Welcome Our 2024 NC Summer Policy Institute Cohort!
The North Carolina Budget & Tax Center is excited to announce the 2024 cohort of the NC Summer Policy Institute! This year, we welcomed nineteen young leaders from ten counties across North Carolina.
The NC Summer Policy Institute (SPI) is a four-day program for students in undergraduate programs, recent graduates, or other young people ages 18-25 who are interested in getting involved and learning more about public policy in North Carolina. Since the program’s implementation in 2017, SPI has served as an opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of the tools and tactics needed to contribute to the policy process, as well as gain access to graduate programs, fellowship opportunities, and greater connections with leaders across the state.
We are ecstatic to connect with these talented youth movement makers in North Carolina and build their budget and tax policy knowledge so we can build a brighter future for all North Carolinians!
The 2024 cohort of the NC Summer Policy Institute is:
- Renia Butts
- Betcee Cervantes Espinosa
- Daniel Chang
- Charleen Chavez Jimenez
- Lokumo Eteni
- Amienata Fatajo
- Andrea Garrido Lecca
- Aleena Islam
- Aj Jacobs
- Ray Melton
- Michael Messele
- Michael Mohs
- Chalina L. Morgan-Lopez
- Francine Munoz-Gonzalez
- Andrew Okon
- Aisha Delgado-Riddick
- Charlie Robinette
- Lily Roth
- Mili Shah
- Brielle Spalding
Renia Butts (she/her/hers)
- Greensboro, NC | Guilford County
- Rising Junior at North Carolina A&T State University
Renia Butts was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attends North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University as a third year history student and member of the honor’s college. During her academic career, she has worked in the community doing community service with the local animal shelter, food pantries, and resource centers for the unhoused community. She serves as the Miss History Scholars to facilitate events for the organization and its students. Renia is dedicated to education and addressing the educational disparities that hinder students of color. After graduation, Renia will obtain her master's in education to begin working in the classroom. After her time in the classroom, she will get a third degree to enter the educational policy sector. She hopes to work in the Department of Education in Washington, D.C.
Betcee Cervantes Espinosa (she/her/hers)
- Lexington, NC | Davidson County
- Student professional at Wake Forest University studying Economics.
Betcee Cervantes was born in Berkeley, California and raised in Lexington, North Carolina. She is a first-generation student currently attending Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. She is pursuing a double major in Economics and Spanish. Throughout her academic career, Betcee has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving underprivileged communities, particularly those lacking access to legal representation. After graduation, Betcee aspires to attend Law School to further her goal of advocating for low-income communities. At Wake Forest, she is actively involved in various organizations, including ¡Puedo Leer!, the Center for Analytics Impact Consulting Group, First in Flight, Women in Economics, Women in Politics, and Club Rowing. Through her involvement in ¡Puedo Leer! She has become a mentor to elementary school Spanish-speaking students and has helped them develop their confidence in their vocabulary and knowledge of the language. Betcee has found much satisfaction in teaching and mentoring her students. In her free time, Betcee enjoys spending time doing outdoor activities like hiking, gardening, exploring new places, and spending quality time with her two cats and five chickens. Additionally, she also loves to read and engage in sports such as snowboarding, tennis, and soccer.
Daniel Chang (he/him/his)
- Morrisville, NC | Durham County
- Junior at NC State University
Daniel Chang was born in La Palma, California, but mostly grew up in North Carolina. Currently, he is residing in Morrisville, North Carolina. He is a third-year student at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC studying Political Science. Following his graduation, Daniel plans to join the military then attend law school to become an attorney and ultimately wishes to become a federal judge. In addition to being a part of the 2024 cohort of the NC Budget and Tax Center's Summer Policy Institute, he is interning for a law firm in his local area. During his free time, he enjoys playing basketball with his friends, watching YouTube and Netflix, and going for a run outside.
Charleen Chavez Jimenez
- Monroe, NC | Union County
- Research Fellow at North Carolina Budget and Tax Center Policy Institute, Junior at UNC Wilmington majoring in Business and International Relations, and Political Volunteer and Activist in Charlotte, NC
Charleen Chavez Jimenez was born in Fordham Heights, NYC, and raised in Monroe, North Carolina. She graduated with an associate's degree in art from Central Piedmont Community College and is currently a junior at UNC Wilmington, majoring in Business and International Relations. Throughout her academic journey, Charleen has dedicated herself to activism and community service, working to promote migrant rights, educational and economic equity, and voting rights. During her senior year of high school, Charleen worked as a Page at the General Assembly of North Carolina, learning about the process of passing bills. She also served as a Fellow at the American Civil Liberties Policy Institute, where she lobbied Thom Tillis on Capitol Hill regarding the issue of family separation at the southern border. Charleen concluded her fellowship as a Fellow at You Can Vote North Carolina, where she informed community college students about updated voter ID requirements at the polls. Her passion for advocacy and activism is deeply rooted in her family's long history of activism in Central America. Charleen is also a member of Charlotte for Palestine, where she protests against war and genocide. Moved by her family’s survival from the war in El Salvador and her father’s escape from child conscription, Charleen’s commitment to justice is unwavering. In her free time, Charleen enjoys hiking, sewing, baking, and yoga.
Lokumo Eteni (he/him/his)
- Wake Forest, NC | Wake County
- Junior at UNC Chapel Hill
From 2010 to 2014, Lokumo and his family lived in The Democratic Republic of Congo. Famine, poverty, and low-quality healthcare are issues that he has seen his people face, and since then, Lokumo has been passionate about public policy and economic development. Now, he is a student at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Public Policy and Economics. His studies and passion have led him to apply for NC SPI program.
Amienata Fatajo (she/her/hers)
- Raleigh, NC | Wake County
- Regional Organizer for Muslim Women
Amienata Fatajo was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is a rising senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double majoring in political science and medical anthropology. She is passionate about equity work and has been involved with youth engagement advocacy since high school. After that, she began working with Sunrise Movement, an environmental advocacy PAC, and local organizing across UNC’s campus including the NC PIRG. In her senior year now, she serves as executive board member of Campus Y, UNC’s social justice hub and is currently an organizer for Muslim Women For. Upon graduation she hopes to work as a health policy analyst, or work within the sectors of development and health at the federal level.
Andrea Garrido Lecca (she/her/hers)
- Salisbury, NC | Rowan County
- Transfer Student Success Coordinator at UNC Wilmington
Andrea Garrido Lecca was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to North Carolina when she was two years old. She grew up in Rowan County and attended Catawba College in Salisbury, NC where she majored in Political Science with a minor in Environmental Science & Sustainability. Throughout her academic career, Andrea's interests were environmental policy and advocacy, international affairs, immigrant rights, and educational equity. After graduation, she worked at a college access non-profit, Crosby Scholars. She assisted high schoolers in Rowan County with post-secondary preparation. Andrea then worked as a High School Advisor at Forsyth Technical Community College. There she worked with the Career & College Promise Program and helped students across Forsyth County plan and register for dual enrollment classes. Currently, Andrea works for UNC Wilmington as a Transfer Student Success Coordinator as a Charlotte regional employee. She travels across the Western and Piedmont areas of the state to recruit, advise, and support various student populations. During her free time, she enjoys crafting, cooking, and hiking.
Aleena Islam (she/her/hers)
- Cary, NC | Wake County
- Incoming Senior at UNC Chapel Hill. Legislative Clerk with the North Carolina Senate
Aleena Islam is from Cary, North Carolina. She is a rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and is double majoring in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Business. She is a Luther Hodges Scholar at the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, which focuses on the collaboration of the private, public, and non-profit sectors to promote the public good. Aleena plans to attend law school after graduation and use innovative economic policy and business solutions to advocate for socio-economic justice at all levels of society. She has pursued many opportunities that would allow her to deepen her activism and contribute to large-scale movements for justice. She has interned for the American Civil Liberties Union, the NC Democratic Party, and CLIMB USA, a grassroots economic development non-profit in Madison, Wisconsin. Currently, she is a Legislative Clerk for Senator Kandie D. Smith in the North Carolina General Assembly, where she supports the Senator’s encompassing policy platform. In her free time, Aleena loves to try new coffee shops, read, bake, and travel!
Aj Jacobs (he/him/his)
- Pembroke, NC | Robeson County
- Rising Junior at Rice University in Houston, Texas
Aj Jacobs was born and raised in Pembroke, North Carolina, and is a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He currently attends Rice University in Houston, Texas, working towards a degree in Political Science with a minor in Politics, Law and Social Thought. During his academic career, Aj has devoted his time to empowering other FGLI students on campus and creating a culturally inclusive space and community for students at his residential college. He currently serves as an intern with the campaign of Molly Cook, a Texas Democrat running for State Senate who was just elected as the first out LGBTQ+ member of the Texas Senate. He'll also be interning with BCom Solutions this summer as a digital campaign strategy intern, helping to push progressive Democratic candidates across the line in primaries and in the general election in November. In his free time, he loves to travel, thrift clothing across Houston, and spend time with his friends.
Ray Melton (she/her/hers)
- Raleigh, NC | Wake County
- Recent Graduate of NC State University
Ray Melton was born and raised in Arnold, Maryland. After graduating high school she transferred to North Carolina State University. There she majored and graduated this May with a bachelor's in Political Science. During, her studies Ray was actively involved in her tribe and Indigenous issues. She served as Vice President of the Native Student Association and was a member of AISES (Advancing Indigenous People in Stem and Engineering). She was also self employed as a childcare provider. As a recent graduate, Ray finds passion in traveling, trying new restaurants and painting.
Michael Messele (he/him/his)
- Charlotte, NC | Mecklenburg County
- Student at UNC Asheville
Michael Messele was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He currently attends UNC Asheville where he majors in political science. Michael has a passion for human rights and education. He has worked with nonprofit organizations such as Diversify our narrative and SML good neighbors where he has strived to make a change within the education system working with children from underrepresented communities.
Michael Mohs (he/him/his)
- Durham, NC | Durham County
- Senior at Duke University
Michael Mohs is a current undergraduate student passionate about finding effective policy solutions to improve our communities. Born and raised in Morristown, New Jersey, Michael has lived full-time in Durham since the fall of 2021 when he began his undergraduate degree. He is a rising senior at Duke University double-majoring in Political Science and Public Policy, with a minor in Environmental Sciences & Policy. Much of his policy coursework and academic research focuses on environmental policy, government assistance, and U.S. foreign policy. Outside of the classroom, Michael is a Legislative and Political Fellow this summer with the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, an environmental advocacy organization. Michael volunteers as a Member Advocate with the Community Empowerment Fund, a non-profit that helps members facing homelessness or poverty achieve their goals through person-centered support, advocacy, and financial services. In the past, he has worked as a research fellow for Co.act Detroit, a regional non-profit in Detroit, Michigan, and has conducted academic research at the Center for Child & Family Policy and Nicholas School of the Environment. In his free time, he enjoys reading, working out, and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Chalina Morgan-Lopez (they/them//theirs, she/her/hers)
- Raleigh, NC | Wake County
- Junior at North Carolina State University
Chalina Morgan-Lopez was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. She currently attends North Carolina State University as a Political Science major with a concentration in International Politics, and a minor in Spanish. Chalina has an extensive background in advocating for equity with a focus in advocating for marginalized students, promoting comprehensive sex ed and consent education, and ending book bans in Wake County. In high school, Chalina served on the Youth Equity Cohort with the Central Office of Equity Affairs and was a youth representative of the North Carolina Association of Educators. She has led multiple county-wide discussions with WCPSS and spoke with Nikole Hannah-Jones as a panelist with the North Carolina Public School Forum. Chalina currently serves on the Board of Directors of SafeBAE, the largest national organization dedicated to targeting sexual assault in middle and high schools, as well as the Board of Directors of Pro Choice NC. They serve as the Director of Equity and Accessibility in NCSU's Student Government within the executive branch and have previously served as a student senator and a member of the Title IX Department. Chalina is also a member of NCSU's branch of the NAACP and has worked alongside End Rape on Campus.
Francine Munoz-Gonzalez (she/her/hers)
- Greensboro, NC | Guilford County
- Rising Junior at Davidson College
Francine Munoz-Gonzalez was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. She attends Davidson College in Davidson, NC and is a Political Science major. Throughout the academic year she is involved in Mock Trial, the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra, and a mentor to freshmen students of color on campus. As an undergrad, she interned for the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training and aided in the preservation of the oral history of retired Foreign Officers and lobbied on Capitol Hill, where she talked with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez! This summer, she is interning with a non-profit organization, Ready for School, Ready for Life, where she assists in community and event projects and donor relations to ensure a connected and innovative care system in Guildford County for young children and their families. On her free time, she enjoys going on runs, watching Suits, and spending time with her family.
Andrew Okon (he/him/his)
- Asheville, NC | Buncombe County
- Student at UNC Asheville
Andrew "Drew" Okon was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. He currently attends the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA), where he majors in Political Science with a double minor in Mathematics and Economics. Throughout his academic career, Drew has shown a keen interest in policy work and has dedicated himself to understanding and addressing complex societal issues. In addition to his academic pursuits, Drew is an avid runner and is a member of the UNCA track team. He also enjoys thrifting, often spending weekends exploring local shops for unique finds. After graduation, Drew plans to attend graduate school to further his education and continue his work in public policy. In his free time, he enjoys staying active, exploring new fashion trends, and participating in community service activities.
Aisha Riddick (she/her/hers)
- Winston Salem, NC | Forsyth County
- Junior at UNC Chapel Hill
Aisha Riddick was born in Tampa, Florida but spent most of her childhood in Winston Salem, NC. She is a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill where she studies Neuroscience. Her experiences as a double minority have fueled her passion for health care equity and policy. Her hope is to find a new way to approach policy and healthcare - combining both her science background and passion for policy. Aisha spent the last semester serving the Open-Door Clinic as a New Patient Specialist. Her position was dedicated to introducing patients without health insurance access to affordable and quality primary care services. This role was her first introduction to health policy where she learned about the new passing of the Medicaid expansion bill, and it piqued her interest in policy. She also has a passion for non-profit work and has worked with many organizations including ZSR, FaithAction International and Urban Ministries of Wake County.
Charlie Robinette (he/him/his)
- Raleigh, NC | Wake County
- Food Systems Specialist | AmeriCorps Member at Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments
Charlie Robinette, hailing from Lincolnton, North Carolina, graduated in 2022 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in public policy and environmental studies. Accomplishments during his time at UNC include being inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece and proposing to his now-wife, Allison, but his passion for food systems work was bred during that time too. As part of his studies, Charlie conducted case studies for Carolina Farm Stewardship Association and Community Food Strategies and later interned for the Center for Environmental Farm Systems (CEFS) as part of their "Food-Inspired Resilience and Equity" Program, working with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council. Eager to explore other areas of the food system, Charlie interned with CEFS once more, this time in a Supply Chain role with Foothills Food Hub in McDowell County, NC. The following year, he lived in London, England, with the exception of a stint during which he returned to the States to conduct research with NASA's Dept. of Applied Sciences. He now lives in Raleigh and serves with AmeriCorps at Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments. He enjoys any outdoor recreation and watching movies with Allison and their two dogs, Ranger and Morticia.
Lily Roth (she/her/hers)
- Chapel Hill, NC | Orange County
- Student Organizer, UNC Chapel Hill
Lily Roth was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs for one year, and then transferred to UNC Chapel Hill where she majors in Sociology and Geography, with a minor in Environmental Justice. Throughout her academic career, Lily has dedicated herself to community organizing and ethical research, focusing on anti-imperialism, labor movements, and liberation struggles in both local and global communities. Outside of academics and organizing, Lily enjoys outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, and kayaking, and you can most likely find her at the lake or on the farm!
Mili Shah (she/her/hers)
- Durham, NC | Durham County
- Sophomore at Duke University
Mili Shah was born and raised in Fort Mill, SC. She is currently a sophomore at Duke University studying Public Policy and Computer Science. Mili is passionate about activism and voter engagement, involving herself in various political campaigns to promote health, education, and gender equity. At Duke, she has worked with Duke Student Collaborative on Health Policy to conduct research with North Carolina Alliance for Health on school nutrition policies. Beyond this, Mili also enjoys volunteering with Lakewood Elementary School in Durham – a community school that supports and empowers children of diverse backgrounds. Currently, she is conducting research at Duke, where she analyzes the implications of AI’s capacity for automated deception. She is working with a team from the Center for Humane Technology to identify and address the gaps in federal policies regarding this issue. During her free time, she enjoys practicing and teaching Bharatanatyam (Indian classical dance), reading history novels, and doing sudoku puzzles.
Brielle Spalding (she/her/hers)
- Winston Salem, NC | Forsyth County
- Self-employed professional and student at Forsyth Technical Community College
Brielle Spalding was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She has always had a passion for community engagement and using her skills to understand the needs of others, shown by her consistent volunteering with various organizations in the Forsyth County area, such as the Forsyth Humane Society, Kinesthetic Solutions Writing Center, LLC, and the Second Harvest Food Bank. After graduating from Ronald W. Reagan High School, she completed a summer fellowship with the Four-Ten Foundation, during which she completed her Truist Emerging Leaders Certification, attended weekly leadership seminars, and served at St. Peter’s Church and World Outreach Center as an intern for the duration of the program. Brielle has also worked with Bookmarks NC, a literary non-profit based in Winston-Salem, and First Tee of Central Carolina. She is currently pursuing experiences and education in Information Technology. Brielle is also an avid language learner and passionate about technology and design, and she hopes to continue to support the arts and advocate for linguistic, cultural, and technological equity in all her endeavors. In her free time, she also enjoys learning the piano, playing golf, and playing tennis.
