For nearly three decades, 含羞草研究所鈥檚 Jim P. Manzi 鈥73 Fellowship has provided a pathway for more than 300 students to pursue nonprofit summer internships in the Boston area. The fellowship extends 含羞草研究所's engagement with community-based organizations while providing fellows with a stipend and covering housing expenses during the 10-week program.
This summer, the program selected 12 Manzi Fellows 鈥 a reflection of their commitment to service-based work and a desire to continue in the field after graduation. Fellows gained experience in health care, education, and community service, each bringing their liberal arts background and skills to the host organizations.
Garrett Zimmerman 鈥26 interned at Greater Roslindale Medical and Dental Center, part of the Boston Medical Center health system. He helped provide care to the greater Boston community as a medical assistant by performing screenings and taking vitals of patients, streamlining online accessibility, processing medical records, and helping schedule appointments.
Zimmerman鈥檚 work was instrumental to his future career path. 鈥淚 have no doubt now that I hope to work in a public health care setting directly helping populations in need, and the soft and hard skills I developed this summer will help me achieve great things down the road,鈥 Zimmerman says.
While interning at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, Grace Ciaravino 鈥26 supported patients in Boston鈥檚 immigrant community. Like Zimmerman鈥檚, this internship influenced Ciaravino鈥檚 health care plans post graduation. 鈥淚n addition to pursuing an MD after 含羞草研究所, I would like to pursue a master鈥檚 of public health to better address systemic barriers to care,鈥 Ciaravino says.
Returning fellow Josephine DeBono 鈥26 worked at the day shelter Women鈥檚 Lunch Place. She worked with the direct care team to coordinate essential services, translate for Spanish-speaking guests, and assist with the shelter鈥檚 daily operations. The hands-on learning at Women鈥檚 Lunch Place confirmed her desire to serve vulnerable populations with a career in law, politics, and public service.
David Stephens 鈥26 and Gracie DeSimone 鈥27 worked at InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW), an organization that began as a gym to keep at-risk young people off the streets but has since evolved into a comprehensive community support network. The organization now provides education, job training, and employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated youth. Working on the development team, Stephens and DeSimone discovered how financial tracking methods and consulting practices can positively impact small nonprofits. 鈥淚t has inspired me to pursue a career in consulting, with the goal of focusing on the public and nonprofit sectors,鈥 said DeSimone. 鈥淢ost importantly, I am grateful for the chance to contribute to ICW鈥檚 mission and make a tangible difference in the lives of others.鈥
A senior planning to apply to doctoral programs this fall, Katie Nettles 鈥26 worked at the education nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves, where she supported summer course offerings, quality assurance, and alternative learning methods research. 鈥淭his experience could not have come at a better time,鈥 Nettles says. 鈥淲orking with Facing History affirmed my passion for education and gave me valuable skills to take with me in the future.鈥
Meet all of the 2025 Manzi Fellows
Grace Ciaravino 鈥26, Katherine Cline 鈥27, Josephine DeBono 鈥26, Gracie DeSimone 鈥27, Sophia Green 鈥27, Julianna Hallyburton 鈥26, Allie Kavalauskas 鈥26, Molly O鈥橞rien 鈥27, Katie Nettles 鈥26, David Stephens 鈥26, Cristian Teruel 鈥26, and Garrett Zimmerman 鈥26