Student Spotlight Spring 2024
Margaux Johnstone spent her spring semester interning at Catholic Charities Migration and Refugee Services, Cleveland's largest refugee resettlement agency. "My externship experience has instilled in me a deep sense of purpose and resilience," says Margaux. Working in the Resource Specialist department, she helped recently arrived refugees integrate and adjust to their lives in the US, which included everything from teaching refugees how to ride the RTA to live-translating job preparation training to locating free diaper distributors in Cleveland. Shadowing the legal department, going on home visits, and discussing barriers to refugee children's success at local non-profits improved her understanding of the local and federal refugee resettlement system and its impact on children. Her work culminated in a project compiling resources for teachers and school administrators who are enrolling non-English speaking refugee children for the first time. "Margaux is exceptionally insightful, knowledgeable, and passionate: said her supervisor, Allyson Kirsh, noting she received excellent feedback from staff and school partners. As for her future career, Margaux shares: "The challenges faced in addressing the needs of refugee children have fueled my commitment to advocating for equitable opportunities and resources for vulnerable populations. Witnessing how policy at all levels, from the Clevland Metropolitan School District to the State Department, impacts on the ground realities for children has crystallized my desire to pursue public policy."