Interns
Sara Heller, MSW Intern
Sara is in the final year of her Masters in
Social Work program at SDSU, pursuing a
concentration in Administration and Community
Development. She was raised in Southern
California and then completed her undergraduate
degree at the University of Washington in
Seattle in 2020. This year Sara is interning at
the Consensus Organizing Center where she is the
Program Manager of the Step-Up Program. As the
program manager, some of Sara’s duties include
overseeing the daily operations of the program,
planning and facilitating student recruitment,
sourcing and supervising teaching mentors,
and securing community partnerships for
service work. Step-Up is a college access
program for students at Hoover High School,
which Sara is thrilled to be a part of.
Maryam Abdul Satter, MSW Intern
Maryam is a graduate social work student with a
focus on administration and community
development. She obtained her associate degree
from Cuyamaca College in 2019, a bachelor's
degree in Social Work from San Diego State
University in 2021, and working to get a master's
degree in Social Work in 2024. Maryam served as
the president of the Transfer Student Outreach
Alliance during the 2020-2021 academic year and
also obtained her certificate in leadership from SDSU
in 2021. She has traveled to nine countries and
speaks seven languages and has over six years
of work experience in nonprofit organizations. She
has interned at the International Rescue Committee,
and Jewish Family Services, and is currently at
Cuyamaca Community College with the Cuyamaca
Cares program. She is managing cases of students
who demonstrate a need for housing and will be
assisting students with resources for basic needs.
Michelle Barraza, bsw intern
Michelle is pursuing an undergraduate degree in
Social Work at San Diego State University. She
plans to apply for her Master's Degree in Social
Work in the Fall of 2024 to continue her education
and work towards being a Licensed Clinical Social
Worker. Her passion for helping others and “the
greater good for all” has been a lifelong pursuit.
She is thrilled to work with the Consensus
Organizing Center’s Step Up Program team.
Michelle looks forward to gaining experience in
the Macro Social Work sector as she works with
community leaders and leads the COC's
fundraising efforts this year. She will also be
working with Hoover High School junior-level students
in the Step-Up Program where she will mentor and
guide them through their college experience.
Manny bernal, bsw intern
Manny was born and raised in South San Diego and is in his senior year pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Social Work at San Diego State University. Manny is excited to intern at SDSU's Consensus Organizing Center with their Step-Up program, working with Hoover High School in City Heights. During his internship, he will focus on recruiting youth, mentoring Step Up participants, and fundraising. Manny will also practice providing students with opportunities to learn about financial
aid, scholarships, and navigating college life.
It is vital for him to have this opportunity to
show the youth in his community that there is a
path for everyone. Manny has a passion for giving
back to his community of San Diego and is thankful
for this opportunity to put that passion into action.
Lucky Erentreich, bsw intern
Lucky was born and raised in San Diego
California. He received two associate degrees in
Social Work and Sociology from Southwestern
College in 2022, transferred to San Diego State
University, and is now in his final year pursuing a
bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Lucky currently
interns with the Consensus Organizing Center
with their Step-Up program which works with
Hoover High School students in City Heights. He
is ecstatic to work with underserved youth
providing mentorship and financial literacy for
the participants of the program!
Ghadah Al Saeedi, bsw intern
Ghadah, a native of Baghdad, Iraq, embarked on a
transformative journey when she relocated to the
United States in 2016. Completing her associate
degree at Cuyamaca Community College in 2021,
she later transferred to San Diego State
University, where she is currently in the final
stages of attaining her bachelor's degree in
Social Work. Ghadah's current internship is at
Cuyamaca Community College, where she
plays an integral role in the Care Program,
focusing on enhancing the Food Pantry
initiative and guiding students through the
CalFresh application process. With graduation on
the horizon, Ghadah eagerly anticipates
embarking on her forthcoming path as a dedicated
Social Worker, driven by her passion for making
a positive impact on the lives of those in need.