About Me

My name is Vanessa Santamaria and I am a senior at Loyola University Chicago. I am majoring in communication studies with minors in English and Latin American/Latinx Studies.

This past year, I interned for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in the Office of Latino Affairs. I was fortunate enough to be a part of Loyola's Social Justice Internship Program which gave me the opportunity to intern for The Office of Latino Affairs. With this experience, I was able to feel more connected with my Latinx roots and community. I am grateful for this experience because I was able to give back to the community that has already given me so much.

About the Internship

As an intern for Catholic Charities’s Office of Latino Affairs, I work with the coordinator of the office and perform a variety of tasks. Over the past seven months, I've worked on the following projects and tasks:

Support with managing and planning an annual fundraising
Preparing a community needs assessment for the Latinx community of a county in Illinois
Co-present about the identity of immigrant women at a leadership summit for Latina mothers
Conduct online research about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the organizational-level
Prepare a research essay about the stigma of Mental Health in the Latinx Community

All of these projects have given me a better understanding of leadership, social justice, and the Latinx community in Cook County and other counties that Catholic Charities serves. I hope to become a better leader and learn how to become an agent of change in my community.