Ana Morales

Community Engagement Intern

Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Ana Morales, and I am a Posse Scholar attending Pomona College studying Public Policy Analysis and Sociology. I am passionate about getting behind the scenes and understanding how systems work in order to maneuver them for the better of underprivileged communities. I am passionate about influencing policies to be more humane rather than punitive and unfair.

What drew you to Housing Up’s internship program?

Born and raised in Chicago, I have always noticed the impact of redlining on various communities, even within my own. If I were to walk about a block down my street, the neighborhood changes to a more wealthy and pristine area. The difference in resources is inequitable, and resources deserve to be spread throughout all areas. Therefore, I admire Housing Up’s mission to provide a chance for individuals to revive their life and bring stability and opportunity into it. 

What are you looking forward to most this year?

I am looking forward to learning more about policy and how non-profits like Housing Up function so I can carry these main values with me wherever I head towards next. I am especially excited about our new implementation of creative writing workshops with kids at one of Housing Up’s communities. We recently wrote a group poem about love and it was really good. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself continuing to learn about housing and educational policy through class and impactful work experience. I hope to be exploring different cities and countries, taking in different cultures and appreciating various communities. 

What’s something not everyone knows about you?

My name was almost going to be Christiana! It was my great-grandmother’s name, but my dad took that last part of it and named me Ana (Ah-na) instead.