The David Reznick Foundation Funds Summer Internships for University of Maryland Students

The David Reznick Foundation, which is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of affordable housing leaders, is proud to announce that it funded three student internships at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy during Summer 2025. 

All three students—Alizeh Malik, Charles Baggett, and Yessenia Arevalo—participated in the university's Do Good Institute’s Impact Interns program, which places student interns with social impact organizations in the housing, community development, or social justice spaces.

Read more about the Summer 2025 Impact Interns program.

Alizeh Malik is pursuing her Master’s in Public Policy (MPP). She recently completed a summer internship with Girls Inc. of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, the preeminent girls’ leadership organization equipping girls to reach their full potential.

Alizeh

Her responsibilities included: 

• creating surveys and collecting data from youth in our programs,

• reviewing Girls Inc.’s existing curriculum,

• updating outdated curriculum by designing lessons and hands on activities for youth, 

• supporting programming by generating field trip ideas and other in-person experiences that align with new curriculum, and

• researching today’s common trends and relevant topics. 

Alizeh shares her experience: “This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with Girls Inc. of the DC Metro Area through the University of Maryland School of Public Policy Impact Interns program, a unique initiative that connects students with mission-driven nonprofits making a real difference in our communities. 

During my internship, I helped develop the Teen Advocacy Council curriculum, which focused on empowering girls through advocacy and educating them about critical issues. I also conducted research to support the program’s goals and was fortunate to attend the Girls Inc. summer camp, where I engaged directly with participants and witnessed the girls’ remarkable growth over just a few weeks as they gained confidence, uplifted one another, and explored areas where young women’s voices are often underrepresented.”   

Charles Baggett is pursuing his BA/MPP, with an expected graduation date of Spring 2026. He completed a summer internship with The FORUM on Democracy, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that has been studying and discussing the state of America.

Charles

His responsibilities included: 

• Working with development team on CITIZEN E-Zine

• Conducting interviews for stories

• Assisting with research on other democracy-oriented organizations

• Developing conference logistics

• Researching and editing of stories and book reviews on democracy and community civic involvement 

Charles shares his experience: “As a policy intern and writer, I analyzed local policy solutions from various areas, bridging the gap between local and national policy. Through my work, I learned valuable lessons. I deepened my knowledge of the policy world and citizen engagement and was able to expand my policy horizons through my work. Normally, I focus largely on international issues, but at my job, I was writing extensively about local policy and really engaging with the idea that state and local government serve as the laboratories of democracy. I covered issues ranging from involving citizens in government in Washington state to preventing crime in Baltimore through mental health advocacy. The wide range of issues I covered gave me a better understanding of how the policy field works and how I can do good as a policy student.

This opportunity allowed me to gain valuable experience at a time when the policy field was mired in confusion. The summer of 2025 was a difficult time for policy majors. With the major cuts to government spending, many were being laid off, and internships were canceled. It seemed like half the people I knew had lost their internships, and I thought I would be working at a restaurant all summer. The Do Good Institute changed that. Working with the Do Good Institute, I was able to find an interesting and insightful internship for the summer at a time when most could hardly find a policy job at all. I am incredibly grateful for getting this opportunity to not only work in a field I care about, but to better learn how to work in the policy field.”

Yessenia Arevalo is an undergraduate in the School of Public Policy, who’s expected to graduate in Spring 2028. She interned with Central Kenilworth Avenue Revitalization Community Development Corporation (CKAR CDC), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that forms strategic partnerships to implement projects in the Greater Riverdale community, including community and economic development, workforce training, environmental sustainability, business retention, and advocacy.

Her responsibilities included: 

• assisting with planning and promoting the Summer Technology Camp to schools and community organizations,

• helping manage social media content and marketing campaigns to raise awareness and encourage enrollment,

• working closely with BCAUSEICAN instructors to ensure smooth execution of daily camp activities, and

• assisting in preparing end-of-program reports, including performance summaries and recommendations for future camps. 

Yessenia shares her experience: “I believe that the work they're doing is incredibly impactful, and I am glad to be a part of it. The culture of the organization is extremely collaborative. As interns, we are consistently welcomed and have been encouraged to input our ideas, suggestions, or questions.”

ABOUT THE DAVID REZNICK FOUNDATION

From revitalizing communities to mentoring the leaders of tomorrow, the David Reznick Foundation creates long-term progress within the affordable housing industry by facilitating opportunities for individuals and organizations alike. For more information visit https://www.davidreznickfoundation.org/.