Each year, we welcome a fabulous group of interns to the Family Week planning team, where they take on all kinds of tasks, from securing sponsors to hanging out with kiddos on the beach. This year’s interns come from a broad range of backgrounds and interests, and we know they will ensure that Family Week 2018 is an incredible event! Meet them below:
Miranda Alpert
I am a rising senior at Clark University in Worcester MA, studying political science with a concentration in comparative politics. I enjoy working with kids and am currently a “big sister” in Big Brothers Big Sisters and am also the special events coordinator for an after school mentoring program. I am excited to be working with the Family Equality Council this summer and to be working in the intern team for Family Weekend!
Cassie Bergman
I am ecstatic to be spending my summer in Boston interning with the Family Equality Council! This fall I will be entering my senior year at Washington University in St. Louis with a major in PNP (philosophy-neuroscience-psychology) and minors in anthropology and computer science. While I have many areas of interest, I am most passionate about social justice issues and hope to ultimately use my liberal arts degree for such causes. I have quite a bit of experience with programming and fundraising on campus. When I’m not hitting the books or attending club meetings, I love to play guitar, volunteer with non-profits, and explore the outdoors with friends.
Maddie Crooker
Hi I’m Maddie! I study Global and Public Health Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University (class of 2020). I’m from Ithaca, NY and have lived there my whole life. I have interests in a lot of fields, including intersectional feminism, activism, and health equity. I’ve been working on various social justice-type projects since 2013, and hope to further that type of work into a future career in public health. Right now, I work on campus as a university tour guide and information specialist, and I also teach a few dance classes at the local studio that I grew up dancing in. I am always eager to try new things and I am very outgoing, and I love a good laugh!
Steven Kidder
My name is Steven L. Kidder (he/him/his) and I’m a graduate of Wesleyan University and NHTI. I got my BA in Gender Studies and Political Science from Wesleyan and an Associates Degree from NHTI. I’ve been heavily involved in both social justice/advocacy and political work for the last 10+ years. My passions include learning, fashion, psychology, and lip-syncing. My dream job would be using my privilege to advocate for those whose rights have been infringed upon.
Mia Lloyd
Mia Lloyd is a rising senior at Smith College, majoring in Gender Studies with a minor in Music. They grew up in New York City and Northampton, MA. In their free time, Mia loves playing music, listening to music, talking about music, and dancing to music. At Smith, they are involved with organizing for undocumented students rights and domestic violence advocacy. They hope to work as an organizer after college and tour the country playing music.
Elena Phethean
Elena Phethean is a rising junior at Tufts University. She is double majoring in Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Community Health and is originally from Pleasantville, New York. Outside of academics, Elena is a co-coordinator for the Tufts Sex Health Reps and sings with the Jackson Jills, Tufts’ oldest all-femme a cappella group. She is extremely excited to be working with the Family Equality Council for the summer of 2018 to explore non-profit work in the LGBTQ+ community.
Tyler Simeone
My name is Tyler Simeone and I’m so excited to be dedicating my time this summer to the support of LGBTQ+ families with the FEC. Originally from New Jersey–which I unironically consider the best state in the union–I’ve been in Boston in the past few years studying International Relations and French at Tufts. On campus, I’m active in Model UN, the Tufts Refugee Assistance Program, and Active Minds. In my free time, I love watching food documentaries, going to movies and art museums, napping, and buying books I know I’ll have no time to read.
Sara Webber
Sara is going into her third year at Hampshire College, where she studies the intersections of public health and reproductive justice. Sara left public high school in the middle of 11th grade, and it was probably the best decision she ever made. She finished her high school studies at Princeton Learning Cooperative, a self-directed learning center in New Jersey. In addition to her academic interests, she is passionate about self-directed education education, open access to knowledge, dogs, and dark chocolate.
Eglantine Zatout
I am a French PhD candidate, I specialize in American History and Sociology of minorities (racial and sexual). More particularly I am working on prejudice: where it comes from, how it is expressed (by individuals and institutions) and how it is lived by people subjected to it. For the past 4 years I have also been a teacher, I have taught English to High School students for 3 years and I am currently teaching American History to university students.