In the summer of 2017, I had an internship at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.  It was a very fortuitous time to be in this office because the Brooklyn District Attorney, Eric Gonzalez, who is genuinely concerned about the community, was examining past practices and exploring better responses for the future that focused on diversity and implicit bias. I participated in meetings in which  the impact of enforcement practices on the community and  government responses were discussed between the police, the attorneys, and community representatives. It was exciting to be exposed to a leader who was implementing practices that took into account the law enforcement's impact on marginalized communities and to see the possibility of change in the laws and enforcement in real terms. 

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My internship at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office afforded me exposure to actual policy development to confront injustices arising from racial and social disparities and further made me realize how complex these issues are when undertaken practically. Although I was exposed to theoretical concepts of disenfranchisement in school, I had the unique opportunity to see the examination of policy as previously applied and how to change it to incorporate elements of fairness. The majority of my time, I worked under the supervision of the Executive Assistant Attorney, Rosa Vale, assembling police and local feedback regarding the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office's past policies with respect to controlled substances. Throughout my time I tried to engage and assist as much as possible: I organized subpoenas, financial data for court cases, transcribed defendants' phone calls, assisted in investigations and in conducting and analyzing legal research. It was an incredible experience where I learned the substantial role that the government plays in bettering the lives of communities, and how the implementation of policies can affect change.  

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