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Public Service Internship Program 2026
The Public Service Internship Program offers driven college students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with public offices and non-profits, all while engaging in a summer-long policy project. Through this program, interns will build professional skills and develop critical research abilities by exploring a policy issue they care about. NextGen is committed to supporting students by providing a stipend to help offset transportation and other expenses. Recognizing that this may be many students’ first experience with in-depth research, we pair each intern with a dedicated mentor to guide them through the process and help them prepare to present their findings to local officials and key stakeholders. In the second half of the program, NextGen Scholars will participate in the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy Persuasive Writing Credential program. The Public Service Internship Program will create the leaders of tomorrow, changing communities one student at a time.
Meet Our NextGen Scholars
Katherine Garcia
Katherine Garcia is a first-generation Latina and a junior at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she is double majoring in Political Science and Latino/Latina Studies. On campus, she is deeply involved in organizations, serving on the executive boards of both I-CAUSE and Latinx in Law. She is also the student representative and Vice Chair of UIUC Relations for the Latino Latina Alumni Association.Off campus, Katherine serves as the Director of Equity & Inclusion for Legally Lawtino, a national nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to internships, scholarships, and pre-law resources for first-generation and underrepresented students. She is also a current Fellow with America Needs You. Katherine is a proud Hispanas Organized for Political Equity (HOPE) alumna, where she completed a capstone project focused on immigration policy. One of Katherine's most meaningful achievements includes serving as a LEAD Ambassador for the Latina Empowerment and Development Conference (LEAD) at Harvard University, where she led fundraising efforts, delivered presentations to campus organizations, secured sponsorships, and increased student engagement. Katherine lives by the quote, "We rise by lifting others," a value shaped by the mentors who invested in her journey and continue to inspire her to pay that support forward. As a first-generation college student with proud Mexican heritage, her leadership is rooted in inclusion, ensuring that spaces of power, growth, and opportunity are accessible to all.
Jessica Velazquez Valdes
Jessica is a first-generation college student currently studying to get her B.A.'s in both Political Science and Humanities. She is currently in her third year at Yale University. She has worked with 6 different campaigns across the country providing remote assistance, election cycle support through phone banking and canvassing, and researching one-pagers with Yale Democrats. She also serves as one of the Presidents of Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Yale, and is involved with many pre-law clubs. Although originally from Indiana, Jessica is interested in addressing interdisciplinary challenges across affordable housing, educational equity, immigration, and environmental justice in underserved communities everywhere. In her free time, she volunteers with the Volunteer Income Tax Association (VITA), interpretation and ESL learning services, and enjoys writing and scrapbooking.
Jessica is interning with State Representative Lillian Jimenez
Kevin Jaime
Kevin is a first-generation college graduate with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Growing up in Elgin, he experienced firsthand the dire impact of local and federal policies and the responses to them, joining in community engagement and efforts on speaking about immigration protections and police brutality. He continued these efforts at UIUC, serving as Co-Outreach Chair for La Colectiva, where he organized educational programs regarding Latine issues, strengthened Latine partnerships with on-campus and local organizations, and helped lead outreach efforts for the organization's largest fundraising event. Through his work and background, Kevin has developed a passion for expanding equitable public transportation networks, affordable housing, protecting immigrant rights, and strengthening democratic institutions through election reform. Kevin joined NextGen to gain firsthand experience in public service work and strengthen his leadership skills to provide tangible change through policy work and advocacy.
Kevin is interning with State Representative Nabeela Syed
Alexa Munoz Gomez
I am a first-generation college student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I am double majoring in Political Science and Latino/Latina Studies with minors in Spanish and Business Administration. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, I witnessed firsthand how laws and public policies shape the lives of individuals and families. I also recognized the lack of representation of people that looked like me in law and policymaking, which inspired me to pursue a career in public service and advocacy. I aspire to become an attorney and public servant who amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities and works to ensure that policies are shaped by those most affected by them. I am an alumna of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a recipient of the Horatio Alger Association National Scholarship, and a member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. I am passionate about healthcare access, food insecurity, and immigration reform. Through my academic, leadership, and community experiences, I remain committed to advancing equitable opportunities and creating meaningful change for underserved populations. I hope to use my education and advocacy skills to empower others and address the barriers that limit access to opportunity.
Meet Our Alumni
Abigail Estrada-Hernandez
Abigail is a first-generation college student with a B.A. in Women’s & Gender Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. With a background in political organizing, digital communications, and data-driven advocacy, she has held impactful roles at the White House Office of Digital Strategy, Target, and the United Nations Foundation, among others. Abigail served as President of IGNITE UIUC, leading initiatives to empower young women and non-binary individuals to own their political power. With deep roots in community service, Abigail also served in the Office of the Student Trustee, co-leading events like the Art of Leadership Summit to amplify student leadership. Her work centers on advancing equity through storytelling, civic engagement, and emerging technology, particularly cybersecurity policy. Abigail aspires to use her interdisciplinary background and technical acumen to shape inclusive digital policy and national cybersecurity strategies through a career in public service.
Abigail interned with State Senator Cristina Castro.
Ma'Kayla Mashburn
Ma’Kayla is a first-generation college student from the South Side of Chicago. She is currently a third-year student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, majoring in Political Science on the pre-law track. Growing up on the South Side, Ma’Kayla witnessed firsthand how policy decisions directly impacted her community, which inspired her to pursue a career in public service and advocacy. She is passionate about climate and environmental justice, criminal justice reform, and affordable housing—issues that continue to affect her community. Ma’Kayla joined NextGen to gain hands-on experience in advocacy, build her leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful change through policy initiatives that uplift underrepresented communities.
Ma'Kayla interned with State Representative Mary Beth Canty.
Our Internship Partners
Empower the Next Generation of Change-Makers
Join NextGen Scholars for Change in empowering first-generation students with opportunities in policy and leadership.