Jocelyn Soriano’s Spring 2024 Internship at Ayuda

/

Jocelyn Soriano, a senior Political Science and International Studies major at Saint Xavier University, spent the Spring 2024 semester interning at Ayuda, a non-profit focused on providing legal, social, and language services for immigrants in the Greater Washington area.

Tell us about your internship experience.

This Spring I was fortunate enough to Intern at Ayuda, a DMV-based non-profit whose mission is to provide legal, social, and language services to low-income immigrants. I served as the Community Outreach Intern, a role unique to Ayuda, where I was under the supervision of Connor Paul, the Volunteer & Internship Program Manager, Laura Trask, the Development Director, Alicja Johnson, the Communications Manager, and Alix McAtee, the Development Manager, all of whom provided me with guidance, patience, mentorship, and opportunities for career development.

My main responsibilities with Ayuda varied based on what supervisor I was working with for the day. It ranged from being the main person of contact for various volunteer opportunities/events, acting within a leadership position amongst my fellow interns, updating our fiscal year impact report(s), and other tasks assigned weekly. I also utilized our volunteer portal, updated the organization’s listed services on our site, and became a master at utilizing our cloud.

I am extremely proud of the multiple projects I took on during the semester. My top three, starting at three, would have to be my involvement with Project END via my communications supervisor. During March, I was able to create a social media post regarding tips on how to avoid immigration attorney fraud. My second favorite project would have to be all the prep work for the annual SMI event Ayuda hosts for immigration awareness! Finally, my absolute favorite project would be the client communication guidelines I developed for our volunteer program, which will be implemented post the summer cohort.

My final semester of undergrad has been like a reward for me. It was like a small sample taste of what I aspire to become in the future. My favorite part of interning at Ayuda has been a full circle moment. I come from a family of immigrants, and I am the first in my immediate family to graduate with a four-year degree. Getting to give back to the immigrant community is a privilege and a way to commemorate my family back home in Chicago! I truly believe the work Ayuda has done for the immigrant community in the DMV-area is astonishing. I will always have the kindest words to say not only about the organization, but also of my supervisors.

What was your favorite part about living in DC this semester?

I think my favorite part was visiting as many Smithsonian museums as I possibly could. My favorite however would have to be the African American History & Culture Museum! My roommate and I spent almost 3 hours there, but it was probably the most rushing experience I had in DC. Another highlight would have to be eating at Honeymoon Chicken! As a Chicagoan, Honeymoon Chicken is some of the best fried chicken I’ve had, for sure top 10!

I would recommend the following places to check out during your time here in DC:

  • Honeymoon Chicken

  • National Museum of African American History & Culture

  • Immigrant Food

  • The Botanical Gardens in DC

  • Sand volleyball by the Kennedy Center

  • Monthly free concerts at the Kennedy Center concert hall

  • Planetarium at the Air and Space Museum

  • Super Tacos & Bakery

What advice do you have for future students in our program?

Don’t give up. My first week here was rough. I was in a city I had no family in and was on my own. It may seem hard the first couple of weeks, but it will get better. Remember that all of this is for a successful future, it isn’t easy! Make connections any chance you get, you never know who you’ll meet at work, happy hour (if you’re the legal age), or even the grocery store. DC is a small city, but it’s a city filled with history, culture, and career development. So don’t be afraid to adventure, always take the next big step into your future!