CITC Summer 2026 blog

My name is Briana Lee and I’m a junior majoring in Political Science and Educational Sciences. This summer, I’m interning at UNITE HERE Local 7 in Baltimore (yes the commute is not ideal but yes it’s also an incredibly scenic and serene train ride that lets me take the time to slow down and journal). UNITE HERE Local 7 is a hospitality union, representing around 2000 hotel, casino, events services, and airport workers across the larger Baltimore area. As a Research and Organizing Intern with the union, I support a variety of the union’s ongoing projects, including the mobilization of members and outreach initiatives. 

Working with the union has truly solidified my passion for social justice and community-centered change. While working on the BWI campaign, I’ve participated in grievance meetings and have observed the lengths that corporations will go to to undermine worker power and autonomy. Most recently, our organizing efforts culminated in a general membership meeting, where my staff sought to inspire our members to continue fighting the good fight and to discuss new organizing and advocacy strategies. Being in that space and hearing directly from workers who continue to maintain hope, despite the abuses they suffer at the hands of their employers, was incredibly powerful. It is a common misconception that the working class is unaware of the disparities between themselves and the billionaire minority; from the cuts to Medicaid and accessible transportation, these workers showed immense awareness of how their lives are being impacted by policy changes and how the union can advocate on their behalf for improved benefits and wages. To serve this group of people and help bring them justice and dignified working conditions has been so fulfilling and I’m excited to continue my work here. 

Outside of work, I am absolutely loving living in Washington D.C. Although I spent a whole semester with my fellow CITC peers, I didn’t get the chance to know most of them on a personal level until I moved into UCDC. A big lesson I’ve learned from my first few weeks here is to say yes to as many events as possible. Coming back from an 8 hour shift will inevitably leave you drained but it’s nothing that a dinner with friends or a dessert run can’t fix! Taking the time to branch out and meet new people, even as an introvert, has been so rewarding and I’m so glad that I’ve become close with people who I previously didn’t imagine myself being friends with. As I reminisce on the last couple weeks, I wish I could tell my pre-CITC self that everything will be okay and all will work out, as long as you’re willing to put in the work to meet new people and put your best foot forward. I’m so so excited for the rest of my summer here. Cheers to more runs around the Washington Monument, sunsets in Dupont Circle, shopping days in Georgetown, and exploring every museum D.C. has to offer!!

Hi Everyone,

My name is Samantha Ramos Alva. I graduated last month from UC Berkeley with a major in Psychology and a minor in Public Policy. This summer, I am interning with LULAC, League of United Latin American Citizens, where I work in Mass Media and Communications as a student journalist with El Grito Media, a newsroom dedicated to reporting news and issues that impact the Latino community. I recently returned from the LULAC National Convention in Texas, where I had the opportunity to interview Bobby Pulido. The convention was an incredible experience, and I was able to speak with many community leaders, advocates, and attendees while taking notes and creating content for LULAC and El Grito Media. Through this work, I help share important information and stories that keep our Latino community informed about current events and issues affecting our communities. 

I was very excited to come to Washington, D.C., but I was also nervous about balancing my work and personal life. Before arriving, I thought my summer would be mostly focused on work with very little time for anything else. However, I quickly learned that there is so much to do here and so many opportunities to connect with others. One of the best parts of this experience has been finding an amazing group of friends who also happen to be my roommates this summer: Lizbeth, Iris, Liliana, and Irving, whom we jokingly say we “adopted” into our group. They have truly become like family to me. I am incredibly thankful for Cal in the Capital for preparing me through networking opportunities, resume-building, cover letter workshops, and professional development. Their support made the transition to D.C. much smoother and helped me feel more confident entering this new chapter. 

Outside of work, my friends and I have made it our mission to make the most of every day here. We have visited museums, celebrated my birthday at Fogo de Chão, explored the International Spy Museum, visited the zoo, spent time in Georgetown, enjoyed late-night adventures, watched World Cup matches, gone biking at 2 a.m., gone bowling, and even played Monopoly until 3 a.m. Yes, really! This summer has been filled with unforgettable memories, meaningful friendships, and incredible adventures. Every week, we challenge ourselves to do something new and not waste a single day of this experience. Looking back, I am grateful not only for the professional opportunities I have gained, but also for the people I have met and the memories we have created together. This experience has reminded me that growth happens not only through work, but also through the connections we build and the experiences we share with others.

Hi! My name is Jongmin Chae; I am a rising sophomore studying English and Economics. I am currently interning at Quickie Skincare as a growth strategist, working to prepare the startup for the launch of its first product in the coming weeks. 

Traveling to Washington, DC, and getting acclimated to the new environment in the UCDC building has been a fun and oftentimes perplexing experience. My immediate impression of the people in DC was of their walking pace—everyone seemed to be race-walking from location to location, as if every task were allotted a 10-minute passing period. I was also struck by the heat and humidity, as I sweated through clothes on brief walks to grab lunch at the nearest Cava or Chipotle. While Washington, DC was amazing to see, my favorite memories so far have been traveling. My internship involved a lot of time in New York, and traveling to nearby cities around DC such as Alexandria and Arlington and venturing a few hours by train to New York have been the highlights of my summer so far, seeing friends and family along the way. I was fortunate enough to be in New York when the Knicks won the NBA championship—seeing the city erupt in that manner was an out-of-this-world experience. Although travel and adjustment have dominated much of my time so far, DC is becoming increasingly familiar, with yesterday being the first time I rode the metro without navigating on my phone. Having the metro system is such a fun way to jump from work to monuments to food to sleeping, an added bonus that BART can’t quite compete with. 

Despite primarily focusing on the differences between DC and California, I was pleasantly surprised at how many Berkeley alumni were in the area. On a day I wore a Berkeley shirt, I was repeatedly comforted by shouts from passersby, and hearing “Go Bears” reinforced what I already knew to be true; DC, and anywhere else for that matter, was bear territory.