From left: Madison Benoit, Nawa Ibrahimy, Sylvia Skerry, and Ella Zalewsky.
Four interns are assisting RIFPC this summer across a range of activities.
Madison Benoit, Network Communications Intern
Madison is a rising junior at Providence College where she is pursuing her bachelors in political science and communications. She is passionate about nonprofit work and how it benefits local communities. Madison has previously worked in research and communications at Providence Promise. At Providence College she leads the PCTV news team, interviewing students and staff on issues currently affecting the college community, and writes news stories for The Cowl, the college newspaper. She enjoys playing flag football and is studying for the LSATs.
Nawa Ibrahimy, Food & Climate Communications Intern
Nawa is a Master of Public Health student at Brown University. Passionate about community health, sustainability, and effective storytelling, she is interested in how communication can help bridge the gap between policy and public engagement. Her previous experience includes supporting community outreach and advocacy efforts with Providence Streets Coalition, contributing to communications initiatives at The Groden Network, and working with an AI music startup focused on creative technology and user engagement.
Sylvia Skerry, Municipal Food Systems Fellow
Sylvia holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University and serves as a program facilitator with the Rhode Island School Recycling Project, leading food waste reduction and sustainability initiatives in schools across the state. She volunteers at the Federal Hill House Food Pantry, where she supports a client-choice model that prioritizes dignity and autonomy. Before graduate school Sylvia spent several years with UNICEF in Jordan managing youth development programming in Syrian refugee camps. She is a member of Food Policy Pathways, a fellowship for emerging leaders pursuing careers in food policy. She enjoys cooking, knitting, and reading.
Ella Zalewsky, Food & Climate Resilience Research Fellow
Ella is returning to RIFPC after working with us in 2023 as an agriculture and food systems fellow. Born and raised in southern Rhode Island, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sustainable agriculture and food systems from the University of Rhode Island before moving to North Carolina. Ella is completing a master’s degree in sustainable food systems through Arizona State University while working as a local foods research assistant with NC State University. For her graduate capstone project, she is researching values-based institutional food procurement, exploring how farm to hospital programming operates in hospitals with contracted food service management operations. Ella enjoys hiking with her partner, exploring local markets, and trying new foods.