Fall Interns 2011

Congrats to our fall interns of 2011!! We are thrilled to have you all join the team!

Shoshana Bar-David - Grants

Back for her second internship term, Shoshana is a senior at Barnard College majoring in Psychology. She comes from Riverdale, New York, and is known for her inability to snap, whistle, or wink (reward granted to anyone who can teach her!) Shoshana loves going on camping trips, smores and all, and relaxing at the beach. She likes to discover great song covers on YouTube (check out Michael Henry and Justin Robinett) and talk about how Facebook and other social media are changing the world - for good and bad. She is also trying to plan an end-of-year trip to Europe or Australia or somewhere else awesome and would love to hear your suggestions. Shoshana can't wait to give out lots of grant money to amazing young people rocking their causes!!

Dylan Greiss - Video

Before heading off to Emerson College to study film production in January, Dylan plans to combat boredom by taking action through working as video intern for DoSomething.org. Dylan studied film in high school and has attended filmmaking programs including the New York Film Academy and the School of Cinematography and Performing Arts. Dylan has spent the past eight months working as a volunteer videographer and editor for DoSomething.org and is excited to be brought on board as a full-time video intern! Dylan lives in New Jersey, where he tries his best to stay away from puddles of radiation and other toxic chemicals – but in reality Dylan loves New Jersey and all the great filming locations it has to offer. Dylan loves telling stories through film and influencing people to take action.

Sophie Lasoff - Special Projects

Born and raised in the sunny hills of California, Sophie Lasoff is no typical SoCal girl. She doesn’t surf or own a convertible, but instead loves to hike and has a secret pleasure for grammar worksheets. Since moving to the east coast for her freshman year at NYU, Sophie misses her cat way more than she misses her family. After only two weeks in Manhattan, the city has solidified her hatred for LA and its lack of public transport. Having never owned a winter coat in her life, she is nervous, yet excited to live in a place where there are actual seasons. When she isn’t keeping herself sane through meditation or yoga, Sophie is pouring over books for her Global Liberal Studies classes or just for pleasure. Sophie discovered DoSomething.org after volunteering at the Kibera School For Girls, founded by the Do Something 2010 winner Jessica Posner. She has been to both coasts of Africa in the past year, and is counting down the days until she gets to go on another adventure. After abandoning her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut, Sophie has found a passion for global change that seems to have consumed her life thus far. She could not imagine a better place to be living out this passion than with the incredible young people at DoSomething.org!

Teresa Roca - Content

Teresa has just begun her third year at Baruch College where she is double majoring in Journalism and English with a minor in Film Studies. Teresa is from Staten Island, New York and is not your typical Staten Islander (you will never see her on an episode of Jersey Shore or Mob Wives). She breaks away from the island every chance she can to visit the fast-paced city where she attends school, visits independent film theaters, and now interns! Teresa grew up rooting for the New York Yankees, hoping to write for sports one day. After writing multiple sports articles for various publications, Teresa has decided to embark on a new journey and follow her other passion: informing others of current social issues and how they could make a difference in the world. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire young people to join a cause, get involved, and help change the world. When Teresa is not reading Jane Austen, fantasizing about visiting England, viewing indie films, listening to Sublime, or watching The Office and How I Met Your Mother, she reads every newspaper she can get her hands on and writes as much as she can. She is thrilled to begin her new journey with DoSomething.org!

Masha Leonov - Development

Currently in the process of figuring out how to clone herself to be in 2 places at once, Masha has a habit of stretching herself just thin enough to still say "maybe I can do more." Unfortunately her attempt at hijacking Hermoine's time-traveling device was interpreted as a threat to Emma Watson's well-being so Masha had to jump ship to avoid criminal charges - Daniel Radcliffe is still in New York however so she's not giving up: "How To Succeed in Business" is first on her Broadway to-watch list. Interestingly enough, Masha is hoping to answer that same question in her own journey at NYU's Stern School of Business. Although the draw of majoring in Finance is undoubtedly as strong as Masha's love of food, her hatred of being a follower (and subsequently doing what every other "Sternie" on her Residence Hall floor is doing) has her torn between a Global Business and Marketing double major, with Tisch minors in Producing and Dance. Before any of those "you're either going to be filthy rich or simply filthy for the rest of your life" decisions come to light though, Masha is awe-struck, baffled, and in utter shock at how happy and easy the transition to the Big Apple has been from her Florida home. In fact, she's confused as to why any of her high school friends would go to school anywhere else but the city. Moreover, the Big Apple is a fitting home for her as she adores juicy fruits, starting with green apples: if any generous Floridian happens to be reading this, Masha will readily be accepting packages of any and all citrus fruits 25 hours a day, 8 days a week. Finding her information online however can be tricky as she has been accused of being a "00" (double-o) agent countless times. Her three passports and very prominent Russian pride beg to differ.
Most importantly, Masha is incredibly excited to be joining the Do Something team. It is an opportunity that even an international operative couldn't pass up and she can't wait to truly make a difference in the world (without having to hide behind the curtain of a secret agency).
Finally, yes, everyone can conclude that Masha is a geek and totally and completely proud of it.

Janey Robson - Business Development

Originally hailing from Maryland, Janey loves the fast-paced lifestyle of New York. Though she will miss the crab feasts, can can dancing, and the other joys of a summer in Maryland, she is really looking forward to her time spent at Do Something. She is an upcoming senior at Hofstra University in New York and is majoring in Global Studies with a double minor in Education and Geography. She loves learning all about the world and the people and places that make it what it is. Though she is not ready to enter the "real world" herself! When she is not busy nannying, she loves traveling the world, taking spontaneous road trips, and baking yummy treats. Janey's thoughts for the future include her continual exploration of the world, devoting her life to the betterment of others, and working with a nonprofit that focuses on the educational needs of children. She believes her internship with Do Something is going to be a great experience and can't wait to get started!

Alysha Bologno - Business Development

Alysha, born and raised in New Jersey, (unlike the cast of the Jersey Shore) grew up in a very Italian background. She left the nest to attend Dickinson College where she spent a year in Bologna, Italy interning at the Human Rights Nights festival. She graduated in 2009 with a double major in Sociology and Italian Studies. Shortly after she moved to Bed-Sty, Brooklyn where she has called home for the last two years. Her passion for activism started in high school when she mixed her love of music and helping others by organizing a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina. In college she was involved in protests against sexual violence. Now she enjoys the activist culture she has found in the Brooklyn queer community. Before interning at Do Something, she has had her fair share of odd jobs, including working in an international hostel, hostessing, and working at a motorcycle school. Although she doesn’t ride a motorcycle, she does enjoy being a stereotypical Brooklynite, riding her bicycle to flea and farmers markets. Alysha cannot begin to explain how hyped she is to start at Do Something where she can inspire and be inspired by young people!

Nava Kantor - Scholarships

Recently returned from an incredible semester in Copenhagen, Denmark, Nava is a senior at Barnard College. An English literature major, Nava hopes to do a year of service and then earn a master's degree in social work after graduation. This combination of English and social work degrees has led many adults in Nava's life to make snide comments insinuating that she will forever live in a cardboard box, but they have not deterred her from working toward her dreams! A proud Midwesterner by birth, Nava loves exploring new neighborhoods in NYC, finding free and cheap events, teaching herself songs on her blue ukulele, and eating as many pastries as possible - an unfortunate/excellent addiction she developed while in Europe. Nava is excited to contribute to Do Something's amazing work!

Sarah Piper-Goldberg - User Relations

Sarah Piper-Goldberg spends the majority of her time wearing a onesie, eating snacks, and hanging out with her two cats (preferably doing all three of these things at once). After a brief stint in the Liberal Arts world, Sarah transferred to Parsons where she is a senior majoring in Graphic Design and Having No Life. While not at school (which isn’t often) Sarah spends time memorizing Lauryn Hill lyrics, perfecting the quintessential glass of chocolate milk, updating her twitter status about things her cats are doing, and attempting to make everything anyone sees, says, or does into a pun. She is currently accepting ideas about what design she should next shave into the side of her head.

Gretchen Ward - User Relations

Originally from Ohio, Gretchen Ward was drawn to the New York City life and is now a Senior studying at New York University. While she still visits Ohio quite often and will forever consider herself a Buckeye, she counts working for Do Something as the latest in a long list of amazing opportunities that life in NYC has come to offer her! Within NYU, Gretchen is a part of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study which means that she works to develop her own curriculum for her areas of interest in place of a pre-set major. Having been told she has a “true midwestern” attitude, she has always been eager to work and communicate with others in a way that can provide service to those in need, so much of the activities and courses she enjoys are relating to social welfare while still maintaining an edge of communication. These dual interests have led Gretchen to seek out internship experiences with nonprofit organizations, both in Ohio with the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence and in New York with the I’m Too Young for This! Cancer Foundation. In both cases, she loved that her positions allowed her to work directly with those who needed it most and she hopes that through her time in NYC she can continue to work in that way! Aside from cooking and being with friends, Gretchen spends as much time as possible as a volunteer and has worked with several organizations around New York including Special Olympics, Housing Works Thrift Store, Project FEED, and the STRIDE program. Along with her love of animals, pasta, and shoes, Gretchen’s love of working with and for others is a major part of her life so she is elated to begin working with Do Something!

Lauren Hancock - Development

A proud Kentucky Wildcat and Derby aficionado, Lauren hails from the Bluegrass state. She is a junior at Barnard College, where her passions are jam-packed into a Spanish and Latin American Cultures and Human Rights double major with a minor in Political Science. Lauren is in her element with the energy, creativity, and pace of the city and is thrilled to join the team at Do Something! She spent her summer working in development at The Center for Adolescents of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico, where she lived during a formative period of her childhood. As happy in hiking boots as she is in heels, Lauren loves traveling and immersing herself in different places, cultures, and of course, culinary adventures. Though a part of Lauren will always be wearing Kentucky blue, she is eager to engage with cross-cultural endeavors and learn from every experience and opportunity she can around the world.

Maggie Poon - Business Development

Maggie is a graduate from Binghamton University, where she majored in English, with a concentration in Rhetoric and Global Culture. While she considers New York to be her home and loves living in one of the best cities in the world, she enjoys spending time in other countries exploring different cultures. In addition to traveling, Maggie likes doing yoga, as well as singing and dancing around her apartment. Among the many goals she plans on accomplishing in the near future are learning French, becoming a good cook and getting rid of her fear of heights (although she is not quite sure how that last one will work...). She is excited to join Do Something and their efforts to motivate young people to make a difference in the world.

Celia Waggoner - Clubs

Writing her Do Something bio has become a tradition for Celia who is starting her 4th semester as Clubs Intern. She usually begins with some comment about being from Cleveland, but at this point she feels more at home on the 4th floor of 24-32 Union Square East than she does in Ohio. Celia is a Metropolitan Studies major at NYU and is working on figuring out what that actually means before she graduates. She doesn’t really like children (except for teens taking action), but she has an undying love for Sour Patch Kids. In her free time, Celia likes to prepare for the next Clubs mailing.

Melissa Mendoza - Graphic Design

Melissa currently attends Rutgers University –New Brunswick, double majoring in Journalism and Media Studies and Graphic Design. Originally from New Jersey, she thought she wanted to study Physical Therapy and pursued the sciences her freshmen year at college. Once finding out that sciences were not where her strengths stood, she realized she could help the world in other ways and discovered her creative strengths. At school, Melissa works as a photographer and graphic designer for the Rutgers Student Life Marketing Department. While Melissa isn’t finding ways to market student events, taking photos, trolling design blogs, or playing with her guitar, she dreams of traveling the world and living out of a suitcase. She enjoys architecture, live musical acts, food festivals, and learning new instruments. She’s extremely excited to become more design –oriented, become inspired about creativity from acts of social justice and use her design powers for good at DoSomething.org.

Lindsey Murphy - User Relations and Data Intern

Lindsey was born and raised on the lengthiest of New York’s islands alongside her triplet sisters. For the past ten months she has been meandering around the South with a team of ten other identically dressed 18-24 year olds as a member of AmeriCorps NCCC. Outfitted in the timeless color combination of grey and khaki she tutored 4-6th graders, led groups of volunteers to build houses in New Orleans, worked in a food bank and responded to recent tornadoes in Alabama. The experience provided her with a rare glimpse into the country’s greatest ailments and reaffirmed her already strong belief in her generation’s enormous potential! Now that she has cut her hair (which was beginning to dread) she is ready and excited to join the DoSomething.org team this summer! Next year she hopes to add a Bostonian flare to her accent (which is already in a New Yorker/Southern-twang identity crisis), as she will be embarking on her freshman year at Boston College. Eventually Lindsey hopes to work in the nonprofit sector reforming the American education system.