My Summer Internship Experience: Jiayi Liu, Program Assistant, UA3
Jiayi Liu (MPA 2025) had always been called to work with a nonprofit organization. Through the Ellen Schall Experience Fund, a stipend awarded to a select group of students working in unpaid summer internships, Liu had the opportunity to serve as a program assistant at UA3 this summer.
“Interning in the nonprofit sector can be challenging because these roles often don’t offer compensation,” said Liu. “The Ellen Schall Experience Fund enabled me to explore nonprofit work over the summer without financial concerns. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about how nonprofit organizations operate, build connections with the Lower East Side community, and develop practical work skills.”
UA3 is an organization that aims to provide resources for underserved segments of New York City’s Lower East Side community through education, youth empowerment, and the promotion of well-being. In her role, Liu—who was connected to UA3 through recent NYU Wagner graduate Bonnie Tang— worked with the organization’s Community First Food Pantry and youth development leadership program.
“The most rewarding aspect of my internship was working at the Food Pantry, which provided an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with community members,” said Liu. “Since many of the food pantry’s clients were residents of Chinatown, I used my bilingual skills in Mandarin to enhance communication.”
Liu also led nutrition workshops for students in the Summer Youth Employment Program, a new experience for Liu. She received training from a professional dietitian and collaborated with other interns to ensure the success of the initiative.
“This experience made me more comfortable taking the initiative and exploring new areas I was unfamiliar with,” said Liu, adding that she felt the internship also helped improve her communication, problem solving, and public speaking skills.
Perhaps most notably however, Liu acknowledged how her time with UA3 expanded her perspective on public service. In engaging with members of the community at the food pantry, she gained a deeper understanding of the challenges that the neighborhood’s elderly individuals face—noting that the challenges go beyond food insecurity and are often overlooked by public policy or service efforts. Liu discovered that many seniors are unaware of the other services available to them or have difficulty completing the required paperwork to receive the assistance they need.
“This experience made me consider how we can optimize existing services to benefit more people. Improving service quality also means reducing information gaps and enhancing accessibility, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly and non-native English speakers,” said Liu.
“Moving forward, I am committed to identifying gaps through on-the-ground research and improving service delivery through targeted policy interventions that truly resonate with the needs of the community.”