Zaria Guignard, Senior, Intern at Democracy Fund
Currently, I am the Public Square Program intern at Democracy Fund. Democracy Fund is a bipartisan foundation that invests in organizations working to ensure that our political system is able to withstand new challenges and deliver on its promise to the American people. Specifically focusing on fostering more effective governance in the United States, modernizing our election system, and strengthening our media and the public square to help people understand and participate in the democratic process. As the Public Square Program intern, I provide logistical support during meetings with journalism grantees and partners, research issues in key policy areas relating to the public square and assist in evaluating grants. My main objective is to provide a unique perspective on areas including local news, engaged journalism, and press freedom, through the contribution of expertise, research, and writing. I also contribute to the Public Square’s Local Fix newsletter and Local News Lab website.
I learned about Democracy Fund through my past internship at the Women’s Congressional Policy Institute (WCPI). WCPI is a grantee of Democracy Fund and works to bring women policymakers together across party lines to advance issues of importance to women. While at WCPI I was able to see Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, speak and meet leaders of the 116th Congress Women’s Caucus, Congresswomen Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Debbie Lesko (R-AZ).