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Joint Center Welcomes Summer Intern Class

The Joint Center is proud to welcome six interns and two Google Fellows to our team this summer! Our interns will be divided among our Black Talent Initiative and our Inclusion workplan. Our Google Fellows will be working on our Innovation workplan this summer. Meet the talented team below:

YANELLE BONILLA
Tufts University, Sociology & Latin American Studies minoring in Urban Studies, Rising Junior
Yanelle is serving as a Google Fellow at the Joint Center this summer. She was born and reared in Honduras and moved to the United States in 2014. Shortly thereafter, she earned her Associate Degree with highest honors from Broward College (May 2016), making her the first in her family to become a college graduate. After graduation, Yanelle moved to Washington, D.C. to enhance her resume before continuing her undergraduate education. During her time in D.C., she has participated in a public policy fellowship with The Fund for American Studies and has interned at Atlas Corps, the Urban Institute, and the Latino Victory Project. She also volunteers as staff at the Southern Regional Model United Nations conferences and serves on two millennial advocacy boards. Yanelle is the recipient of various accolades and awards, including being named 1 of 7 ‘Coca Cola Global Leaders of Promise’ in 2016, and most recently, a ‘Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholar’ (making her 1 of the 55 best community college transfer students in the nation this year). This fall, Yanelle will be a junior at Tufts University, where she plans to double-major in Sociology and Latin American Studies and minor in Urban Studies. Yanelle aspires to become a social policy analyst, researcher, and data scientist. Her ultimate goal is to influence policy changes that will benefit minorities and ensure that no one gets left behind.

RON BUSBY, JR.
Columbia University, Human Rights, Rising Senior
Ron is a Google Policy Fellow working to understand the intersection of race and the evolving tech sphere. A rising senior at Columbia University, Ron studies human rights and is a member of the track team. During this past election season, Ron worked at Google as an Elections Fellow–helping progressive candidates optimize their digital strategy in competitive races. Prior to his work as a digital consultant for campaigns, Ron interned for both The Center for American Progress (CAP) and the White House. Ron is deeply interested in electoral politics and is excited about his research here at the Joint Center this summer.

AUSTIN CLARK
Bard College, Internation Relations, Rising Senior
Austin Clark is serving as a Black Talent Initiative Intern this summer. He is a rising senior at Bard College in New York, majoring in International Relations with a focus on Politics and Latin America. (He was recruited to college for Basketball and Track & Field, and was the league champion in the long jump in 2017.) He was raised 20 minutes outside of Seattle, WA in Bellevue, but he was born here in Washington, D.C. Ron is interested in how non-governmental entities are able to provide research and ideas to help shape policy—particularly for communities of color. He hopes to improve his analytical skills during his summer at the Joint Center, where he is excited to gain insight on how non-profits function. Ron plans to attend law school or a school of public policy upon graduation.

CLAIRE CRAWFORD
Georgetown University, Masters in Conflict Resolution
Claire Crawford is a native of Lithonia, GA and will be working as a Black Talent Initiative Intern this summer. She is a recent graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a B.A. in International Affairs and Africana Studies. Currently, Claire is in the second year of her Masters program at Georgetown University, with a focus on Conflict Resolution. Claire aspires to be an Ambassador of the United States. The words peace, love, and harmony inspire her. She believes that it is an inner peace that will allow you to love others outwardly, for the hope of one day living harmoniously. Ultimately, Claire strives to embody the words of Shirley Chisholm, “I am, was, and always will be a catalyst for change.” She works daily to be the catalyst through her service and commitment to not be a bystander to the world, but an active and evolving participant in it. She optimistically believes in a future of equality built on a mutual bond of human respect.

ZEMIA EDMONDSON
Pomona College, History, Rising Sophomore
Zemia Edmondson currently serves as an Inclusion & Communications Intern for the Joint Center. A Florida native, Zemia attends Pomona College studying History. She served as the First Year President for her class, is a part of the Office of Black Student Affairs, a member of the Mock Trial team, and a Pomona Student Ambassador. Zemia is interested in social and environmental justice, politics, writing, and dance. She hopes to continue working in, and learning about, issues that affect people’s rights to life.

JUSTIN EDWARDS
Howard University, Political Science, Rising Junior
Justin Edwards is currently serving as an Inclusion & Communications Intern for the Joint Center. Justin, a passionate up-and-coming community leader, comes to the Joint Center from Lafayette, Louisiana. Entering his junior year with a 4.0 GPA, Justin studies Political Science at Howard University, where he was awarded the prestigious full-ride Founders Scholarship and is in the COAS Honors Program. During  his freshman year, Justin was selected to be a member of the elite Freshman Leadership Academy, with whom he traveled to China to engage in leadership and cultural immersion during the summer of 2016. Justin has served in several leadership positions on campus, including Student Representative to the Office of the President and HUSA Student Activities Funds Committee Member. Justin’s passion for community engagement compelled him to found his own nonprofit organization called the VISION Foundation, which seeks to empower minority individuals and underserved communities to become the change-agents of their own lives. Justin has received numerous awards and honors, including the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, Lafayette City-Parish Council Distinguished Citizen Award, Youth of the Year Award for the 2014 Louisiana Governor’s Office of Disabilities, and Phi Beta Kappa Alain Locke Award. Justin aspires to earn a JD and become a political leader serving minority and underserved communities. He has worked in the Louisiana State Senate in the past and now looks forward to learning more during his time at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

AUBREY FAVORS
Georgetown University, Government & English minoring in Psychology, Rising Junior 
Aubrey Favors is currently working as an Inclusion & Communications Intern for the Joint Center. A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Aubrey graduated suma cum laudefrom Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy High School. Presently, Aubrey is in his third year at Georgetown University working toward a dual-degree in Government and English, along with a minor in Psychology. On campus, Aubrey serves as a student leader in Georgetown’s Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. In addition, he has served as a mentor for Georgetown’s D.C. Reads program, which allows Georgetown students to tutor elementary students from D.C.’s public schools in reading and writing. Upon graduation, Aubrey plans to attend law school with a concentration in criminal law. With aspirations to become a criminal defense attorney, Aubrey hopes to provide underprivileged and marginalized peoples the legal representation and services they deserve. Additionally, Aubrey plans on devoting part of his professional career to work on criminal justice reform advocacy.

GLENN JONES
North Carolina A&T, Agribusiness, Rising Freshman
Glenn Jones is currently working as an Events Management, Fundraising, & Administrative Intern for the Joint Center. Glenn spent much of his life in Houston, Texas before moving to Silver Spring, Maryland. He will be attending North Carolina A&T in the fall and majoring in Agribusiness. He is excited to be working here at the Joint Center!