The Intern's Last Web Feature

With September upon us, it is hard for me to believe that my internship with CPJ is coming to a close. I have had an immensely positive experience this past year, and it is now difficult for me to imagine doing anything else but working at CPJ on issues of public justice.

It has been a richly rewarding experience this year to learn about how faith can be lived out in practice through policies that promote love, justice and stewardship. Learning about public justice and how to engage in policy analysis using a public justice framework has deepened my understanding of what justice means and how it can be fostered in our society.

My internship has enabled me to develop a greater understanding of how our society can be structured to promote just relations, and the particular roles of government and citizens in creating a society that allows every person to live in dignity. Having the opportunity to engage in public dialogue and advocacy over the past year on issues such as poverty, affordable housing and childcare has made me even more passionate about working for justice and being an active citizen.

My experience at CPJ has also deepened my understanding of social and economic issues in Canada. I am now much more aware of how complex and intertwined issues such as poverty, homelessness and social exclusion often are, and the responsibilities that governments and citizens have to address conditions such as these that violate human dignity.

Throughout my time at the CPJ office, the staff have been friendly, supportive and encouraging. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to work in such a wonderful environment with people who are passionate about fostering justice in our society. I have been provided with exceptional supervision in my exploration of public justice issues and I have appreciated the time and effort invested by the staff in engaging in conversation and providing guidance.

The internship has offered a satisfying balance between engaging in in-depth research on issues and offering analysis and commentary on current events. I have been provided with room and flexibility to explore the meaning of public justice as it relates to the areas that interest me – including childcare, affordable housing and human trafficking – while being offered support and guidance in how to engage these topics critically using a public justice perspective.

I have had many unique and exciting experiences over the past year with CPJ, from offering analysis on the federal election to engaging CPJ members in our Envisioning Canada Without Poverty Campaign. I had the opportunity to research and write a policy paper on childcare, and I attended the first Canadian Social Forum to present my work. Writing blogs, web features and Catalyst articles on a variety of topics has been a great learning experience that has honed my communication skills and strengthened my knowledge about issues of public justice in Canada.

Another highlight of my year was having the opportunity to engage with CPJ supporters across the country. During workshops, presentations, and events, I had the opportunity to meet many wonderful people working for justice in their communities. Their faith and perseverance in challenging poverty and injustice, in particular during these difficult economic times, was uplifting to witness. As well, having the opportunity to meet with MPs and dialogue on the need for federal action on poverty were meaningful experiences that enabled me to learn how active citizenship can make a difference.