Spotlight: Fall 2023 Learning Life Interns

Learning Life’s interns do vital work responsible for the energy and growth of our organization.  This fall, their work included outreach to thousands of people on Facebook and Linkedin to help grow the Family Diplomacy Initiative (FDI) worldwide, and our Democracy Learning Community (DLC) in the Washington DC capital region; assisting with in-person Democracy Dinners; supporting family diplomat trainees worldwide with the development of their family stories; research and writing to develop our DLC vision and action plan; research and outreach to develop Citizen Diplomacy International; and more.  Learning Life is very grateful for their dedicated work.  You can learn a little about each of them below.

Racquel Garcia

Year, major, and school: I am in my Senior year at the University of California, Merced graduating in May 2024 with my bachelor’s degree in political science. 

Hobbies: I love to sit down and ease my mind with some crochet projects while listening to podcasts or books, especially about current events in the news, history, politics, and fiction as well. 

Career aspirations: I am currently interested in studying to become a lawyer. I am interested in going to law school for either immigration law or labor law. 

Why Learning Life? Learning Life allows me to work on the Family Diplomacy Initiative where we work with people on an international level to help them develop, and grow their relationships with family and community via storytelling. 

Kayla Hoang
 
Year, major, and school: I am a third-year student double-majoring in English and History at the University of California, Irvine!
 
Hobbies: In my free time, I try to learn as many creative skills as possible, so I enjoy drawing and painting, crocheting, and I’ve started trying to teach myself some new instruments. Recently, I developed a newfound love for traveling and exploring new places and am working on incorporating those passions on a budget!
 
Career aspirations: I am really interested in advocating for educational access and equity, so I’m drawn to work in correctional education for a while and eventually to educational leadership or administration to push forward these goals in the long-term. More recently, I’ve been considering  international and/or government work to advance educational equity through policy.
 
Why Learning Life?  What drew me to Learning Life was the idea of spreading learning outside of the traditional academic setting, and being able to connect with people and professionals around the world. I wanted more experience in nonprofit work and to know more about how nonprofit organizations work behind-the-scenes. Working with Learning Life allowed me to develop my perspective about what it means to lead a nonprofit, but also the steps needed to make connections and interact with a wide range of people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures!

Alaina Leasure

Year, major, and school: I’m a sophomore majoring in law and policy with a minor in political science. I go to Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Hobbies: Almost every day, I make sure to go on a walk, then recharge with a cup of coffee and a good book. I like going to arts and crafts workshops, and recently started taking piano lessons.

Career aspirations: After I graduate from Dickinson, I plan to go to Penn State Dickinson Law School. I’m thinking of going into business law, but currently exploring other possibilities as well.

Why Learning Life?  I chose Learning Life to gain a better understanding of what it means to be a citizen diplomat. I believe that spreading the values of democracy and diplomacy is essential, as it will help to bridge the divides that exist between communities across the world.  The research and outreach I’ve conducted with Learning Life has given me valuable insight as to how a non-profit organization functions.

Mahum Shah

Year, major, and school: I am a public administration major with a concentration in non-profit management.  I am a senior at George Mason University and I will be graduating this May!

Hobbies: I love to go to the gym, paint, travel and journal.  I am also very family-oriented, so I love to spend time with my siblings and cousins in my free time.

Career Aspirations: I hope to work in the nonprofit sector with organizations such as UNICEF, in education, health, and human rights. I hope to be able to better the world both locally and globally.  I eventually want to start my own nonprofit and work in project management/public budgeting for government agencies or nonprofits.  

Why Learning Life?  I was interested in working with Learning Life to gain insight into the functions of a non-profit organization while tapping into my passion for helping others around the world. Learning Life helped me strengthen my passion for diplomacy, family, and education and I learned the importance of storytelling.  I got to work closely with many incredible individuals from all over the world via the Family Diplomacy Initiative and made many connections. I learned about so many different people’s lives and what they have gone through.  Being able to help them in any way I could was rewarding.  I am truly grateful for this opportunity.

Jiayi Wang

Year, major, and school: I am a junior at George Washington University in DC. I am majoring in International affairs and minoring in French, with a concentration in Asia studies and international development.

Hobbies: I love painting, dancing, skiing, and tennis. I do outdoor sketching regularly every month. And every winter, I go skiing with my friends or family.

Career aspirations:  Upon graduation, I am driven to pursue advanced studies, aiming for either a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree in International Relations. This academic path will allow me to delve deeper into specific areas such as diplomatic studies, conflict resolution, or global governance. I am particularly interested in contributing to academic research that informs diplomatic strategies and international policy. Simultaneously, I am eager to gain practical experience through internships that align with my academic focus. I aspire to secure internships within diplomatic missions, international organizations, or research institutions, where I can apply theoretical knowledge and my linguistic advantages to real-world challenges. These experiences will not only enhance my skills but also provide valuable insights into the operational aspects of international affairs.

Why Learning Life?  A fall internship at Learning Life presents an ideal opportunity for me to merge my passion for international affairs with a commitment to innovative education and citizen engagement. I am eager to contribute to projects that extend learning beyond traditional boundaries and resonate with my aspiration to foster global citizenship. The organization’s mission, coupled with its Washington, DC location, aligns perfectly with my academic focus and career goals, providing a unique platform to apply my skills and make a meaningful impact.

Maggie Yang

Year, major, and school: I’m a freshman majoring in Regional Studies in Asia at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service.
 
Hobbies: In my free time, I love to read new novels, listen to political podcasts, and cook food with my sister. I like to spend time with friends and family whenever I get the chance. My favorite show of all time is Sherlock, the BBC version.
 
Career aspirations: For now, I’m hoping to finish a bachelor’s degree at Georgetown and eventually pursue a Master’s degree in international affairs. I hope to gain further experience working with both diplomacy-based think tanks and various government agencies, such as the Department of State.
 
Why Learning Life? Learning Life’s commitment to citizen diplomacy and ability to bring together people of different backgrounds and perspectives captivated my attention. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet people from across the world, as well as conduct outreach with industry professionals across the country. Encouraging civic engagement through the understanding of democracy and diplomacy is more important than ever in a politically polarized world.

Stakeholder Spotlight: Gustavo Carvajal Villalobos

The “Stakeholder Spotlight” is an occasional series of posts highlighting people who are helping to advance Learning Life’s work.  Our latest post in this series features Gustavo Carvajal Villalobos, who has served with Learning as both an intern then as a family diplomat trainee.  For ways you can become a Learning Life stakeholder, click here

What is your current occupation?

I am a Program Manager for the School of Medicine at the University of Massachusetts.

Please tell us more about you and your family.

I come from the beautiful land of Costa Rica. I love life and do my best to support those around me in reaching their goals. I am the youngest of three siblings and a proud uncle to four kids who remind me daily how important it is to work for the youth. I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and outdoor activities. I consider myself friendly, charismatic, and respectful of everyone’s backgrounds and diversity. For the past few years, I have been working with young adults, doing my best to address different issues in constructive and sustainable ways.

Why did you get involved with Learning Life?

I decided to be part of Learning Life’s team because I’m passionate about global issues. Working with refugees in Africa, I had the opportunity to observe how violence has destroyed families in many African countries, so I became sensitive to this situation. Learning Life provided me with a platform to discuss, analyze, and increase my network with like-minded humanitarians. Family and friends supported my efforts to push Learning Life forward, to whom I’m deeply thankful.

Stakeholder Spotlight: Denise & Bethany

The “Stakeholder Spotlight” is an occasional series of posts highlighting people who are helping to advance Learning Life’s work.  Our latest post in this series features Denise Bodman and Bethany Bustamante Van Vleet, a mother and daughter who graciously help Learning Life’s family diplomacy trainees learn about global family trends, patterns and issues.  For ways you can support Learning Life, click here

What are your current occupations?

We are both Teaching Professors at Arizona State University in the School of Social and Family Dynamics.  Bethany is also Director of ASU’s online Master’s in Family and Human Development.

Can you share something interesting about your family?

We get to be both family and colleagues!  Being a mother and daughter who work together in the same field and program allows us to easily collaborate on projects that are meaningful to us and we have had a lifetime to learn how we most effectively work together. This has allowed us to study and present together on topics such as kindness, hope, and family narratives as well as write a book together on family processes: Introduction to Family Processes: Diverse Families, Common Ties.  

We have also had the joy of bringing children, and grandchildren, into our family through birth, adoption, and foster care, which has given us unique up-close insights into how families function, grow, and change. The children in our families also have diverse needs and abilities, which has required learning how to best advocate for not only our children, but for other children in the community and schools who may need additional support and resources. 

Why are you passionate about families?

Because, as George Santayana has said, “the family is one of nature’s masterpieces”! Most people start life in a family.  Family is where we first encounter the world and where we are first taught how to function in the world.  Additionally, as our book subtitle suggests (“diverse families, common ties”), families can look and function in incredibly different ways, and yet families around the world tend to share common goals!  

Why do you support Learning Life?  

We have been incredibly lucky to work with Learning Life by leading family diplomacy trainings related to family (defining family, demography and globalization, rituals, traditions, and routines, family storytelling). We have enjoyed working with Learning Life because, given the power of the family unit, it only makes sense to help equip families with knowledge and skills that will help them advocate for not only themselves, but for their communities as a whole.  Additionally, it is amazing to see families brought together from around the world – connecting over family ties, family voice, and social change.