Nate Lundstrom '25 received a Humanity in Action Fellowship to work on a community action project in Berlin. The program, focused on migration patterns, will allow him to advocate for more robust sanctuary policies applying his political organizing and storytelling skills.
Why did you choose to apply for this award?
I learned about the fellowship through an email Professor Arellano shared with myself and other former students. The program really interested me because of its focus on human rights and the nexus of community action and academia. For my senior comprehensive project for DWA I explored Hannah Arendt's Origins of Totalitarianism and its implications for internal displacement and citizenship. Much of Arendt's work is based on the history of Germany and Berlin and it made me want to learn more about the country's history and its connections to our own history here in the U.S.
Briefly describe the work you will be doing on your fellowship.
Fellows will be meeting in Berlin in July for various professional development seminars, we will then go back to our respective communities and implement a 'community action project' in which we apply many of the ideas we learned on a local level. The Berlin program's focus this year is on 'migrations', I plan on applying knowledge I learned at the Immigration Project in Bloomington Illinois and at LA's Sanctuary City Coalition to push for stronger sanctuary policy through political organizing and storytelling.
What are you most looking forward to during your time as a fellow?
I am really excited to do a deep dive into the history of the city. I am also curious to see how the city's history and culture will be integrated into the curriculum. Berlin is a city wedged between the Eastern and Western European culture, and tormented by a dark collective history, which has created a unique and interesting art and music scene that I look forward to exploring.
How have your experiences at Oxy prepared you to apply for this award?
My research experience with professors Reddy and Ijaz through the Undergraduate Research Center and the Young Initiative helped me hone in my methodological skills and build an understanding of critical literature on human rights and citizenship. Likewise, internship programs like the Oxy at the United Nations program and the 'community lawyering' internship in the politics department complemented my academic understanding with real world experience working in human rights. Specifically my internship placement at the UCLA Labor Center through Professor Doug Smith's Community Lawyering class gave me invaluable experience in organizing for political change and a human rights based approach to immigration policy.
What advice would you give future applicants about the application process?
You'd be really surprised, just go for it! I was dissuaded to apply for fellowships after I was rejected from a few in the fall, and I was intimidated by the sheer number of semifinalists in group interviews. If you are persistent and find the right fellowship that matches what you want to do in the future you have a really good shot of getting it!