Interns

Sarai Garcia, BSW Intern

Sarai Garcia is a native of Mexico. She, alongside her family, immigrated to the United States at the age of 3 in search of better opportunities. She received her Associates in Social Work at South Western College in 2023. She is now a Senior pursuing her Bachelors in Social Work, emphasizing in Juvenile Delinquency. She is an Alumni and participated as a Mentor at STAR/PAL (a non-profit organization that encourages youth participation in their community). She is now an Intern at the Consensus Organizing Center’s Step Up Program. While working with juniors at Hoover, she is ecstatic to help them navigate educational exposure and opportunities. Sarai is passionate about giving back to the community that once gave her everything. She's encouraged to expose education and resources to underserved youth and families, because if not us, then who - John Lewis.

Karly Franz, BSW Intern

A transfer student from community college, Karly is thriving in her senior year of undergraduate studies at San Diego State University’s School of Social Work. She has the honor and responsibility of interning for the Consensus Organizing Center’s Step Up program with a leadership role in fundraising. Having obtained her certificate in Professional Grant Writing from SDSU, she is excited for the opportunity to exercise her new skills to benefit the Step Up program participants—the students of Hoover High School. Karly’s plans for the future include attending SDSU’s MSW program with an emphasis on Administration/ Community Development to create meaningful systemic change through policy. 

John Ortega, BSW Intern

John is currently a BSW student at San Diego State University and is in his final year of undergraduate studies. He completed his associates degree in Social Sciences and Behavior from San Diego City College and has always been part of many community service events in City Heights. It is John’s honor to be part of the Consensus Organizing Center, not only as an intern but also as an alumni of the Step Up Program. Being in the program has given him growth as a student and overall person. Thanks to the StepUp program, John is pursuing his degree in Social Work! After graduating, he plans to enter the master's program in hopes of becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. In his free time, John enjoys sports, hiking, going to the gym, and hanging out by the beach with friends and family. He is thrilled to be back as a mentor for the Hoover High School students and share his experience, which can ultimately help them as well since giving back has always been part of his life.