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Justice Leadership Program welcomes six interns

Justice Leadership Program (JLP) is growing in 2015-2016 to include six organizations, four churches and six interns working toward social and economic justice.

“We are delighted to welcome new partners, Prospect UCC, The Children’s Alliance and Unite Here Local 8,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, JLP program manager.

The interns began working on Sept. 7. They are:

Amber Dickson

Amber Dickson, interning this past year at the Faith Action Network, will spend a second JLP year, this time with the Children’s Alliance and Keystone UCC.

In her work with FAN, she became passionate about criminal justice reform. She is available to teach in churches about criminal justice and statewide children’s issues.

Ann Marie Do

Ann Marie Do, a recent graduate of the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, will work with the Church Council of Greater Seattle and Plymouth UCC on human trafficking. She researched trafficking while studying in Europe.

She earned a bachelor’s in communications with a minor in gender studies, and plans to go on for graduate studies after this gap year.

Hannah Long-Higgins

Hannah Long-Higgins, a native of Columbus, Ohio, will work with Unite Here Local 8 and Plymouth UCC. She recently earned a bachelor’s degree from Heidelberg University in international/cross-cultural studies and English/writing.

At Heidelberg, she was involved in Students for Progressive Theology, international Model United Nations conferences, the speech team and the Women’s Leadership Initiative.

During her junior year, she studied abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. She is interested in the intersection of multi-media, performing arts, social movements and the intermixing of cultures.

Alyssa Nedrow

Alyssa Nedrow, who is originally from Chardon, Ohio, 40 miles from Cleveland, will work with the Faith Action Network and Keystone UCC. She graduated from Ohio University with a bachelor’s in visual communication, with a major in photojournalism and a minor in history.

Intrigued by human connections, she wants to use photography to share stories of people and as a tool for social documentary and advocacy.

Julia Urban

Julia Urban, a recent graduate of the University of Minnesota, will work with the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness and All Pilgrims Christian Church (UCC & Disciples of Christ). She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in gender, women sexuality studies, and family social science.

During her years at the university, she engaged with freshman mentorship programs, was active with freshman mentoring programs and OutFront Minnesota, an LGBTQ advocacy organization, and was a leader in the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

She appreciated the opportunity to work towards positive change and engage in conversations that lead to critical questioning.

Abigail Velasco

Abigail Velasco, who earned a bachelor’s in communication studies with a double minor in business, and sociology/anthropology from the University of Puget Sound, will work with the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and Prospect UCC.

She spent her junior year abroad in London, where she worked with the West London Churches Homeless Concern, Glassdoor, stirring her interest in low-income housing advocacy.

The Pacific Northwest Conference’s Justice Leadership Program is an affiliate of national UCC Young Adult Service Communities Network.

For information, call Elizabeth at 206-320-0432 or visit justiceleadership.org or facebook.com/JusticeLeadershipProgram.

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