2022 was our inaugural cohort of the Next System Fellows at Arlington.
James Condo was motivated to become a Next System Fellow by the harmful effects of neoliberalism on his hometown in the post-industrial U.S. Midwest, witnessing capital flight, the decline of union power, and the increasing precarity of work. Phil Jones’ "Without the Worker" piqued Condo’s interest in mitigating the exploitation of micro-work rampant under platform cooperativism, which he’s looking forward to learning more about in "Digital Technologies, Knowledge Production and Society." His research interests include social movements, alternatives to capitalism, and gender and sexuality studies. Condo will be interning with the DNOVA project. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and baking.
Jasmin Enciu is a senior majoring in Government and International Policy. As a Next System Fellow, she’ll learn to apply her academic interests in the intersections of law, human rights, social justice, and environmentalism toward developing more equal, just, and fair systems. Enciu will be interning with Move to Amend, where she will assist in planning a national symposium and mobilizing to pass the We the People Amendment. She relaxes by spending time with friends, TV and film, video games, drawing, reading, and music.
Jimena Espinoza was motivated to apply for the program by Dr. Mark Cooley’s Eco-Art, where she became familiar with a host of artists and activists identifying and resisting system deficiencies through art; she’s certain that our collective creativity is a force strong enough to overcome any present and future obstacles. Espinoza will be carrying this optimism during her internship with the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network, where she’ll learn about networking, organizing, and publishing. She loves nature trails and cooking and recommends you check out, "The Great," available on Hulu.
Clay Foley’s primary research focus concerns society’s treatment of outcasts, and they’re looking forward to exploring how social change can benefit these marginalized persons. During the semester Foley will be interning with CODEPINK, where they hope to learn firsthand about large-scale, organized social movements. Outside of classes, they can be found at live music concerts, local thrift stores, and skateboarding.
Gabe Gonzales is an intern with Democratizing NOVA where he’ll conduct independent research on pro-democracy initiatives within the Northern Virginia region and help organize the first campus-community "Democratizing NOVA Summit." Raised by two working-class, immigrant parents, he is privy to our system’s dysfunctions and hopes to rectify them. Gonzales’ academic interests include social movements, South American history, and alternative systems of governance. A fan of professional football, he supports Barcelona and Tottenham.
Lupe Jimenez Hernandez was born in Mexico but later immigrated to Oregon. She’s a nail artist, beta fish parent, painter, and kombucha sommelier. She’s most excited to begin working alongside the other members of her cohort, whose diversity of perspectives she hopes will yield powerful dialogues and partnerships. While she cannot predict this semester’s outcome, Jimenez-Hernandez is nonetheless inspired by the opportunity and looking forward to facing the challenges ahead.
Camilo Ortiz is a first-generation Chilean American driven to create a more just and equitable future for all. He enjoys traveling to places old and new but especially hopes to visit the Netherlands and continue his journeys across Europe. Ortiz is most looking forward to collaborating with his peers in the cohort model as well as gaining valuable career knowledge while interning with DNOVA.
Kristen Talman grew up in northern Virginia and is a senior in Integrative Studies. She works as a professional journalist and is interning with the Next System Media Project. She is particularly interested in the role of labor unions in building next system alternatives.