Meet CRLA’s 2025 Undergraduate Summer Intern Cohort
These bright and passionate undergraduate students spent their summer with us thanks in part to the Jose Padilla Fellowship Fund. Learn about how their time with our community has shaped their professional and individual growth and furthered our collective impact.
Q: What did you gain from your projects with CRLA?
Ava: “I am working on a legal report to identify employers that are repeat offenders for Stockton clients, over the past several years. Working on the project is sharpening my skills in housing and employment policy analysis, case research, and legal resource development. Through research, I have learned how case data can be harnessed for systemic advocacy to prevent further harm to members of a community.”
Melissa: “For the past few weeks, I have been involved in the Legislative Visits Campaign, where I conducted research on the history and impact of various CRLA offices. I also contributed to the creation of "CRLA By the Numbers" one-pagers, which highlight each office’s achievements through data. This project gave me a deeper appreciation for the scope and significance of CRLA’s work. I not only gained insight into the legal and social challenges faced by rural communities in California, but also saw how dedicated advocacy and community-rooted legal support can create lasting change. Learning about the people behind CRLA’s efforts, their resilience and long-term commitment, helped me better understand what meaningful public interest work looks like in practice.”
Yao: “I’ve been working on a project with the Indigenous Justice Program involving the Santa Barbara County Court’s rollout of a video remote interpreting (VTT) system in clerk offices and self-help centers. Our team has been cataloging its use and documenting significant issues in machine translations. Despite the tool’s limited scope as a pilot program, it has already been widely adopted across the county. This project has shown me just how essential meaningful language access is for ensuring equity in public services, especially in communities where clear communication can determine whether someone receives the help they need.”
Q: What are your plans post-internship?
Ava: “I plan to complete my senior year of college, spend 1-2 years working for a public interest organization, and then attend law school. For a future career, I am especially interested in environmental justice policy advocacy and working with rural communities in California. Interning at CRLA has shown me what effective, community-driven advocacy looks like for rural California communities and allowed me to learn from so many of the incredible staff and leaders who make it possible.”
Melissa: “Following my time with CRLA, I will return to Princeton University in New Jersey in the fall to continue pursuing a degree in Public and International Affairs on the pre-law track.”
Yao: “Following my internship, I’ll return to Princeton University to begin my sophomore year. I plan to deepen my understanding of immigration law and, now, language access—an area this internship has brought into sharp focus. This fall, I’ll be taking a course titled Asylum: Policy, Politics, and Practice, where I hope to apply insights gained through my work at CRLA. The experience has encouraged me to think more critically about barriers within our legal system and strengthened my resolve to pursue a career in law. Ultimately, I aim to utilize these skills to advocate for individuals who are often underserved or overlooked.”
Q: Fill in the blank: "I will miss ________ the most."
Ava: “I will miss the warm environment of Stockton’s AWJP team the most.”
Melissa: “I will miss learning about the California communities the most.”
Yao: “I will miss lunches underneath the pergola and random hallway conversations in the office the most.”
