2025

I began my internship with CEDA in January 2025—a whirlwind moment to be part of the team, given the intensity of Trump’s migration and Latin America policy shifts. Unlike any internship I’d had before, CEDA gave me the chance to be truly hands-on. I worked on memos analyzing the impact of the foreign aid freeze, the State Department reorganization, and evolving migration patterns across Latin America.

My role also included helping craft weekly congressional reports, press releases, commentary, talking points, and preparing for briefings. Beyond policy work, I had the chance to learn how a nonprofit operates—contributing to fundraising efforts as well as managing social media and the website. One of the most rewarding parts of my internship was writing the biweekly US-Cuba News Brief, which gave me a deeper understanding of Cuba, U.S.-Cuba relations, and Cuban migration trends.

Most importantly, I was fortunate to receive incredible mentorship and guidance from the entire CEDA team. Their support, appreciation, and welcoming spirit made the experience not only meaningful but also genuinely enjoyable.

2022

Interning at CEDA during summer 2022 made me realize Cuba-U.S. foreign policy is a field I want to pursue once I graduate. My favorite part of interning at CEDA was working collaboratively with a team of strong women who are committed to making a positive change in the US-Cuba space. I also enjoyed learning more about current issues in my country through CEDA’s weekly U.S.-Cuba News Brief, while improving my writing and research skills. After graduating, I plan to obtain a degree in International Affairs with a focus in Latin America and the Caribbean. I aspire to work as a FSO in the embassy of Havana, Cuba. Interning at CEDA has been a good starting point for my professional career.

Summer 2022

Going into any new workplace is intimidating, in that you really don’t know what to expect. The interviews and the application process might give you an inkling, but you never really know until you’re there. And with the CEDA, the kindness of its staff, the diligence of its research, and the generosity of people with their time, advice, and experience are all unexpected and, at times, uncommon in DC. This experience has taught me a lot, not just about Cuba, though I have certainly learned a lot in this area, but about how to navigate the complex nature of foreign policy and how difficult it can be to stay focused on what actually matters: people. Throughout my time at the CEDA, I got to work on the Cuba News Brief, social media posts, summary books, etc., and got to take an in-depth look at Cuba and begin to notice patterns and relationships it has with the rest of the world that a one time glance would fail to see. It was fascinating to step back and see the wider picture, culturally and politically, and learn about issues not just from the research I was doing, but from the expertise and knowledge of those I worked with. I feel truly fortunate to have worked with the CEDA and will move forward with the lessons and skills I have gained from my time with them.

Summer 2022

Being passionate about U.S-Cuba relations and migrant rights, I admire CEDA’s efforts in actively promoting positive engagement throughout the Americas. During my time at CEDA, I was able to develop my writing skills and deepen my understanding of issues across Latin America. As I head into my senior year at The George Washington University, I’m eager to employ the skills and knowledge I developed at CEDA while earning a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs while focusing on Conflict Resolution and Latin America as my region of study. I am grateful to have interned for such an incredible organization!

Spring 2022

My experience at CEDA has been the best decision of my college career. During my internship, I learned how to monitor the news and concisely draft a weekly news brief. There were instances where I had to include background knowledge on news stories covered in a week’s news brief and this helped me learn parts of Cuban history that I was unaware of, even as a Cuban-American. I found a passion for communications, met incredible leaders in the Cuba space through meetings coordinated by CEDA, and had the privilege to participate in several projects.

I was able to listen to conversations about how CEDA's statements play a part in establishing its values and role in the U.S.-Cuba policy space. Despite my internship being remote, I felt the staff’s careful effort to make me feel welcomed, included in strategic conversations, and informed on expectations for my work. This experience stood out to me for the team’s intentional effort to understand my interests and curiosities so they could tailor the internship to my needs. At CEDA, I felt overwhelming encouragement and empowerment to keep pursuing my goals of advocating for engagement with Cuba and advocating for mutual respect between Latin American governments and the U.S government.

Spring 2021

During my time as a CEDA intern, I was able to witness a critical moment for U.S.-Cuba relations, as well as U.S. migration policy, due to the change in administration and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. I saw firsthand CEDA’s incredible policy and advocacy work, and was able to aid the team in its efforts to support U.S. policies toward Latin America that are based on engagement and mutual respect. I had the opportunity to work on a variety of advocacy efforts, including helping to write policy memos and press statements, organizing (virtual) educational panels, and creating social media content to showcase CEDA’s efforts and encourage action. I also became more informed about the operations and development side of nonprofit work, through supporting grant proposals, the annual report, and tracking relevant legislation. My internship at CEDA has strengthened my desire to continue working in this field, and be an advocate for U.S. engagement with Latin America. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I had through CEDA, and the incredible support of the CEDA team!

Spring 2021

Although I interned remotely from the often cold land of Wyoming, the warmth of CEDA team’s emanated through all the Zoom meetings, text messages, and email chains to create a dynamic, interesting, and incredibly rewarding experience. Through writing the weekly U.S.-Cuba News Brief and attending virtual events with experts on Latin America, I deepened my knowledge of U.S.-Cuba relations, the history of Cuba and other countries in the region, and some of the challenges and opportunities that these countries face. Conducting research on members of Congress, monitoring legislation, and writing memos on congressional hearings, I learned more about the domestic politics that factor into U.S. foreign policy. Thanks to CEDA’s team and the effort they have put into the remote internship program, my time here has proven to be truly invaluable, and I look forward to making use of the skills and knowledge I have built here in future pursuits.

Fall 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic did not stop me from pursuing my interest in learning more about US-Cuba relations. On the contrary, interning remotely at the CEDA was the perfect opportunity to learn more about foreign policy. CEDA's commitment to positive engagement with the Americas provided me with greater insight into what future U.S.-Latin America relations can look like when grounded in mutual respect. Meeting several of the most influential people promoting engagement in the regions was one of the most insightful experiences of my time at CEDA. The recurring meetings with different experts of U.S.- Latin American relations has definitely inspired me to continue pursuing the challenging but rewarding path of engagement and advocacy in the Americas.