Abdullah Ali

Hello everyone! My name is Abdullah Ali, and I am a first generation student majoring in Political Science at San Diego City College. I’m pleased to be an SEJ intern this summer. I decided to apply after attending workshops facilitated by current interns, where I found a welcoming space for students to learn, engage, and mobilize around issues affecting working-class people in San Diego. I learned that the program offers students opportunities to take part in organizing campaigns with local organizations that center economic justice and build political and community power. Through SEJ, I hope to strengthen my knowledge in organizing and grow both as a person and community member. In my free time, I like to be in the sun, read, play tennis, go see a movie, and listen to music. I look forward to doing meaningful work with you all this summer and beyond!

Serina Cuza

My name is Serina Cuza, my pronouns are she/her/ella, and I am currently a Biology and Chicanx Studies major with a certificate in Labor Organizing Studies and an emphasis on Social Justice at San Diego City College. I have a nursing degree from University of Hawaii – Honolulu Community College, where I also attended Hawaii Pacific University. I’ve been able to obtain other healthcare certifications and licenses along the way such as Direct Support Professional Training (DSP I and II), and Phlebotomy Technician (PBT). I currently work part time in healthcare. Some of my outside interests are community organizing specifically regarding Palestine and how Palestina’s current struggles can be related to all intersectional and worldwide issues, especially those of Africa and Nuestra America. I chose to apply to SEJ to experience organizing within the greater community and to see what bridges can be built. I hope to gain a better understanding of what our communities need as well and I hope to grow my current networking base. Some of my hobbies are running, beach days with my dog, hiking, paddle boarding, bordado, painting, vegan cooking, house plants and gardening. Super excited to continue learning from the community!

Zamzam

Hello, my name is Zamzam, and I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. I received my associate’s degree in arts for psychology in 2025 at San Diego Mesa College, and I’m currently pursuing a bachelor of arts in psychological science at the University of California, Irvine, where I was awarded a $15,000 scholarship to pursue my education. I chose to apply for SEJ because I’m passionate about advocating for refugee and immigrant populations across the greater San Diego region and was inspired by the Labor and Community Organizing podcast episode with Chris Smalls. Additionally, I hope to improve my leadership and technical skills. At UCI, I’m involved in the Model United Nations Club, where I’ve competed in collegiate-level conferences and served as a crisis staffer for the high school conference’s International Court of Justice Bosnia and Herzegovina crisis committee.

Sanjana Ganguly

My name is Sanjana Ganguly (he/they), I am a graduate of San Diego High School and current sophomore at UC Berkeley studying Political Economy, Sociology, and Ethnic Studies. My dedication to economic justice and organizing has been informed by my experiences growing up in low income public schools in San Diego, and my upbringing in a single-mother household navigating domestic violence, financial hardship, and the child welfare and family court systems. I have been organizing since age eleven around environmental racism, educational equity, housing justice, and the family policing system through my leadership in organizations such as La Causa Service Clubs, Mid City CAN, and Californians for Justice. I applied to SEJ because I understand the intersectional nature of economic disenfranchisement as it impacts every facet of community well-being. I strongly believe in the immovable power that exists across underserved San Diego communities and populations, and I am excited to learn all that I can this summer to best contribute to furthering community justice, equity, and self-determination across the board.

Izel

My name is Izel (she/her/ella), and I am currently at SDSU. Leadership has been part of my life since elementary school, when I first joined the student council. From there, I became ASB President in middle school, MEChA President in high school, and MEChA Secretary in college. I applied to SEJ because I want to deepen my understanding of community and labor organizing and learn how to approach economic justice through an intersectional lens. This summer, I hope to gain hands-on experience, build new skills, and connect with others committed to change. I also hope to become a college advisor and support students in accessing higher education. In my free time, I enjoy being with my family and helping with lessons at the ranch.

Marco Guajardo 

Marco Guajardo (he/him) is a lifelong San Diego activist and community member who, for too long, bought into the misconception that community organizing was out of his reach as a viable career path. Marco eventually felt the need to leave his administrative background in Accounting and Human Resources to try and align his progressive moral principles with his work. During his recent career exploration Marco dove into the education and journalism fields as career options, but inevitably collided with the understanding that our world needs the full-throated leadership of unwavering progressive voices to help the movement grow. Marco is now chasing his dream of becoming an organizer and policy advocate for worker’s rights and power in San Diego.  

Marco was among the first students to begin participating in SEJ’s monthly Bloom Room organizing sessions that provided a coalition-building space and training opportunities for student activists across San Diego. Marco sees his formal Students for Economic Justice internship placement as an opportunity to expand his organizing skills and integrate into the local organizing discipline.

Marco was raised in Mexicali and in Fallbrook until he went off to study in SDSU and stayed to live in San Diego. He balances his lifestyle by staying active, healthy and social. When he’s not organizing, Marco is either running, lifting, swimming, backpacking, kickboxing, or hanging out with his family, friends and partner.

Ashley McCollough

Hey ya’ll! My name is Ashley McCollough, I use she/her and they/them pronouns. I am a San Diego City College Grad going to CSU San Marcos in the Spring to continue my studies in English. I chose SEJ because I grew up in a poor, working-class family and money was always a source of adversity for my parents. That experience has been the catalyst for me to seek economic justice because a working person or family should not have to worry about making ends meet. I hope to learn how to connect with people with different backgrounds from myself. I am a big believer that there is common ground between most people and it can take a conversation to find it. I want to learn the skills to make those connections and bring people together. I am a huge fan of Anime particularly, One Piece.

Grady O’Brien

My name is Grady O’Brien (they/them) and I just graduated from San Diego City College. I am pursuing community organizing and Sociology not only because they interest me, but because it pertains to my background, growing up working-class and transgender. Being raised in City Heights allowed me to see the impact of income disparity on a neighborhood. I am very grateful to have this opportunity, as I will be able to see what a lifetime and career of community organizing can look like. Besides my interests in academics and justice, I really enjoy reading and nature.