INTERN PROJECTS
INTERN PROJECTS
Each semester, Evolve California interns complete a self directed research project guided by their own progressive values and advocacy interests. Check out their work below!
Latino Student Retention in Higher Education
How the UCs are failing their Latino Students
Jennifer Chacon-Duran
Despite there being a very high number of Latinx students in California public schools, they are underrepresented in elite public higher education institutions like the UCs. Despite not providing the infrastructure and resources Latinx advocate for and need, many UCs are seeking “Hispanic Serving Institution” status by reaching the 25% Latinx student population threshold. The UC cares more about looking the part than putting in the work and money into retaining Latinx students and supporting them through their academic journeys.
Check out Jennifer's one-pager here, and her presentation here!
Reproductive Justice for Undocumented Folks
Arin Haas
Arin’s project focused on how undocumented immigrant communities are directly impacted by the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2023. Undocumented people seeking abortions are trying to navigate a complex medical system that grows ever more confusing with state-specific technicalities like limits on gestational age and mandatory ultrasounds. Language is a large part of this. It is a challenging enough system for english-speakers to understand the medical and legal jargon around abortions, but it is almost incomprehensible for those with limited English proficiency. There are many other obstacles to accessing reproductive healthcare for undocumented folks, which often intersect with concerns about immigration status, imprisonment, finances, safety, and more. Arin wants everyone to know their rights, and focused aspects of her project on education and dispelling information about limitations on reproductive rights.
Let’s Talk Sex Education
Vivian Rodriguez
Public access to sex education is vital to teen and young adult safety and healthcare. Throughout the country, sex education mandates and curricula are based on local policies. Vivian researched and compared California’s public policies on sex education in schools to those in Texas. To enhance and vary the research, she also included an analysis from the Netherlands—a country with known pragmatic sex education system. As expected, the areas with earlier and medically-based sex education curricula have better results preventing not only teen pregnancy and abortions, but also childhood sexual abuse.
Check out Vivian’s one-pager here, and her presentation here!
