harder over the years, and the opportunities added up, my years felt longer—so many more experiences in so little time. The growth I experienced in my first year at Berkeley was...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: From the Shores of Mt. Vernon to Murder Mysteries with Friends; Finding Self-actualization through Humility and Personal Agency

On my first day in D.C., I cried myself to sleep. Being thousands of miles from home, where I did not know anyone and did not have a secured internship, was overwhelming.

Since then, however, everything has settled into place. For the past few weeks...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Public Service in Style

I’m currently interning at HIPS: Honoring Individuals Power and Strength a nonprofit organization that serves the underserved population in the DC metropolitan area focusing on harm reduction and the sex trade. As a direct service intern, my role is to assist drug users and sex...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Centering Self-Care and Compassion as a Core Principle of Professionalism

As a first generation low income student, having the opportunity to intern in Washington DC for an entire semester has been the most surreal experience of my undergraduate career so far. Over the past few months in the nation's capital, I have interned for the Urban Libraries...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Leveraging Cultural Identities to Uplift and Engage Marginalized Communities

Fireflies are replaced by falling leaves in every color of the rainbow. The warm air that wrapped you like a blanket every time you stepped outside, now takes leave for a refreshing cold crispness that wakes you up and gets you ready for the day. This fall I have the privilege to...Read more about UCDC Fall 2022: Following in the Footsteps of Public Service Leaders

Being a participant in the UCDC program has been an informative and enlightening experience. It has given me a taste of the D.C city culture and political climate which has brought value into deciding my career choices. I have had the opportunity to learn just how many options there are in...Read more about UCDC Spring 2022: Navigating nonprofit work as a student of color person of color in high-level political spaces

As a Delawarean, Washington D.C. has always been just a drive away, but my past two months in the nation’s capital have been eye-opening, filled with learning, adventure, and discovery. Over the past few weeks, I have worked for Senator Chris Coons of Delaware as a press intern. My...Read more about UCDC Spring 2022: Press and public service; Capturing the power of politics 'happening before my eyes'

I am a Paralegal intern at Mil Mujeres located three blocks away from the White House. The organization provides legal services in Washington D.C and has a few other offices around the United States. The main goal of Mil Mujeres is to work with clients involved in domestic...Read more about UCDC Spring 2022: Finding joy and inspiration while supporting immigrant communities at Mil Mujeres

My time in DC has felt like a fever dream of sorts. The 16 weeks of being a UCDC participant have been both exhilarating and challenging. Experiencing a big move to the East Coast, adapting to the cold weather, seeking professional development opportunities, and balancing academics and an...Read more about UCDC Spring 2022: Conquering cold weather and Covid in the Capital to become an advocate for survivors of Intimate-Partner Violence

After driving 2,000 miles cross country from the public markets of Seattle, to the peak of the Sears Tower in the windy city, Washington D.C. has been unparalleled in its ability to continually inspire young people like myself. Throughout these last 10 weeks, I have been welcomed into a dizzying...Read more about A cross-country journey to the International Law Institute

Participating in the UCDC program has been a transformative and enlightening experience thus far. Before interning at the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Legislative and Public Affairs Bureau, my experience was limited to local government work. While I enjoyed this...Read more about A Unique Experience at USAID’s Legislative and Public Affairs Bureau

Washington DC is an amazing and vibrant city. DC is known as the political hub of our country, full of opportunities for people interested in politics and policy. Although that is not all that is to DC, there is a lot more. DC is full of yummy food, amazing art, and some of the best museums in...Read more about At the Intersections of Legal Aid and Policymaking at Georgetown Law’s Criminal Defense and Prisoner Advocacy Clinic

Washington D.C. has been a whirlwind of change; a refreshing escape from the mild weather and dryness in California, an exciting opportunity to be at the epicenter of the nation’s capital, and a thrilling eye-opener into career opportunities in public service and the federal government. As a...Read more about Transformation and Change: First Time in the Nation’s Capital!

Although this year’s University of California Washington D.C. program was conducted remotely due to COVID-19, it remains one of the most enriching experiences of my academic career. At the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, some of the top immigration lawyers in the country...Read more about UCDC: An Enriching Academic Experience at the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration

Though my internship was conducted virtually, I was still able to learn a great deal about the field of international human rights. I obtained a deeper understanding of the fast-paced work culture of a Washington law firm. While working at Perseus Strategies, I was given the great privilege of...Read more about My Semester in UCDC: An Introduction to a Career in International Human Rights

My time with UCDC was a brand new life experience. With a pandemic going on, I could not spend time in Washington D.C. and meet in person with classmates and colleagues. However, the virtual setting did not stop me from having a fruitful experience. Over the first couple of weeks, it was...Read more about An unforgettable (virtual) UCDC experience

My UCDC experience is one I will never forget. Although the semester was online, my professors and the events held by the UCDC program coordinators made me feel as if there was no difference. My class, “The US Supreme Court,” taught me about important cases in the Supreme Court, and I got to...Read more about An online Semester in the Washington D.C. Program