Stephanie Seto

Philanthropy & Communications Intern

What drew you to Housing Up’s internship program? 

I was drawn to the Housing Up internship program because of all the important work Housing Up does to provide affordable housing and services to families. Learning about housing policies as an MPA student at the University of Washington, it was difficult for me to understand how to translate what I was learning into actionable steps that could directly lead to positive change in communities affected by systemic inequity. Reading about how Housing Up was creating tangible outcomes for families in DC, it was clear that Housing Up was making a positive impact. I immediately knew that Housing Up was an organization where I could learn best practices and skills that would make me a better public servant. As an intern, I’m getting to contribute to Housing Up’s mission and practicing the skills I will need to work in the public sector after graduating from my MPA program.

What are you looking forward to the most in 2021?

In 2021, I’m looking forward to seeing my family in person again and getting my vaccination when I become eligible! My dream is to go back to Disneyland sometime this year, but my hopes are not high. 

As an intern, I’m looking forward to honing my writing skills and learning more about how nonprofits are managed and organized. I’m also looking forward to attending and helping to plan my first Living in the City!

Where do you see yourself in five years? 

In five years, I hope I am either working as a policy analyst for a nonprofit or a government agency. As a policy analyst analyzing and evaluating government policies and programs, I hope to help implement policies that alleviate homelessness and dismantle those that exacerbate it, especially within BIPOC and LGBTQIA communities. Wherever I am and whatever I am doing, I hope I am helping to enact positive change by working to undo systemic inequities in our society. 

What’s something not many people know about you?

I love to bake and eat cookies. My favorite flavor is chocolate chip. In my spare time, I also love making origami and listening to podcasts.