#aclusquad

Sebastian was the last of our summer interns to leave. On his last day, he even brought donuts! Who doesn’t love that?

Give us a brief overview of who you are and what your goals are for your future?

My name is Sebastian Green, I am an undergraduate student at Stanford University, and I grew up in Carlsbad. Though admittedly broad, my goal in the years to come is to contribute to the fight for social justice and equal rights through a commitment to humility, dialogue, and the communities with whom I work.

Why did you decide to intern at the ACLU of San Diego?

 I decided to intern at the ACLU of San Diego because, even more than believing in the mission that drives its work, I admire the tact, poise, and determination with which this organization carries out that work. For most of my life, social justice has been a word thrown around during dinner or over the course of some academic discussion. Here, that term and the principles that define it are part and parcel of what is done on a daily basis. 

What civil liberties issue are you most passionate about and why?

The notion that there are entrenched systems in this country that generate profit from the suffering of individuals on the basis of their identity has always elicited a feeling of disgust in me. In the context of my hometown, San Diego, immigration is where the rubber of the implicit moral imperative underlying that visceral response meets the road of practical reality for families and communities that live in fear and isolation. But systemic change happens slowly, and while the gears of democracy rumble along, people live their whole lives marred by the injustices of the past and their permeation of the present. This is why work at the community level is so important, whether it takes the form of connecting people with the services they need to better their lives or creating the space for impacted individuals to become self-advocates and community leaders. So, it’s not just the end that I am passionate about; it’s also the careful choice of means in pursuit of that end. 

What is the most surprising, fulfilling or difficult thing you’ve learned or done during your internship?

 Over the course of my work here, I have learned two things that stand out to me. The first is that I can do it. Or put more accurately, already at this point in my life, I have skills that I can deploy in service of the work that is being done by this organization, and there is something about that realization that puts the whole going-to-college thing in a helpful kind of context. The second is that there is so much more to learn, so much experience that people here call upon regularly that connects current challenges to past successes and failures, so many little nuances that emerge over the course of interpersonal interaction: ways that people use and distribute authority and ways that they make others (even a meager intern like me) feel valued. So, I have come to understand that a career in this work means not just learning the politics, law, history, and strategy; it also means learning how to show respect, how to listen, and how to be a member of a team.

What do you like to do when you’re not interning at the ACLU?

I love to make music, whether that is jamming on my mandolin with my brother, singing with my A Capella group at school (we’re called Fleet Street! Check out our new album on Spotify!!), or writing and recording original songs. I am also an avid surfer and an occasional yogi.

What’s a fun fact about you?

Friday signifies the beginning of the Fall season. With the autumn months upon us, we’d be remiss if we failed to highlight the rest of our summer interns. Elizabeth left us last month, but we still want to let her know that she was a delight to work with. Meet this aspiring lawyer in her own words below!

Hello! My name is Elizabeth Lincoln. I was born and raised in San Diego. Growing up, I loved playing soccer and going to the beach. I went to college in Boston at Tufts University where I studied International Relations and Latin American studies. In college, I had the opportunity to study in Arica, Chile. After college, I worked in D.C. for a year with non-profit organizations. Now, I am a rising third-year law student at UC Hastings College of the Law. At school, I am involved with our Hastings Students for Immigrants' Rights and our Homeless Legal Services groups. I am also part of the Constitutional Law Quarterly journal. After graduation, I hope to pursue a public interest legal career and practice in the fields of immigration and criminal law, as well as civil rights generally.

Why did you decide to intern at the ACLU of San Diego?

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to intern at ACLU of San Diego to learn more about impact litigation and the issues confronting the San Diego community!

What civil liberties issue are you most passionate about and why?

I have focused most of my work on immigrants' rights because I love working with immigrant communities and I feel the human rights violations that occur in detention centers and immigration courts are particularly egregious. I started working with unaccompanied minors before law school, and hope to continue after law school.

What is the most surprising, fulfilling or difficult thing you’ve learned or done during your internship?

One fulfilling but challenging day this summer was visiting the immigrant detention center in Imperial valley. Although I had visited immigrant detention centers previously, it was difficult to come to terms with the fact that there is very limited legal representation for the 800 detainees there. However, even a know your rights presentation and limited intakes and advice can make a measurable difference in a legal case.

What do you like to do when you’re not interning at the ACLU?

Outside of work, I love to surf, go to breweries, and hang out with my family!

What’s a fun fact about you?