faith in action

Welcome to our Ethnic Young Adult interns

We are glad to introduce this summer's cohort of Ethic Young Adult interns and their chaplain.


Group picture of Ethnic Young interns 2019

Name: Tomomi Shiotani

Home community: Methodist University Campus Ministry
College: Methodist University
Area of study: Political Science with a concentration in International Relations
Internship placement: Church World Service

The focus of work at placement:
Policy intern to work on the resettlement of immigrants and refugees.

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
Studying and building a community with diverse students at United World College and at my current university. Interacting with friends from the marginalized community and helping those in need. Serving the public through human/community service such as leading children’s chorus and organizing youth cultural exchange programs.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
I value people’s beliefs and faiths and I believe that they are the key sources of generosity to fight for social justice. Also coming from a homogeneous country Japan, being able to see the power of faith in making better changes in a diverse society through this internship is a prestigious opportunity for me.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
To absorb and execute as much as I can! Attend events, meet new people, and network as much as I can! Acquire spiritual growth to always question how I can lift up the marginalized community, together with them, through my vocation

Name: Isaiah Valera

Home community: Faith UMC in the Pacific North West Annual Conference
College: Western Washington University
Area of study: Design + Communications
Internship placement: Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington

The focus of work at placement:
Communications + publicity

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
Christmas Institute where I was a counselor for four years.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
To help find my own individual, meaningful purpose. I want to live a life of service and love, which are the foundations of this internship.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
I hope to discover my strengths and tools for living a Christ-centered life and ignite a passion for what I want to be in the future.

Name: Jaylon K. Tasby

Home community: Trinity East United Methodist Church in the Texas Annual Conference
College: Wiley College
Area of study: Biology
Internship placement: The NAACP

The focus of work at placement:
My research will focus on the elimination of health care disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
My volunteer and employment/internship work with the Texas Annual Conference and UMC.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
To help bridge the gap between faith and social issues.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
To grow in faith, confidence, and leadership.

Name: Michael Hsu

Home community: Monterey United Methodist Church in the California-Nevada Annual Conference
College: University of Southern California
Area of study: Non-governmental Organizations and Social Change
Internship placement: Democracy Initiative

The focus of work at placement:
Voting rights and getting corporate dollars out of politics

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
I have been active in campus and church organizing. Also my activities with the Annual Conference.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
As Christians, we have an obligation to speak out more against injustices.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
My hopes are to have more clarity in my future endeavors but also to learn more about the issues and knowing how to organize around those issues.

Name: Shannon Mendez Silva

Home community: Catholic church involved in La Caminate a campus group connected to the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference.
College: Delaware State University
Area of study: Social Work
Internship placement: RESULTS

The focus of work at placement:
Leveraging power to end poverty.

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
My major and struggles have shaped me into my workforce.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
I took part in this internship to collaborate and connect the church with social injustice issues while changing the world.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
My hopes to better myself as a professional as well as a person.

Name: Mariam Zaki

Home community: Roselle United Methodist Church and Faith United United Methodist Church in Lombard. I am a member of the Northern Illinois Annual Conference.
College: Valparaiso University
Area of study: Major- Biology, Minor- Chemistry; Pre-med
Internship placement: National Disability Rights Network

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
Church youth group involvement and work in clinics and hospitals.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
To grow in faith along with vocation.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
To learn more and to become a more powerful and knowledgeable Christian.

Name: Helen Smith

Home community: New Hope United Methodist Church in the Virginia Annual Conference
College: University of Mary Washington
Area of study: International Affairs
Internship placement: National Religious Partnership for the Environment

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
Work with church Trustees, Board of Connectional Ministries, Board of Communications

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
My faith will always be a driving force in my life, so why would I not combine it with work.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
To see/hear/experience what God would have for me.

Name: Jared Pierson

Home community: Gary United Methodist Church in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference
College: Northern Illinois University
Area of study: Political Science
Internship placement: Children’s Defense Fund

The focus of work at placement:
My primary focus will be working on logistics for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry.

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
I have learned about how widespread poverty is from church experiences, service projects, and my involvement with UNICEF at my university. I want the work I do to improve the lives of others in some way.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
I want to grow closer with God and learn to use my faith to shape my professional life.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
I hope to learn what it is like to work at a non-profit organization and see how the United Methodist Church aims to find justice for all people.

Name: Kelly Dunlap

Home community: First Baptist Church of the city of Washington, D.C.
Academic Institution: Duke Divinity School
Area of study: Master of Divinity
Internship placement: Church and Society

The focus of work at placement:
Ethnic Young Adult (EYA) Chaplain and Seminar Assistant

The past experiences that have shaped you to do this work:
I had the opportunity to learn about the intersection of faith and justice through the year-long internship program at Sojourners. I loved my time as an intern and living in intentional community and am excited about walking with the EYAs through a similar experience. I also worked in the nonprofit sector (direct service, fundraising, and communications) at both secular and faith-based organizations.

Why have you chosen to take part in a faith-based internship this summer?
It is crucial to take what I am learning in divinity school and see how it applies (or does not apply) to the real, everyday work of the church in the world today. One reason I chose to go to divinity school is I believe deeply that God has and is continuing change the world through the church and I want to be a part of that beautiful community on mission.

What are your hopes for this internship and your time in Washington, D.C.?
I hope to support the EYAs as they explore how their past experiences, personal faith, and passions are calling them to follow Christ in community-building, love, and justice. I also look forward to working with the seminar program as it provides educational experiences and resources to various church groups who come to Washington, D.C., to learn about issues that are important to them and their communities.

We will be sharing weekly intern blogs to keep you updated on the happening of this summer.