To learn more about the programmatic focus of the funding for these internships, explore our student funding opportunities page.
Internships focused on Women’s Financial Security, Food, and Health
Keila Cantellan
Keila Cantellan (intensive psychology, global & community health) interned with Santa Cruz Community Health, a leading nonprofit provider of high-quality and inclusive healthcare services. As a Patient Engagement Intern, she collaborated with the development and communications team on projects that uplifted equity, social justice, and belonging. Her work ranged from supporting patient-centered initiatives like the Patient Advisory Committee to conducting outreach for new clinics and helping build strategic community health programs.
Keila describes her internship as “an amazing opportunity and a very impactful experience” that deepened her commitment to advancing health equity. Though her time with Santa Cruz Community Health was brief, she leaves with valuable skills, meaningful connections, and a strengthened passion for pursuing systemic change in healthcare.
Carolina Gutierrez Martinez
Carolina Gutierrez Martinez (business management economics) interned with Mujeres en Acción, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for women’s leadership and economic self-sufficiency. Drawn to her growing interest in social media, Carolina used her internship to highlight the powerful stories of women in the community and the impact of Mujeres’ programs.
Mujeres en Acción supports women through weekly support groups in Spanish and Mixteco, as well as workshops on disaster readiness, climate change, financial independence, and leadership development. They help women set personal and professional goals, providing the resources and encouragement to achieve them. One of Carolina’s main projects was showcasing success stories of Mujeres participants, including women like Olivia, who began in weekly support groups and went on to earn her driver’s license and complete trainings in technology and design.
Janeth Gutierrez
Janeth Gutierrez (global and community health) completed her internship with the Santa Cruz Community Health Center in Live Oak. As part of the outreach and enrollment team, Janeth supported community members by assisting with Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Covered California applications, helping families access affordable health coverage and nutrition programs. She also contributed to the clinic’s weekly food distribution program, ensuring households had access to fresh produce and nonperishable items.
Janeth was drawn to the clinic because its mission of compassionate, high-quality care resonated with her personal values and upbringing in a low-income, Spanish-speaking community. Throughout her internship, she gained hands-on experience confirming appointments, assisting staff with projects, and learning about the behind-the-scenes work that makes patient-centered care possible. This opportunity provided both professional growth and a meaningful connection to the Santa Cruz community she is passionate about serving.
Emily Cuya
Emily Cuya (intensive psychology and cognitive science) interned with Community Bridges WIC as a Community Outreach Intern, supporting low-income women, infants, and children. She helped expand access to resources such as food vouchers, nutrition education, breastfeeding classes, and referrals to programs like SNAP and Medi-Cal.
Her work included creating outreach materials, tabling at major community events such as the Watsonville Strawberry Festival, and presenting information at farmworker fairs and farmers markets—often in Spanish. This challenged her to strengthen her bilingual skills and connect more effectively with Spanish-speaking families. Emily also gained experience in office support, client surveys, and program coordination, most notably leading outreach for WIC’s annual breastfeeding walk, which was held in Santa Cruz for the first time.
Internships Focusing on Antipoverty Initiatives
Lauren McGilvray
Lauren McGilvray served as the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Intern with the Homeless Garden Project through the Community Studies program. The Homeless Garden Project is a nonprofit organization in Santa Cruz that provides transitional employment, job training, and support services for unhoused community members. Lauren was inspired by the genuine care and teamwork among staff, trainees, and volunteers, and especially enjoyed the sense of community built by sharing meals together.
As a CSA intern, Lauren helped manage and distribute 57 weekly produce shares filled with fresh vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Each week, the project also donated an equal number of shares to local organizations such as Downtown Street Team and Front Street Housing, ensuring fresh food reached those in need. Through this experience, Lauren gained new skills in farming, deepened her understanding of food justice, and witnessed the power of community in creating pathways out of homelessness.
Kayla Flores Casiano
Kayla Flores Casiano interned with Davenport Resource Service Center (DRSC), part of the Community Action Board. DRSC provides essential resources such as food distributions, legal assistance, and youth and senior programs, serving as a vital support system for the local community.
During her internship, Kayla participated in a variety of activities, including co-leading a summer program for children, helping with weekly food distributions and senior food boxes, conducting community surveys to assess program impact, assisting with backpack and school supply distributions, and supporting educational workshops on financial literacy. She was also able to see how these services make a tangible difference for families, especially those facing economic hardship.
Rylee Christian
Rylee Christian interned with Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County. She is a senior in the Community Studies Department and will continue her engagement with SHFB through the next year as a part of her department’s field study. She is passionate about food insecurity for both personal, scholarly, and future career interests.
During her internship she helped with numerous food distributions at different sites around the county. She attended programming meetings and was able to assist with program formatting.