Intern Spotlight: Julia Mandel
To say we couldn't do it without our amazing session interns is an understatement! We've been blessed to have Julia heading up crucial research for us this session. Thank you, Julia, for all of your hard work!
Julia is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis with a B.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences. After working with one too many test tubes and fruit flies, she ruled out a career in neuroscience research. She realized her passion lies in fighting for social justice and racial equity, and she moved back to her home state of Texas.
Julia came to Austin a year and a half ago to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA member at the Central Texas Food Bank, where she worked on a community health initiative. This experience made her want to set her sights higher, at the public policy level, because she wants to create a society based on an ethic of care where food banks are unnecessary. This led her to work as a field manager on a state political campaign. She saw firsthand the power of grassroots organizing and what educated, engaged Texans can accomplish, and this ultimately led her to her calling to work in advocacy.
This session, Julia is researching key policy areas for Texas Watch to help us stay informed and ready to move on pressing bills. Julia believes the work Texas Watch does is so important because everyday people need protection from major corporations and the insurance industry.