Meet the Interns
Edad Mercier
Edad Mercier is a summer intern with First Focus. As a member of First Focus, she assists the team with researching critical federal programs and policy issues, in addition to attending and participating in meetings on the Hill.
Originally from New York City, Edad is a 2006 graduate of the Dalton School. She is also an alumnus of Prep for Prep. She will be entering into her junior year at Harvard College in fall 2008, where she is concentrating in History.
Edad plans to pursue a postgraduate fellowship and law school upon graduation. Edad is interested in issues concerning education, economic and health care reform
Katherine Trujillo
Katherine Trujillo is an intern with First Focus for the summer of 2008. As an intern, Katherine collaborates with the other summer interns on various projects concerning public policy issues affecting children, yet she will specifically work to increase the civic engagement of youth and their involvement in advocating children’s issues.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Katherine attended Notre Dame Academy, an all-girls secondary school that emphasized social justice and community service. As a result, she grew increasingly interested in issues involving the education and welfare of the young. She currently attends the University of California, Berkeley, where she hopes to pursue a double major in Latin American Studies and a self-constructed major—Education for Global Citizenship.
In the fall, Katherine will serve on the Executive Board of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, working directly as the organization’s outreach chair. She hopes to extend her passion for educational reform (and eliminating educational disparities) by visiting several low-income, low-performing Bay Area high school students and offering them academic and emotional mentoring, in addition to guidance in their pursuit of higher education. Katherine will also work in Berkeley’s Career Center as a Peer Advisor giving advice to Cal students interested in graduate school or exploring different career options. After graduating from UC Berkeley, Katherine hopes to attend law school or public policy school to prepare for a lifetime of public service.
Belin Ye
A Chicago native, Beilin graduated as the valedictorian from Whitney Young Magnet High School in 2006. She was also part of the Collegiate Scholars program at the University of Chicago, through which she learned about First Focus. Come fall 2008, she will be a junior at Wellesley College majoring in Political Science with a minor in English. She expects to continue broadening her political experience with this summer in DC.Beilin has interned for Senator Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and Illinois State Representative Harry Osterman. She has also worked for Wellesley Words on Wheels helping kindergarteners learn to read, and joined a few friends in running a tutoring program in Chicago’s Hyde Park last summer. Beilin plans to go to law school and wants to someday pursue a career that combines her love for politics with her interest in children and education.
Michelle High
Michelle High graduated from Northside College Prep High School in Chicago in 2007. During high school she participated in the University of Chicago’s Collegiate Scholars program. This three year enrichment program draws in a diverse group of high school students from across the city to share a wide range of cultural and educational experiences. She was stimulated by the common excitement among her peers for learning and discovery. Now attending the University of Chicago, Michelle is a rising sophomore and a Public Policy Studies major.
As a result of her work and service related activities outside of the classroom, Michelle has developed a passionate interest in working with kids. She tutors as part of Chicago’s Neighborhood Schools program and helps coach students at Bell Elementary School through a written, six-step problem solving process. Michelle is also a member of UChicago’s chapter of WYSE, a national women’s mentoring organization that seeks to address issues contributing to the disempowerment of women and girls of color and to provide middle school girls with the resources and support necessary to take leadership roles in creating positive community change. Michelle is excited to have this opportunity to learn more about the policy development process and the prominent issues affecting children and families.
