Matsui Center Washington Fellows

Ali Marvin

Class of 2024
2024 Washington Fellowship - Spring
Placement: Committee on Rules, U.S. House of Representatives Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Ali has been a lifelong advocate of social justice. Having experienced years of childhood homelessness, she intimately grasps the influence of money on human life. By elementary school, Ali was able to recognize the evilness of capitalism and aspired to dismantle it. Now, as a young adult, she has completed her requirements for a major in Legal Studies and a minor in Race and Law, reflecting her passion...

Arianna Laolagi

Class of 2024
2024 Washington Fellowship - Spring
Placement: Office of Representative Dan Goldman, U.S. House of Representatives Placement Location: Washington, D.C. Arianna Valentina Laolagi, a first-generation Latine student at UC Berkeley, is a dedicated leader and change-maker for her communities. Born and raised in an Immigrant household in Burbank, California, the issues that she has grown most passionate about are the ones that have directly affected her family. After graduation, Arianna is committed to reforming the Housing Crisis and Immigration Policy, and she plans to do so through...

UCDC Fall 2023: From Grief to Gratitude: Taking on D.C. One Day at a Time

October 18, 2023
Judy Saafein

I arrived in Washington, D.C. on August 18th, filled with anxiety and worry. I was living away from my family for the first time in my life, without knowing who would be there. Additionally, I was waiting on offers from multiple institutions. However, within days, my attitude completely changed. I met many amazing people, had multiple networking opportunities, and visited many historical sites. I started working at American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), a non-profit meant to help refugees within Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon with long-term humanitarian aid.

I also delved straight...

UCDC Fall 2023: Witnessing History as it Unfolds; Weaving My Future into D.C.’s Vibrant Tapestry

October 25, 2023
Arely Valencia

Participating in the UCDC program this semester has been an incredibly transformative experience. This program seamlessly integrates academic excellence with real-world exposure, immersing participants in the vibrant tapestry of Washington, D.C.'s political, cultural, and historical landscape. Exploring diverse neighborhoods and engaging in hands-on internships in the epicenter of policy ensures that living and working in Washington, D.C. is far from ordinary—it's a daily adventure filled with energy and excitement. I've had the privilege of not only exploring renowned national museums and...

UCDC Fall 2023: Designing Your Own Destiny in D.C.

October 23, 2023
Celia Serrato

I am Celia Serrato, a current student at the University of California, Berkeley majoring in Gender and Women’s Studies. I was selected to participate in the University of California Washington Program (UCDC) for Fall 2023, where I am interning at the DC Center for the LGBTQ+ Community as a Social Media/Advocacy Intern. One aspect of my role is to advocate for and center the voices and lived experiences of the LGBTQ+ community in DC, facilitating access to our free resources. The center’s resources include a community closet, food pantry, binder program, and peer-support groups. The other...

Judy Saafein

Class of 2024
2023 Washington Fellowship - Fall
Placement: TBD Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Judy Saafein is a rising third-year political science and media studies student at UC Berkeley. As an immigrant who knew no English, Judy grew up watching how US government policies affected her family in the United States and her extended family abroad. Activism and advocacy became part of her daily routines, working at CAIR in middle school and engaging in local politics during high school. She is interested in helping her American Muslim and Arab communities by educating them about US civil...

Celia Serrato

Class of 2024
2023 Washington Fellowship - Fall
Placement: TBD Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Celia is a bright light for her community and brings a refreshing voice and vision for the future. Her passion for Gender and Women's Studies as it relates to liberatory education, women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, undocumented rights, and environmental justice offer a critical perspective for any movement or organization that seeks to address systemic issues and support and uplift marginalized communities. Rooted in her values and beliefs, Celia strives to further educate herself and others on...

UCDC Spring 2023: The Washington D.C Forest and the Journey as a Hilltern, Part 2

May 10, 2023
Luis Leon Lopez

My time in Washington D.C was one of the most eye-opening experiences in my life. Each day I was able to be enveloped in the beauty of the city and challenge my writing and research abilities in my congressional internship for Representative Glenn Ivey of the fourth district of California. My final day in D.C. was a perfect representation of the fast and thrilling journey I experienced in D.C. On my final day I hit the ground running. My office had a tour of the Capitol building for 45 2nd graders and 6 chaperones. Only I and another intern were assigned to the tour,...

Roberto Ramos

Class of 2024
2023 Washington Fellowship - Fall
Placement: TBD Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Growing up in a family restaurant, I witnessed firsthand the power of capitalism, which was often hailed as a symbol of equality. From a young age, I took on responsibilities, standing on an upside-down milk crate to take orders. It became a norm for me, shaping my understanding of the world through the lens of immigrant labor and capitalism. However, as I grew older, I began to question the inherent injustices within this system, ones that had previously gone unnoticed. Seeking a path...

Cecilia Wolfcale

Class of 2024
2023 Washington Fellowship - Spring
Placement: Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia Placement Location: Washington, D.C.

Cecilia Wolfcale is a third-year student at UC Berkeley from Castro Valley, California studying legal studies and sociology. She plans to go to law school after completing her undergraduate experience at Cal and has career interests in criminal, civil, and constitutional law. Cecilia currently serves as the Intern Manager for the Incarcerated Scholars Program through Berkeley Underground Scholars. She has worked with the...