Meet NVRDC's FY21 Quarter 3 Interns!

We are very grateful for our summer interns! The passion and hard work that you put into your projects makes a direct impact on NVRDC staff and clients. We wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!

If you’re interested in interning for NVRDC, check our intern postings for upcoming opportunities.

Atara Kahn, Advocacy Intern (She/Hers/Hers)

Nicholas Bronson, Advocacy Intern (He/Him/His)

Casey Kindall, Advocacy Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Alona Del Rosario, Legal Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Caroline “Callie” Grunwald, Advocacy Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Atara Kahn, Advocacy Intern (She/Hers/Hers)

Tell me briefly about yourself and your past work experiences.

I am an incoming law student at Fordham Law and just graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Arts in both Public Policy and Communication Studies. Over the last few years, I held various internship positions in both the fields of policy and law, igniting my passion and commitment towards social justice issues. This past spring, I interned with the Montgomery County State's Attorney’s office, gaining legal experience at the state government level. I spent past summers working specifically with victims of domestic violence at two local nonprofits, Court Watch Montgomery and In Shifra’s Arms. I’ve also interned with the lobbying group, AIPAC, and the law firm, McMillan Metro. I plan to use these experiences and my future legal degree to pursue a career in victims’ rights law. 

Can you describe what you are working on as an NVRDC intern?

This summer, I am working as an Advocacy Intern for NVRDC. In this position, I’ve prepared a trauma-informed care curriculum for health care providers by combining various curriculums from other NVRDC presentations and relevant research on adverse health outcomes from intimate partner violence. Additionally, I helped research available options for a person with hotel points and/or reward miles to donate to NVRDC. Currently, I am analyzing the Crime Victims' Compensation applications and preparing a presentation of my related research.

Why did you decide to join NVRDC for this internship? What drew you to this work? Why is this work rewarding?

I decided to join NVRDC because I feel strongly about empowering victims of crime to achieve survivor-defined justice and am eager to gain experience in victim advocacy work. My passion for social justice drew me to intern in the past with Court Watch Montgomery, a nonprofit advocating for victims of domestic violence and with In Shifra’s Arms, a non-profit advocating for women struggling with unplanned pregnancies. My involvement with these two organizations not only educated me about the importance of advocacy for survivors of domestic and sexual violence, but also demonstrated to me the indispensable need to promote greater representation for survivors’ rights. 

Nicholas Bronson, Advocacy Intern (He/Him/His)

Tell me briefly about yourself and your past work experiences. 

I am a rising junior at the College of William and Mary, double majoring in History and Sociology with a concentration in Criminology, Law, and Society. At William & Mary, I am heavily involved in advocacy and peer education about sexual violence through various organizations on campus, which has propelled me to volunteer at my local crisis shelter to further support victims of sexual violence. Upon graduating, I hope to go to law school. 

Can you describe what you are working on as an NVRDC intern? 

I am currently drafting a white paper about our service model in regards to sexual violence care. I am analyzing the success of our holistic, trauma-informed, wrap-around care and how our practice of vertical advocacy can be further expanded to other victimizations. Through this research I have been able to connect with other organizations and interview some of the advocates who make this organization and this service model so successful. 

What do you do for self-care? What is keeping you happy/motivated during this pandemic? 

Playing video games with my friends is definitely the biggest thing I do for self-care. It is a bit cliché, but I don’t think that is a bad thing. It's always a great thing to be able to turn my brain off for a bit and goof around playing whatever game has caught our interest. In this specific way, the pandemic hadn’t changed much for me because we are constantly talking online anyways. There is something soothing about always knowing that there is a group of friends to just have fun with either online or in-person.

Casey Kindall, Advocacy Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Tell me briefly about yourself and your past work experiences.

I am currently a rising second year Criminology and Criminal Justice PhD student at the University of Maryland. I plan to focus my research on crime and place and the experiences of marginalized communities with crime and the criminal justice system. During my undergraduate career, I worked as a summer intern at NAMI Maryland where I assisted the organization as they provided programs and resources for individuals impacted by mental illness. Most recently, I worked as a teaching assistant for a criminal justice course at UMD.

Can you describe what you are working on as an NVRDC intern?

As an NVRDC intern, I am assisting with an interview project on survivor-defined justice within marginalized communities. The goal of the project is to interview survivors to better understand their experiences as survivors, their experiences with NVRDC, and how they personally define and achieve justice. 

Why did you decide to join NVRDC for this internship? What drew you to this work? Why is this work rewarding?

I decided to join NVRDC because it was important to me to use my summer doing work that would make a meaningful impact in the lives of those directly affected by crime and the criminal justice system. I spend each school year learning about crime and criminal justice in a far-removed academic setting, but ultimately I am pursuing a PhD because I want to produce research that has meaningful implications and can help people impacted by crime and the criminal justice system. Working on this project with NVRDC gave me the perfect opportunity to use my knowledge of research to assist with interviews that can be used to help survivors directly through the work of NVRDC.

Alona Del Rosario, Legal Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Tell me briefly about yourself and your past work experiences.

I am a rising 2L at University of Baltimore School of Law and this summer I am interning with both NVRDC and the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations. Prior to attending law school, I worked for the National Network to End Domestic Violence and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in Washington, DC, as well as the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence and UMOM New Day Centers in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work as a sexual and domestic violence advocate in a variety of roles, including as a national training and technical assistance provider, a lobbyist, and a direct service advocate. Volunteering is something I have always enjoyed and some of the organizations I have been involved with include If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, HRC Arizona, and Anytown Arizona. Lastly, I also love watching women’s professional soccer, baking, and dogs.

Can you describe what you are working on as an NVRDC intern?

This summer, I assisted SLAY (Support and Legal Advocacy for Youth) team attorneys with case preparation for civil protection order (CPO) cases, observed CPO hearings, and drafted a motion. I attended community outreach events such as legal clinics and co-facilitated a Know Your Rights training alongside a staff attorney and a Healthy Relationships presentation with an advocate.

Why did you decide to join NVRDC for this internship? What drew you to this work? Why is this work rewarding?

Given my advocacy background, I was eager to learn about and engage in the work from a legal perspective. When I was invited to join the SLAY team for the summer, I was hesitant to accept only because I’d already accepted another internship and was also enrolled in a summer night class. I wanted to do the work, but I was concerned about managing my time. Having been law students themselves at one point, it was not surprising that the SLAY team understood my concern and really worked with me to figure out a schedule that worked for everyone. Going to court and participating in the legal process can be confusing and uncomfortable for anyone and doing it virtually can add to its complexity. Observing the SLAY team in action takes me back to my first job as an advocate in a domestic violence shelter – they remind me that one person can make a difference in another’s life and that we should all try to do so.

Caroline “Callie” Grunwald, Advocacy Intern (She/Her/Hers)

Tell me briefly about yourself and your past work experiences.

I am a junior at Princeton University majoring in Anthropology, with minors in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Creative Writing. I was compelled to join NVRDC because of my passion for advocacy surrounding sexual violence. During high school, I worked to address the pervasiveness of sexual violence among teenagers and the importance of consent. A year ago, I began work for I Have The Right To, a national organization dedicated to raising awareness and supporting survivors. As a result, I translated my passion for advocacy to a professional setting. My position has allowed me to offer emotional counseling to other victims, consult on the curricula of consent education programs, and learn about legal cases involving sexual violence. I believe that the law and advocacy are a natural outlet for my ambitions, and I am so excited to be interning for NVRDC this summer!

Can you describe what you are working on as an NVRDC intern?

As an advocacy intern, I am responsible for updating counseling and housing resources so they are available for use by advocates in the field. I do research for supervisors and gather information that may be useful for clients. Lastly, I am also creating a curriculum for NVRDC employees about compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, and the importance of self-care.

Why did you decide to join NVRDC for this internship? What drew you to this work? Why is this work rewarding?

I was sexually assaulted when I was 15. It took me days to understand the crime for what it was and years to learn that what had happened to me will always be part of me, but does not define me. I had the choice to report my attacker to the police or to keep silent. I chose silence. I have thought about that decision every day since. I wish I’d known how to stand up for myself. I wish I’d trusted the system that is meant to protect me. I wish I’d chosen justice over fear. The experience made me determined to fight for the rights of survivors. I view working at NVRDC as an incredible opportunity to help others in a way that I was not able to help myself, and to gain invaluable experience in a field that I hope to one day join.