Emerson Fellow
NaShawn Johnson
23rd Class, 2016-2017
NaShawn is a recent graduate of Columbia University with a degree in urban studies and a concentration in political science. After college, NaShawn worked as a public policy research intern at Enterprise Community Partners where she identified ways to create and preserve affordable housing for low-income families. Prior to joining Enterprise, she interned with the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research where she conducted research on the adverse effects of food insecurity on children’s school performance. She also previously interned at Goddard Riverside Community Center SRO Law Project where she assisted in the organizing efforts of single-room occupancy tenants. NaShawn also served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Second Harvest Food Bank in her hometown New Orleans, Louisiana.
Field placement: LA Kitchen
Los Angeles, California
NaShawn conducted a community assessment to identify the food security and nutrition issues experienced by seniors in Los Angeles County, California. By examining food access in low-income communities where the aging population is expected to rise in coming decades, she identified the best practices for alleviating food insecurity for seniors. NaShawn also helped to develop and administer a pilot survey to measure the health outcomes of seniors at St. Barnabas Senior Center in an effort to better understand the benefits of healthy eating for the elderly.
Policy placement: National Women’s Law Center
Washington, D.C.
NaShawn conducted analysis of presidential and congressional budget proposals and their impact on women and families. She also researched the benefits of income support programs, such as Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC to explain the harms of slashing these programs for low-income families. Additionally, she assessed the viability of repealing the TANF family cap by reaching out to state advocates.