In 2014, five exceptional Fellows were selected from over 30 applicants. They spent the summer engaging directly with communities and tackling key issues in Brooklyn, with the organizations Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Community Pride Center, Crown Heights Community Mediation Center, Girl Be Heard, and Brooklyn Community Services. Read on to learn more about this incredible group, what they accomplished, and what they came away with.

Daniel Aiken interned at Brooklyn Community Services with the External Relations Department and the Sandy Relief Program.

“What I liked most about my internship experience was being hands on with work. I was in a steady, stable environment of my goal profession and got the experience to work with people in the field.”

Daniel is currently pursuing an Associates in Human Services from the New York City College of Technology with the goal of becoming a Social Worker.

Christian Sanoguel interned at the Brooklyn Community Pride Center.

“To me, Hope for Brooklyn really means being informed about particular issues, understanding their effects, and empowering yourself to create change.”

Born in the South Bronx, Christian is the youngest of three children, but the first in his family to obtain a college degree. He completed his Associate’s Degree in arts while majoring in criminal justice at Bronx Community College. He has taught sex education and HIV prevention to high school students while volunteering abroad in Belize.  He plans continue with my education until he reaches law school, where he plan to finally fulfill his dream of becoming a civil rights attorney.

Fatima Sacko interned with Girl Be Heard, an organization that uses theater to empower young women.

“I am truly grateful for this program for providing me with real world experience in a field that I am deeply passionate about and I grew so much this summer.”

Fatima Sacko is a second-year student at Bates College located in Lewiston, Maine. She lives in Roosevelt Island, New York City and graduated from Park East High School. In her sophomore year of high school Fatima and several of her peers traveled to Kampala, Uganda for ten days to educate the public on the health dangers of Malaria. She and her peers held informational seminars in local villages, installed and repaired mosquito nets and collected the buyers contact information in the villages. At Bates College, Fatima is very involved in student activities and is a member of the Africana Club, Public Health Initiative Club, Sankofa club and Women of Color Club. She also volunteers mentoring and tutoring middle and high school students at an after school program. She is very interested in women’s issues and intends to double major in Women and Gender Studies and Psychology. During her leisure, she enjoys hanging out with friends, volunteering, riding her bike and trying new foods.

Janet Ceron interned at the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn.

“Hope for Brooklyn means Brooklyn generating the future’s leaders that will combat social justice issues affecting the borough as a whole. Hope for Brooklyn means educating today’s college students to think about how they can help, how they can bring better resources to the borough, and actually acting upon this.”

Janet Ceron was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and is currently a junior at Barnard College. She is majoring in Urban Studies and Human Rights with a concentration in Political Science. Janet is a current member of the Social Justice House, a special interest group on campus. During high school, she volunteered for Sunset Park’s Center for Family Life’s afterschool, day camp, and high school programs where she advocated for youth justice. The previous summer she was a Journalism Instructor at Camp Mariah in Fishkill, N.Y. Growing up in a Mexican household exposed her to immigrant rights issues, which sparked her interest to pursue public interest law.

Sadasia McCutchen interned at the Crown Heights Community Mediation Center

“Working alongside a staff of formerly incarcerated individuals who have changed their lives around to mentor others, I recognize the capacity that people have to reinvent (and to better) themselves. “

Born and raised in the South Bronx, Sadasia often describes her neighborhood as one that certainly does not scream “success”. From a young age, she decided to strive for success and to empower those around her to do the same. With guidance from a host of supporters, including her dedicated mother and A Better Chance, she graduated from Trevor Day School leaving a remarkable impact. Currently a sophomore at Wesleyan University, she demonstrates her commitment to the community as the Chair of the Committee for Inclusion and Diversity as well as being a Tour Guide and a Representative on the Student Assembly.