Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this year’s SEJ cohort and the closing of the 2022 Students for Economic Justice (SEJ) Program!
Over 6 weeks this summer, interns spent a day or two each week with CPI learning about San Diego’s economic and labor history, relationship building, campaign planning, communications and tactics for direct action, among other topics. They spent 3-4 days a week at their site getting first-hand experience working on an organizing campaign, and learning from labor and community organizers. This year the SEJ interns worked on campaigns for community land trusts, increasing transit options, organizing with stage hands for better pay, decreasing incarceration of youth, building a committee for reparations in San Diego County, organizing non-union workers, housing and tenants’ rights, and decriminalizing homelessness. We are so thankful for the opportunity to work with this cohort and grow the movement over the past six weeks.
This cohort got to experience the leadership of Sarah Farouq, who was this year’s SEJ coordinator and who was part of the 2017 SEJ Cohort.
“As an SEJ participant, I was on the receiving end of the training and programming. In coordinating this SEJ cohort, I used my experience as an alumna to create a similarly transformative experience for the 2022 SEJers. Having seen both sides of it, I believe that SEJ is unlike any other internship program. Through the core organizing training, the knowledge-sharing panels and direct, on-site organizing experience, SEJ serves as a launchpad for the next generation of organizers and leaders in San Diego.
This summer, the interns engaged in campaigns across the county, in campaigns for justice for workers, people ensnared in the criminal injustice system, tenants, and environmental justice communities. I want to thank the SEJ 2022 cohort for being a wonderful group of passionate, engaged, and brilliant leaders who came into SEJ with open minds and a willingness to jump into the work. I can confidently say that the future is in good hands.”
Interns reflected on their time in the program and here’s what some of them had to say about their experience:
Thank you to our site partners for hosting interns and providing them with hands-on organizing experience:
- Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE)
- Environmental Health Coalition
- IATSE Local 122
- IBEW 465
- Majdal Center
- Mid-City CAN
- Pillars of the Community
- Think Dignity
We would also like to thank this year’s SEJ program sponsors:
- AFT Guild Local 1931
- Peacemakers
