Meet the 2025 Cleveland Foundation Summer Interns

Ally Roberts

Host Site: Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition

Ally was born and raised on the west side of greater Cleveland. She received her undergraduate degree from Miami University and majored in public administration, with a minor in social justice and inequalities. Ally is currently pursuing a dual degree from Case Western Reserve University, where she will graduate with a master’s degree in public health, as well as a master’s in social work. Ally is thrilled to be a part of this year's cohort with the Cleveland Foundation and has been placed with the Mental Health and Addiction Coalition for the summer. Ally's favorite summer activities in Cleveland include visiting Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream, going to the drive-in, and watching the Guardians play (especially on the Dollar Dog Nights).

Amanda Shaffer

Host Site: Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry

Amanda is studying political science and data analytics at Cleveland State University with an interest in policy analysis. She also plays the viola in the university's orchestra. She is delighted to have been matched with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry as an advocacy intern. Aside from this amazing program, she is looking forward to reading and spending time outdoors kayaking or hiking this summer!

Anijah Wright  

Host Site:  The Music Settlement

Anijah Wright is a Cleveland native and soon-to-be graduate of Texas Southern University, where she’s earning her B.A. in English literature with a minor in communication studies. This summer, she’s thrilled to join the Music Settlement as a social media and marketing intern. With a heart for storytelling and a passion for amplifying community voices, Anijah is excited to help shape the digital narrative of an organization rooted in creativity and connection. Off the clock, you can usually find her tucked into a cozy coffee shop with a poetry book in hand, curating RnB playlists, or vibing at local open mics. For Anijah, summer is all about soaking in the city’s rhythm—one Frappuccino, lyric, and story at a time.

Arden Bagley

Morgan Art of Paper Making Conservatory and Educational Foundation

Arden is a 2025 graduate of Chatham University where she received a BA in English with minors in professional writing, public relations, and women’s & gender studies. She also earned a Women’s Leadership Certificate during her time at Chatham. While taking a literary publishing class in college, Arden learned to make various handmade book forms, which inspired her own art in making bookmarks and handmade book forms. She currently works at the Morgan Conservatory as a Community Arts Coordinator. Arden is a Cleveland native, a music devotee (especially for boy bands), enjoys crocheting, and almost always has a book with her no matter the event.

Caitlin McNalty

Host Site: The Buckeye Flame

Caitlin McNally is a senior studying sociology and public health at Miami University. She was born and raised in Cleveland and takes pride in her hometown. She is passionate about the opportunity to be an agent for positive change in the community she knows and loves. This summer she will be working with The Buckeye Flame, a community-oriented newsroom aiming to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ Ohioans. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and friends, playing soccer, long walks near the lake, and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants in the Cleveland area.

Ciara Davis

Host Site: Rainey Institute

As a graduate student studying nonprofit management at Cleveland State University, Ciara is driven by a passion for youth development and breaking the cycle of generational poverty. She is building a career in fundraising and development to help nonprofits expand access to opportunity and create lasting changes in their communities. Ciara is thrilled to join the development and marketing team during her internship at Rainey Institute, a time-honored nonprofit offering arts education programs for youth. She’s especially excited because Rainey gives students the chance to explore creative interests they might not otherwise have access to. Ciara looks forward to helping amplify the voices of young artists and to making a lasting impact this summer.

Desir'ee Neal

Host Site: Organic Connects, Inc.

Desir’ee (Desi) Neal is a rising senior at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in education and history with a minor in social justice on the pre-law track. A proud Cleveland native, Desi is passionate about working with the city’s youth to address educational injustices. This summer, she is excited to join Organic Connects as her host site. In her free time, Desi enjoys nature walks and spending time with friends. A fun fact about her: she’s the lead singer of a band called Soulstice!

Eliana Musser

Host Site:  Arts Impact Inc.

Eliana Musser is a junior at Case Western Reserve University studying political science. She is very excited to be working at Arts Impact this summer, which provides art and STEAM education for kids. She loves drawing, reading, music, and learning about world history.

Elisa Flynn

Host Site: Spanish American Committee for a Better Community

Elisa Flynn is a dual major in policy studies and journalism at Syracuse University. She is from Cleveland, and is interested in public policy, housing development, business management, and data and policy analysis. She also studies Spanish and is excited to work with the Hispanic community in Cleveland. When she's not working, her favorite summer activity is spending time outdoors. 

Elisa Gauntner

Host Site: Cuyahoga Arts and Culture

Elisa Gauntner is a rising junior at Baldwin Wallace University with a double major in arts management and entrepreneurship and theatre: dance and movement. Originally from Kamakura, Japan, and growing up in Westlake, Ohio, she is a big-time lover of the arts and the earth. She hopes to experience all kinds of art, interact with artists everywhere, and give back to the arts communities that have enriched her life. She is grateful to be placed with Cuyahoga Arts and Culture for the summer! This summer, along with working with this wonderful team, she can't wait to dance with 10K Movement and be under the sun with good company, great food, and her dog, Moo!

Maggie Rumelfanger

Host Site: Morgan Art of Paper Making Conservatory and Educational Foundation

Maggie is from Hermitage, Penn., and studies political science and history at John Carroll University. She is interested in working in the nonprofit sector and earning a master’s in public policy and would like to work at the state government level writing grants or policy proposals. This summer, Maggie is placed at the Morgan Art of Papermaking Conservatory and Education Foundation and is excited to spend time running the trails at the Cleveland Metroparks!

Nora Igelnik

Host Site: Canalway Partners

Nora is a fourth-year journalism and public policy student with a minor in media production and analysis at the Ohio State University. She is originally from Cleveland, and is happy to return to the city to work as a communications intern at Canalway Partners. She is interested in international reporting, local and national politics reporting, multimedia journalism and non-profit management. She has held previous internships at the Cleveland Jewish News, WOSU Public Media, and Ideastream Public Media. Her favorite summer activity is visiting the Cleveland Museum of Art and walking around Wade Lagoon.

Patrick Laudolff

Host Site: Cleveland Tree Coalition

Patrick is a second-year student at the Ohio State University studying public policy with an interest in the environment and education policy. He is from Rocky River on the west side of Cleveland and is working with the Cleveland Tree Coalition this summer. When not working or studying, you can find Patrick cheering on the Buckeyes, Guardians and Cavaliers.

Peyton D’Arcy

Host Site: The City Club of Cleveland

Peyton is from Parma, Ohio, and is a rising senior at the Ohio State University, where she studies public affairs and strategic communication. Her host-site placement this summer is at The City Club of Cleveland, an event space for open and fair civil discourse. Her favorite summer activity is going to Guardians games; they are her favorite thing to do in Cleveland.

Ryelie Barnes

Host Site: Seeds of Literacy

Ryelie Barnes is going into her second year as a public health and social work dual master's student at Case Western Reserve University. Ryelie is originally from Ashtabula, Ohio, and is excited to be back in Northeast Ohio doing this work. She is particularly interested in identifying health disparities in marginalized communities and enacting interventions alongside community organization to make Cleveland healthier. Ryelie is placed at Seeds of Literacy this summer and is ecstatic to be joining such a motivated team working hard on the ground to address this clear need in Cleveland. Outside of her studies, Ryelie loves to crochet, read, go to concerts and spend time with her cat, Cullen!

Salsabeel Salem

Host Site: Village of Healing

Salsabeel Salem is from a small town in Northeastern Wisconsin and is a senior at Case Western Reserve University, majoring in chemical biology with a minor in computer science. This summer, she is interning with Village of Healing, a nonprofit advancing health equity for Black women and families in Cleveland. Passionate about the intersection of medicine, equity, and innovation, Salsabeel hopes to help build more inclusive and compassionate systems of care. Outside of work, she enjoys thrifting, exploring local coffee shops, and getting ice cream with friends. She’s excited to grow with this year’s cohort and contribute to meaningful, community-driven change.

Siena Roselli

Host Site: Geauga Growth Partnership

Siena is from Rocky River, where she loves spending her summers swimming in Lake Erie and walking her dog through the Metroparks. These experiences sparked her passion for the outdoors and deepened her commitment to protecting the natural spaces that are so essential to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Inspired by this passion, she chose to study public policy and environmental studies at the University of Virginia, where she recently completed her second year. She is excited to join the Geauga Growth Partnership team to support their efforts in strengthening the county’s economic climate and to continue expanding her curiosity in this field. She is so excited to meet the rest of the cohort and explore the incredible organizations working in Cleveland!

Sofia Dewey

Host Site: AIDS Funding Collaborative

Sofia is a rising junior at Wellesley College majoring in international relations and history with a minor in French. This summer she is excited to be interning with the AIDS Funding Collaborative, where she will contribute to meaningful community advocacy and partnership development within the nonprofit sector. Having grown up in Cuyahoga County, she is eager to be involved in local initiatives aimed at addressing systemic service gaps and improving accessibility. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, filmmaking, and writing.

Vivian France

Host Site: Pregnant With Possibilities Resource Center

Vivian is a double-major in political science and criminology with a concentration in pre-law at Cleveland State University. She is working at Pregnant with Possibilities Resource Center this summer. Her favorite summer activity is going to the beach!