What makes the Up to Us community special is the steadfast commitment of our students and alumni to civic engagement and using their careers to make a difference on the issues that matter most to local communities. Whether it’s educating fellow residents about the census, registering peers to vote, meeting with local elected officials to ensure that their priorities are heard, or running for local office themselves, the Up to Us community understands that there is power in our collective action and that democracy only works through the active participation of all voices. That’s why each year, Up to Us invites current participants and alumni from our national Campus Competition to apply for our Civic Engagement Fellowship. This year’s cohort spent the summer advancing democracy by working for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, advocating for the environment with Citizens’ Climate Education, conducting research at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and more. As part of this work, we’ve asked each of our fellows to reflect on their experience and what they learned. Hear what they have to say!
Civic Engagement Fellow: Déja Daniel
Internship: As an intern in the Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Déja will be assisting caseworkers with the request from Georgia constituents while learning the ins and outs of a Congressional office. Déja aspires to become a bilingual criminal defense attorney and, ultimately, appointed as a judge to uphold the laws of the land for fair and equitable application.
Hear about Déja’s experience working in the Office of U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff:
Déja Daniel is a rising Sophomore majoring in Criminology and Spanish with a minor in Political Science at Howard University and currently holds a 3.9 GPA. Déja was actively involved on her campus as a freshman where she served on the Howard University Up to Us Team as the Media Engagement Specialist, the Howard University Model United Nations Team as an award-winning delegate, the Howard University Student Association as a Constitutional Review Committee Intern in the senate, and as a First-Year Associate in the Public Relations Department and the Finance Department. In addition to that, she is a member of the Howard Chapter of Her Campus’s Social Media team and the Mecca Made Professional Certification Program. Most recently, Déja was elected as the new Secretary of Revolt, Inc. where she dedicates her time to enrich the community, empower women, and educate the youth by also serving on the Public Relations, Events, and Community Service committees.
