This Summer of 2026, I am joining Generation Housing as a Policy & Research Intern, where I will be contributing to research on state legislation related to land-use and housing development and examining their impacts on local jurisdictions in Sonoma County, as well as supporting Generation Housing’s community outreach and education initiatives. Growing up in Santa Rosa, I was detached from local politics and not much civically engaged. Only after taking courses in my first and second year in college including American Politics and Public Policy Analysis, I knew that politics and policy had immediately captured my attention as an undecided student without a major. I joined Generation Housing as I strongly believe that it is imperative to continuously learn more about the policy decisions being made by our elected officials and being informed about the impacts of policy on our local community. Now as a rising senior undergraduate, my summer with Generation Housing is part of my journey in fulfilling my commitment to mission-driven public service as I seek to pay it forward to my local community and plan to pursue a future as a public servant in policy and advocacy work.
In my first week with Generation Housing, I was quickly introduced and immersed into local government and community advocacy, a world that I previously overlooked and never meaningfully engaged with. Yet, attending a Santa Rosa City Council session on housing policy had changed that. What stood out to me was not policy discussion itself, but the community support behind it. I not only watched local residents speak with passion and urgency, but witnessed local democracy in action. As local residents filled up the council chambers, making the effort and taking time away from work, family, and other commitments to come together in voicing their support and sharing their desire for our city leaders to take bolder policy action to make housing more accessible and affordable. To say the least, hearing members of our community share their own close and personal experiences with housing unaffordability was both powerful and inspiring. By the end, their stories and frustrations had brought the severity of the housing crisis into focus for me. Attending a local city council meeting truly left a lasting impression on me, and revealed to me how vital Generation Housing’s advocacy is in driving local change across Sonoma County.
Overall, I am incredibly excited to be a part of the team at Generation Housing, as it is more important than ever to advocate for policies that remove barriers to the development of sustainable, accessible, and affordable housing. Because without meaningful action, many young adults like myself will not be able to build careers and establish a future in Sonoma County. I look forward to bringing my best to Generation Housing and contributing to fulfill its mission to expand the local housing supply and increase the availability of affordable housing across Sonoma County.