Notre Dame Interns Reflect on Time With Catholic Charities

After a summer helping those in the greatest need, supporting the operations of a non-profit, and immersed in Catholic Charities Boston’s mission of compassionate service, University of Notre Dame student interns presented what they learned during their experiences with the agency. 

This summer marked the second in a row Catholic Charities has hosted student interns through the university’s Institute for Social Concerns, part of the NDBridge program. Among the interns’ responsibilities were working at Catholic Charities’ child care centers and four food pantries, helping clients and supporting the agency’s continued efforts to meet the surging demand for food assistance. 

During the students’ final week in Boston, they each presented to agency leadership and staff, sharing their experiences, insights, and the results of research projects tied to their Catholic Charities work. 

“Social services aren’t just about meeting immediate needs,” Malaika Poluscar said in her presentation. “They’re structured to honor human dignity and give people the tools to build stability on their own terms.” 

Hailey Tiu, an accountancy and education, schooling, and society major who will be a junior this upcoming school year, presented on her time working at the Labouré Child Care Center. She supported teachers caring for children in the infant and toddler rooms. 

“(This internship) broadened my perspective and deepened my empathy,” Tiu said in her presentation. “Through site visits, conversations with teachers, and the people I met along the way, I became more aware of the many different stories and experiences that shape the world around me.” 

Mpati Sylvia Letsela, who is studying business analytics and computer science, sought to learn how AI tools could help predict demand at Catholic Charities’ food pantries. 

“Working with Catholic Charities Salesforce platform showed me that strong AI tools are built on strong data foundations, so I focused my research on strengthening that foundation first,” she noted. 

Direct interaction with clients was among the experiences Grace Liono, a business analytics and computer science major, enjoyed most while serving in the food pantries. Her research focused on creating a standardized, easy-to-follow guide for the pantries’ USDA recertification process. Her proposed guide includes best practices for client communication and guidance for special circumstances, such as clients’ dietary needs. 

Similarly, Imani Quarterman developed a universal intake form for the pantries to ensure consistency in how clients’ information is collected. “I really enjoyed all the conversations and opportunities to help others despite language barriers,” said the political science and economics major. 

Gia Marino, who is starting junior year in the fall, witnessed infants’ impressive learning abilities while working at the Yawkey Child Care Center. 

“This fellowship impacted my view on how to form meaningful relationships with people of different ages and backgrounds, including the kids,” Marino said.