Year, major, and school: I’m an incoming senior at Garth Webb Secondary School in Ontario, Canada, focusing on linguistics, social sciences, and business.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing basketball in the community park, studying behavioral economics and decision-making, and mentoring students through Mock Trial and business competitions (DECA). Outside of academics, I like exploring new perspectives through writing poems, cooking, and discovering underrated boba tea shops.
Career aspirations:I aspire to work at the intersection of language, social impact, and business, but I have deep interests in many fields. Ultimately, I want to work towards being a lawyer.
Why Learning Life? I was drawn to Learning Life for its focus on connecting disconnected individuals worldwide to issues that impact all of us. The Family Diplomacy Initiative, in particular, resonates with my interest in bridging cultural diversity through learning language, gastronomy, and traditions of families around the world. I’m excited to be part of this team and global family, and I hope to contribute my skills while learning from a globally engaged community.
Estelle Cohen
Year, major, and school: I am a junior at the George Washington University majoring in international affairs with a dual concentration in international environmental studies and security policy.
Hobbies: I enjoy learning languages, watching movies, doing theatre, and collecting maps. I’m a polyglot — I speak 5(ish) languages!
Career aspirations: I hope to pursue a career in international relations at the intersection of environmental studies and foreign policy. I aspire to work globally to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Why Learning Life? As a former exchange student, I think that citizen diplomacy is the most important and effective form of international peacebuilding. I was inspired by Learning Life’s Family Diplomacy Initiative and Citizen Diplomacy International. and I am so thrilled to be able to contribute to these impactful projects!
Azmie Cruz
Year, major, and school: I am studying international relations with a concentration in Latin American politics as a third-year student at Davidson College.
Hobbies: Memorable times with meaningful people bring me maximum joy. I also like exploring a new city, finding a new favorite restaurant or cafe (bonus points if it’s a new cuisine), gaining knowledge about something new via my algorithm’s recommendations, getting my joints moving whether it be a relaxing stroll, a good tennis rally, or a gym session with friends, journaling while in a cozy nook, and connecting with people who have niche interests.
Career aspirations: I am interested in transforming the pathways to citizenship, especially for Latin American countries. I am considering work as an immigration lawyer to understand the system and work directly with the immigrants, a U.S. State Department foreign service officer bridging gaps in diplomacy to foster more understanding between countries, or otherwise serving in foreign policy to get hands-on experience with creating solutions that will impact generations. I am open to studying international or immigration law, getting a master’s in foreign policy and studying for the foreign service exam, or conducting doctoral research on immigration policies. One thing is for sure: I am keen on continuing my education after college to gain more tools to make an impact.
Why Learning Life? I was impressed with Learning Life’s ability to connect seemingly unrelated people to each other. I had read about Learning Life’s story thanks to an alum at my school. She shared with me the impact she made on connecting families across the world to each other. Themes of family, education, and advocacy resonated with my experiences since my high school years. Learning life aligned with my values and the type of people we need more of in this world.
My time with Learning Life has allowed me to gain more experience with data tracing and juggling multiple tasks at once; I started my internship while I was conducting a teaching internship in Spain! Having the flexibility to do my internship tasks remotely with Learning Life gave me the opportunity to teach and explore Spain at the same time.
Ava Eckburg
Year, major, and school: I am a rising senior at the University of California, Irvine, where I am double majoring in political science and economics.Hobbies: In my free time, I love watching and playing sports. I’m a big fan of the Boston Bruins and the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. I also serve as the captain of UC Irvine’s club ultimate frisbee team.Career aspirations: I aspire to pursue a career in public service that combines advocacy and research to develop equitable, data-driven policy solutions. My experiences in political campaigns, legislative offices, and academic research have deepened my passion for shaping policy that promotes the public good. I hope to continue this work through government, nonprofit, or civic organizations.
Why Learning Life? I became interested in Learning Life because of its commitment to educating the public, and promoting stronger democracy through civic engagement. Creating impactful education and encouraging better global citizenship are deeply important to me. As an intern, I’m excited to contribute my background in research, policy analysis, and community outreach to support Learning Life’s democracy initiatives. I look forward to assisting with targeted advocacy, fundraising, and marketing efforts, and to learning more about nonprofit work. This internship offers a meaningful opportunity to further my passion for public service while gaining valuable experience in democracy and diplomacy work.
Justin Ingui
Year, major and school: I’m a rising senior in vocal performance and political science at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Hobbies: I love listening to classical music, drawing, and thrifting. I am also a huge foodie, and love exploring different restaurants and going to cafes!
Career aspirations: I aspire to build a career in arts advocacy and public policy with a focus on making civic education and access to the arts more equitable and inclusive. I believe that working within cultural institutions, government agencies and international organizations can provide valuable experience in this field. I am also motivated to explore other opportunities that allow me to support diplomacy and the arts on a global scale while remaining open to other pathways!
Why Learning Life? I joined Learning Life because I was drawn to its mission deepening participation in democracy and diplomacy through innovative, community based approaches such as the Democracy Dinners. As someone passionate about civic engagement, international relations, and arts advocacy, I was excited by Learning Life’s unique emphasis on connecting people from all walks of life—especially families—to global issues and cross-cultural dialogue. The opportunity to contribute to initiatives like the Family Diplomacy Initiative aligned closely with my interests in inclusive public policy and global education. I view Learning Life as a place where I could apply my skills and grow professionally while supporting a vision of democracy that is more participatory, accessible, and globally minded.
Nghi Le
Year, major, and school: I’m from the University of California, Irvine, recently graduated in June 2025 with a major in political science.
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym every weekday, practicing my drawing, reading nonfiction, playing video games, and exploring nature by going on hikes. I am also an avid collector of vinyls and comic books.
Career aspirations: I am considering attending graduate school to eventually work as a diplomat or in academia as a professor of international relations. I am also considering studying law and becoming an international lawyer. Regardless, I want to work in the sphere of international affairs, whether that be in the government or another organization.
Why Learning Life? As someone who is passionate about world affairs, interning at Learning Life is the perfect opportunity to explore the field in a way that actually affects the lives of people across the world in a positive way. I was drawn to Learning Life due to its vast global outreach, allowing us to connect to people across borders from different countries and continents online, and come together to celebrate our strength in diversity. I am always intrigued by cultures and customs different from my own. Interning at Learning Life, especially through the family diplomacy and citizen diplomacy programs, allows me to experience and get an inside look on how families across the world live, and others can get to see the customs of my own family as well. Being a part of Learning Life will cultivate my global skills and mindset needed to pursue my future professional ambitions.
Juan Pozo
Year, major, and school: I’m a senior at Claremont McKenna College majoring in public policy with a minor in leadership.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing soccer, working out, exploring new cuisines, and traveling to new places whenever I get the chance.
Career aspirations: After college, I plan to pursue a master’s in public policy. I aspire to work in policy consulting, with a focus on immigration or education policy, where I can help shape solutions that improve people’s lives and expand opportunity.
Why Learning Life? I was drawn to Learning Life because of its innovative approach to making democracy and diplomacy more accessible to everyday people. The mission to engage people beyond traditional political institutions, especially through the Family Diplomacy Initiative, resonated with my interest in inclusive policymaking. I appreciate Learning Life’s emphasis on civic education and community-building, and I’m excited to contribute to a team that’s rethinking how policy connects with people’s lived experience.
Madelyn Vohland
Year, major, and school: I am an incoming junior at Colgate University, majoring in political science and educational studies.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time outside as much as possible, whether I’m hiking to a waterfall, running in nature, or playing beach volleyball. I also love to read, and I dream of owning a home library filled with books by my favorite authors such as Toni Morrison, Joan Didion, and Jane Ward.
Career aspirations: After attending law school, I would like to work at the intersection of policy, advocacy and education, potentially within legislative or legal sectors. In school, my research focuses on the experiences of individuals with disabilities within schools, and I hope to continue serving these communities through public policy and law. Ultimately, I’m excited to explore the interconnectedness of politics and education further while also uplifting underrepresented communities.
Why Learning Life? I was drawn to Learning Life because of its focus on democracy and education, where conceptions of civic engagement and learning expand beyond formal education and political settings. The DMV Democracy Learning Community shares my commitment to making democratic participation more accessible and inclusive through educational and social opportunities. Regarding diplomacy, I have enjoyed participating in the Family Diplomacy Initiative, which has inspired me to create connections internationally and to consider the critical ways that families should inform advocacy and policy. Interning with Learning Life allowed me to become a part of a community that values cooperation and understanding in an increasingly connected world.
Kaitlyn Wiemann
Year, major, and school: I’m a senior majoring in psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles.Hobbies: I enjoy running, writing, and traveling to new places. I also love going to museums, trying new restaurants, and stepping outside of my comfort zone!Career aspirations: I aspire to attend law school and build a career dedicated to shaping and advancing public policy. My ultimate goal is to serve as a congresswoman, where I can advocate for women’s reproductive rights and champion legislation that promotes equality and social justice. In the future, I hope to help write and pass laws that protect fundamental freedoms and expand opportunities for those who need them the most!
Why Learning Life? I chose to intern at Learning Life because its focus on democracy and diplomacy immediately resonated with me. At a time when democracy faces challenges around the globe, I believe it’s crucial to support organizations that work to strengthen democratic values and bridge divides in an increasingly polarized world. Learning Life’s commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue, civic engagement, and cross-cultural understanding deeply connects with my own drive to help build a more compassionate and connected society. I am also especially drawn to Learning Life’s collaborative environment, where working closely in small teams and engaging directly with leadership offers invaluable internship experience. Learning Life is the ideal place for me to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to a mission I wholeheartedly believe in.
New Photo Collage Celebrates 50th Democracy Dinner
On Saturday, May 3, Learning Life held its 50th Democracy Dinner. To celebrate this milestone, we have created the following photo collage of our Democracy Dinners, plus this public folder with more photos of the Dinners since their inception in June 2019.
Learning Life’s DMV Democracy Dinners bring people in the Washington, DC region together across their specialty silos to help advance democracy at local to global levels, and to build the DMV Democracy Learning Community (a.k.a., the DLC or Democracy Community).
The DLC is an association of DC area individuals and organizations working to make democracy more fun and inclusive by connecting professionals, publics and policymakers via social events, products, services and spaces that nurture fun, learning, networking, collaboration and wider, deeper citizen participation. The DLC includes the Democracy Dinners, the DMV Democracy Festival, and new in the latter half of 2025, the DMV Democracy Dispatch.
Sign up for the DMV Democracy Dispatch to receive notices of upcoming Democracy Dinners and other DLC goings-on.
Sign-Up Opens for DMV Youth Summit on Youth Policymaking
Are you an 8th-12th grader in a school in DC, or within one hour’s drive from DC?
Want to help empower young people + get community service hours + get a chance to win prizes including $100 cash + make helpful connections + build community + learn a lot + have fun?Then RSVP to take part in the Youth Summit on Youth Policymaking (YSYP)! YSYP is part of the DMV Democracy Learning Community (DLC), which includes Learning Life’s Democracy Dinners and the DMV Democracy Festival. YSYP offers 8th-12th grade students in the DC region the opportunity to join a new community of caring youth and adults empowering youth to participate in their democracy, and learn about government policy making with guidance from policymaking professionals.
Those students — up to a limit of 150 DMV 8th-12th graders — who complete all the following steps get all the above-mentioned benefits. YSYP steps/components to complete, in this order:
Complete the RSVP, including your pic + answers to questions that will be featured online on a poster about you to introduce the youth participating in YSYP.
Complete the YSYP pre-survey online. Those who complete the RSVP will receive the pre-survey.
Set up a free Linkedin profile (including at least a pic of you + your school name), if you don’t already have one, then join the YSYP Linkedin community. Those who complete the RSVP and pre-survey will be allowed entry to the community.
Participate in YSYP Part 1: Speakers & Discussion on Youth Policymaking on Saturday, September 27, 1-3pm via Zoom. Those who complete the RSVP and pre-survey and join the Linkedin community will receive the Zoom link via email.
Participate in YSYP Part 2: Youth Summit on Youth Policymaking on Saturday, October 4, 1:00-3:30pm in person at the 2025 DMV Democracy Festival. Participants must complete the YSYP post-survey at the Assembly’s end to get community service hours credit + raffle tickets for DemFest prizes including $100 cash.
Optional: Motivated YSYP participants will have the opportunity to develop their public speaking skill by sharing their experience of YSYP at public meetings following YSYP.
Teachers and student leaders interested in learning more and connecting with the wider DLC should RSVP to attend one of Learning Life’s upcoming three Democracy Dinners before DemFest, on Saturdays May 3, June 28, or August 23, 6-9pm in DC. Dinner details come to those who RSVP.
Schools that wish to reserve 5 up to 10 YSYP seats for their students should contribute $1,000 to the cost of YSYP. Individuals and schools can also choose to join Learning Life’s wider Democracy & Diplomacy Community (DDC) to access more benefits. If interested, please contact Paul Lachelier at paul@learninglife.info to discuss details.
Spotlight: Spring 2025 Learning Life Interns
Learning Life’s interns do vital work to grow our organization. This spring, their work includes: assisting with in-person Democracy Dinners and gathering content and subscribers for our new, email DMV Democracy Dispatch launching this year; outreach to thousands of people on Facebook to help grow the Family Diplomacy Initiative (FDI) worldwide, identifying promising individuals among the 19,000+ members of FDI’s Facebook group, and gathering content and subscribers for our new, email Family Diplomacy Dispatch likewise launching in 2025; growing our Citizen Diplomacy International subscribers and bibliography; and more. Learning Life is very grateful for their dedicated work. You can learn a little about each of our interns below.
Mina Dakovic
Year, major, and school: I’m a senior majoring in Political Science and International Relations at Marymount University.
Hobbies: I enjoy running, working out, reading, and traveling. Exploring new restaurants, cafes, and small towns are my favorite activities during my free time.
Career aspirations: I aspire to have a career in international relations and become a diplomat. I believe that working for embassies, international organizations, and government agencies can provide valuable experience in this field. I am eager to explore opportunities that will allow me to represent my country on a global scale, while also remaining open to other possibilities in international relations.
Why Learning Life? I became interested in Learning Life after my professor, Dr. Margaret Tseng, recommended it as an exceptional internship opportunity. She shared insights from the experiences of previous interns, which piqued my curiosity. After exploring the organization’s website, I was particularly impressed by the remarkable work they do. All three branches of Learning Life —diplomacy, education, and democracy — caught my attention. While they are all interconnected, I especially aimed to contribute to and learn from the Family Diplomacy Initiative (FDI). My desire to help create a more compassionate and connected world through diplomacy and democracy is what ultimately led me to choose Learning Life. Organizations with missions like Learning Life’s are essential now more than ever!
Maridel De Los Reyes
Year, major, and school: I’m a sophomore majoring in Political Science and Philosophy at Columbia University. I am also considering a minor in Physics.
Hobbies: I love listening to jazz and rock, running long distances, reading, knitting, and watching food documentaries!
Career aspirations: I am planning to pursue a Juris Doctor and become a lawyer. I hope to practice in the criminal justice system and serve the community that raised me. I am also interested in immigration and anti-trust law.
Why Learning Life? After discovering Learning Life and its mission, I was intrigued by its novel approach to fostering a democratic community locally and globally. The mobilization of the family as a unit for learning and action struck me as a beautiful way to engage multiple generations in education and democracy. With the current state of democracy in institutions across the globe, I feel very strongly about supporting the fight to uphold democratic values and increasing fellow feeling in a world that is becoming increasingly polarized.
Luciné Gezalian
Year, major, and school: I am a senior at the University of California-San Diego, majoring in International Studies with a disciplinary focus on Political Science.
Hobbies: My hobbies include reading, working out, and baking. I especially enjoy reading fiction. Some of my favorite novels are The Secret History, Dracula, and Crime and Punishment. Health and fitness is important to me overall, and I love to bake banana bread to share with friends and family.
Career aspirations: After graduating, I plan on attending law school. I am most interested in business law and intellectual property law. I’d also love to work in academia one day and become a professor.
Why Learning Life? I was intrigued by Learning Life’s mission to build a more caring world, and fascinated by the Family Diplomacy Initiative.As an Armenian living in the diaspora, Learning Life’s focus on diplomacy and democracy resonated with me deeply. Armenia has encountered many challenges which threaten stability and democracy in the region, from the Armenian Genocide in 1915 to the Artsakh War in recent years. As the region continues to confront threats that compromise diplomacy and democracy, engagement in both are essential to secure a peaceful future while building a caring world. Interning at Learning Life allows me to contribute to this mission in a meaningful way.
Adrián Mata
Year, major, and school: I am a first-year student studying International Relations at American University.
Hobbies: Listening to music and writing creatively are two of my favorite things to do in my spare time. On the music front, I want to have as diverse a playlist as possible, with songs ranging from Ray Charles and 20th-century folk music to modern-day rappers and ballads. In terms of writing, I can often times be found writing a poem in the vault of my notes app or reading the works of Charles Bukowski.
Career aspirations: My current professional pursuit is that of a diplomat with the U.S. State Department. I want to be a Foreign Service Officer and potentially work my way up to being an Ambassador for the United States. I have grown up with the opportunity to travel often and experience an abundance of cultures. Meeting people, learning of wondrous customs, and seeing beauty on an international scale has made me want to play my role in fostering global cooperation. Beyond my desire to work in diplomacy, I want to return to academia at some stage in my life. It has been a long-burning passion of mine to teach at some level and spur growth in the next generation of students.
Why Learning Life? Learning Life’s main goals and initiatives focus on democracy, diplomacy, and education; three things that I hold dear to my heart. I believe discussions surrounding democracy are beyond important in general, but even more so given the current political climate in the US and abroad. Being part of a team that focuses on establishing connections between people, cares about families and democracy on local and global levels, and believes education is a lifelong endeavor, is the place for me.
Estefanía Madrid Romero
Year, major, and school: I am a junior at Bowdoin College, majoring in Psychology with a focus on Neuropsychology, and minoring in Visual Arts.
Hobbies: My favorite things to do are reading, solving puzzles, and playing card games with my friends, like Slap Jack and Speed. I also enjoy doing photography. My favorite is black-and-white film photography. The best part about it is getting to process the film in the darkroom.
Career aspirations: I am interested in Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, and Neuropsychology. After college, I plan on working abroad to get hands-on experience and a broader perspective before continuing my education. Hopefully, this experience will help me decide if I want to follow a medical path with Psychiatry or Neuroscience, or if I want to attend graduate school for Clinical Psychology or Neuropsychology. Psychiatry is interesting to me because of its combination of medicine and mental health, while Neuroscience interests me because of its focus on brain functions. The thing that captivates me about Clinical Psychology is its emphasis on therapy and assessment, while Neuropsychology is interesting because of its focus on cognitive function and brain disorders. Ultimately, my goal is to contribute to understanding and improving mental health for all.
Why Learning Life? I chose to intern with Learning Life because of its emphasis on education, social impact, and global engagement. As someone who is interested in the mental health field, I appreciate the opportunities that expand my understanding of human behavior, communication, and community building. Learning Life’s commitment to creating meaningful connections with people across different cultures through education and outreach directly aligns with my goal of understanding the societal influences on mental health. As someone who does not live in Washington, DC, the remote aspect of the internship is helpful since it allows me to balance my studies while also managing the internship. I particularly enjoy how working in small teams and directly engaging with leadership broadens my knowledge about nonprofit organizations and project management.
Keira White
Year, major, and school: I am a third-year undergraduate student from the University of California-Santa Cruz, double majoring the Politics and Ethnic Studies.
Hobbies: In my free time I love to sing and perform. I have been an active member of Acquire Accapella since my Freshman year and love the friendships and connections I have made through that group. When I’m not singing or performing you can probably find me at a cafe drinking a coffee or lounging at the beach.
Career aspirations: Following my experience studying abroad in Marseille, France I was very inspired to pursue a career in international relations with a particular interest in international education. After graduating I hope to work for an international education or development organization and get some work experience under my belt before returning to school to obtain my Master’s and possibly my Ph.D. Ultimately, I see myself teaching or doing research in the international sphere, exploring the world, and gaining valuable life experience through my adventures.
Why Learning Life? I chose Learning Life because I really resonated with its mission and values. I was raised by two high school teachers, so the importance of education, connection, and conversation has been something ingrained in my head. When I learned about the kind of work Learning Life is doing it aligned with a lot of my personal values and I appreciated that someone was doing this sometime frustrating, but valuable and meaningful work.
Arthur Chao
Estelle Cohen
Azmie Cruz
Ava Eckburg
Justin Ingui
Nghi Le
Juan Pozo
Madelyn Vohland
Kaitlyn Wiemann
