Meet the Bar Foundation's Summer 2019 Interns
This summer, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation team was joined by two talented and dedicated interns. Learn more about our Summer 2019 interns, the projects they've been working on, and why equal access to justice matters to them.
Name: Johany Dubon
Hometown: Houston, TX
Education: University of Pennsylvania, studying Political Science
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Internship: Marketing and Development Intern
Most interesting thing I learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation: The most interesting thing I have learned is how interconnected Philadelphia’s legal aid nonprofits are and how much they rely on cross-collaboration. It has been amazing to see the ways in which the Equal Justice Center will build on these partnerships and create opportunities for more streamlined collaboration.
Why I care about equal access to justice: I care about equal access to justice because growing up, I witnessed the consequences of unequal access to legal representation and resources. I care because I believe that our society will only prosper if we all work to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged.
Name: Alex B. Smith
Hometown: Ambler, PA
Education: Tufts University, majoring in Economics and pursuing additional studies in Political Theory and Urban Studies
Philadelphia Bar Foundation Internship: Marketing and Development Intern
Most interesting thing I learned while working at the Philadelphia Bar Foundation: During my time here, I've learned that the public interest movement in Philadelphia is large, multi-faceted, talented, and does exceptional things with limited resources to serve our country’s poorest major city.
Why I care about equal access to justice: We ought to live in a society where, regardless of our backgrounds, we can maintain our individual liberties while being united by the bonds of our common humanity. As long as systemic barriers of oppression persist in and around our judicial system, movements like the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s that pursues equal access to justice are necessary if we are to achieve this end.