Student Advocate Spotlight

Francesca: “Give us a brief introduction of yourself!”

Janelle: “Hello! My name is Janelle! My primary interests are in criminal justice reform and public interest issues. I’m very passionate about law and advocacy, particularly because there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done to solve or dismantle the systemic inequities that underserved communities continue to face. Through UD’s Semester in D.C. Program, I’m currently living and interning in D.C. full-time at a nonprofit called the DC Bar Foundation! 

Aside from my student life, I love to explore other cultures by traveling, trying new foods, and reading. Reading various memoirs about issues of mass incarceration and wrongful incrimination is what got me interested in my path now; it’s all interconnected!”

Francesca: “That’s amazing! Tell us more about the organization you work for, the kind of initiatives they support, and your role this semester working for them.”

Janelle: The DC Bar Foundation (DCBF) is the leading funder of civil legal aid in D.C. There are Bar Foundations across multiple jurisdictions, such as the Delaware Bar Foundation, but DCBF is quite unique because of its programs. The organization funds almost 40 different legal aid organizations that help keep D.C. residents safely housed, address custody placement to ensure children thrive in a loving environment, and more. 

Additionally, DCBF spearheaded the development of the DC Resource Bridge. This is a newly launched phone line and online form that pairs individuals with the best-fit lawyer for their legal matter. The DC Resource Bridge is one of the first services of its kind that supports individuals across the District in 15+ civil legal issues! The Bridge launched in September 2025 and recently reached over 1,000 applicants in just six months.

My role as an intern has been to support the DCBF staff. I work most closely with the DC Resource Bridge team, but I do a lot for our Programs and Development teams too! Thus, I’ve gained a lot of exposure to how a non-profit functions and to various civil legal topics. I’ve also got to meet a ton of passionate lawyers, social workers, and other professionals working at the local and federal levels. The energy from my staff and the other individuals I’ve met has definitely encouraged me to continue advocating for the communities that DCBF’s grants and programs serve. 

Francesca: “That must be so surreal and inspiring to work so closely with these professionals, as well as for such an important cause to the community. I honestly feel like that’s the best way to learn and get involved, by immersing yourself in the work like you have done this semester. Before you got the position, how did you know that this was something you wanted to dedicate your time to? How did the opportunity come about?”

Janelle: “I’ve always wanted to work in D.C., but it took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do! When I was applying to colleges, I was already looking at universities in the DMV area or with programs like UD’s. I’m very grateful that the program I’m currently doing was still going strong when I applied! 

As for my career aspirations, I’ve always loved writing and considered being a journalist at first. As I got deeper into my studies, I realized I wanted to do work that would hopefully change people’s stories rather than writing about them. While I’m still trying to figure out exactly what I want to do, I know I love to help others, and I just let that shape my path for me.”

Francesca: “Definitely! I think it’s great how you’ve carved out your own path driven by your interests. I completely agree that it’s not always obvious to know exactly what you want to do, but through exposure and in-field experiences, it can lead us closer to where we want to be. Now that the semester is almost over, would you like to share the most important thing you learned about activism or advocacy through your time in this position thus far?”

Janelle: “I’ve learned that activism and advocacy can look like many things, not just a protest or a post on social media. Activism can look like educating yourself or others. Activism can look like creating space for individuals impacted by a certain issue to talk about it. Activism can look like having an open discussion with a friend about an issue. Advocacy doesn’t always have to be public; in fact, I believe much of the most important work happens in homes, offices, etc., and begins with education and conversation.”

Francesca: “I agree with you. I think in a world where social media is a main factor in pushing social movements forward, private actions can be forgotten. It’s important not to just repost what you see others sharing, but to actually understand your beliefs and be able to educate others accordingly. This is something that can get lost in the age of social media and among younger people nowadays. That said, what is one thing you wish more people knew about advocacy?”

Janelle: “I wish more people understood the importance of understanding all sides of a situation or issue before formulating their opinion and advocating for it. As you mentioned, especially in our modern age of social media, people can be quick to see a news article or a claim and share this information with others before considering other perspectives or sources. In advocacy, it’s important to stay media literate and be open to tough conversations. It becomes really difficult to be an advocate if one completely shuts out any opposing perspectives, because then essentially no consensus can be reached between multiple parties.”

 Francesca: “You bring up such a great point. Confirmation bias can be very strong if you limit your scope. I also think that people need to be more comfortable with nuance and the fact that not everything is so black-and-white. You are correct in saying that hysteria occurs when people share things without considering other perspectives, and I do think it is because people can be quick to think something is wrong or right without considering all aspects of the situation. 

Wrapping up your semester, how do you see this experience influencing your future career goals or time once you come back to UD? Do you think you will try to inspire other student activists or advocates here on campus?”

Janelle: “My time here in D.C. and with the DC Bar Foundation has definitely reinforced my passion for helping underserved communities and encouraged me to explore the various ways I can help. As I approach my senior year at UD, I’m eager to do more volunteer work and generally gain more experience in the legal field. I also hope to be a mentor to other student advocates and individuals interested in a similar field! As I’ve discussed, a good advocate is always learning and helping others learn.”

Francesca: “I love that. I think mentorship is so vital to success, and we all move forward as a product of having people we can look up to. Janelle, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions! AAPC greatly appreciates the opportunity to learn more about your story, and we can’t wait to hear more of your future successes. Have a great rest of your semester!”