McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco | Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good

Learning Resilience from Community

Emily Choto ’25 is working toward both Environmental Science and Politics majors at USF! Being a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco, she has been able to experience public service in the Mission District. Working inside The Food as Medicine Collaborative is a coalition of community clinics, food nonprofits and businesses, and health care systems. Emily…

Reaching Voters through Community: My Work with SF Elections and USFVotes

Read along on a journey of civic empowerment with Hannah Nelson as she intertwines her experiences with USFVotes and the San Francisco Department of Elections. In her blog post, Hannah shares the transformative power of community engagement, breaking down stereotypes of formal government work, and highlighting her role in making elections more accessible. Join her…

Beyond the Flames: Mental Health Equity in the SFFD

In this insightful journey, Evan Cajigas ’24, Finance, combines academic ambitions with a passion for joining San Francisco’s Fire Department. Assigned to the Behavioral Health Unit, Evan learns and navigates the challenges to address the department’s mental health needs. Through trials and revelations, his story illuminates the complexities of public service and the pursuit of…

My Journey in San Francisco’s India Basin

In this week’s blog, Jade Carter ’24 Environmental Studies, embarks on a mission to bridge gaps between local government and grassroots advocacy in San Francisco’s Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Through hands-on involvement , they confronted deep-seated community mistrust and explored avenues for equitable development. Ultimately, their narrative showcases the power of collaboration, highlighting the author’s newfound…

Crafting Success: McCarthy Fellowship experience

Step into Giuseppe Cannavó’s 25′, Civil Engineering transformative journey as he unveils the life-altering experience of his McCarthy Fellowship program in the heart of San Francisco. From navigating the intricate corridors of public policy to crafting influential strategies with the Strategic Planning and Performance Team at the San Francisco Department of Public Works, Giuseppe’s story resonates with…

Meet the Fall 2023 McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco!

We welcome our eighteen McCarthy Fellows in San Francisco who will be spending the Fall semester interning part-time at various departments, offices, and agencies with the City and County of San Francisco. Our Fellows will be taking a rigorous 6-unit academic seminar where they will be learning about the historical, political, economic, and social context…

Racial Equity Through SFPL Communications

In this week’s blog, we learn about how Diego Barajas ’22 transitioned from being a McCarthy Fellow in Sacramento at the State Senator Nancy Skinner’s Office to a McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco at the Public Library’s Racial Equity Office. Keep reading to find out how Diego used marketing and communications to help organize tools…

Organizing for “Open the Courts”

In this week’s blog, McCarthy Fellow in San Francisco Kacie Williams ’22, shares her experience working alongside San Francisco Public Defender’s Office to uplift the voices of incarcerated individuals and their families and the challenges of remaining too long in our county jail system. Read on to learn more about the issue of court backlogs…