Luka Marks is a second-year Master of Public Policy (MPP) student at UCLA Luskin with a passion for advancing social justice, reproductive health and gender equity through research and public policy. This summer, she is interning with the Feminist Majority Foundation, where she supports the National Clinic Access Project by researching anti-abortion violence and helping strengthen protections for reproductive health care providers. In the Q&A below, Luka reflects on her internship experience, the people who have inspired her and how the opportunity is shaping her future career in public policy.

Tell us about your summer internship with the Feminist Majority Foundation. What are you working on, and what drew you to this opportunity?

Feminist Majority Foundation/Ms. Magazine has played a tremendous role in the fight for women’s equality and reproductive freedom in this country, a fight I am so honored to be a part of. At FMF, I am a research intern on the National Clinic Access Project. At NCAP we conduct opposition research, provide emergency security and pro-bono legal assistance to reproductive health care providers, and partner with federal, state, and local law enforcement to prevent anti-abortion violence. My work involves supporting embattled clinics that are experiencing high levels of harassment from anti-abortion extremists. This summer, I will also assist the Director of the National Clinic Access Project in redesigning the National Clinic Violence Survey – the only longitudinal, comprehensive analysis of reproductive rights crimes, a category of offense that has historically gone underreported.

Has there been a project, conversation or moment during your internship that has been especially meaningful or memorable? If so, what made it stand out?

Working at the Feminist Majority Foundation has opened many doors, connecting me with influential women and organizations doing similar work. Through this, I had the pleasure of attending a reception hosted by Elect Democratic Women, where I met Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. In addition to this meeting, I had the opportunity of sitting in a room full of powerful women leaders such as rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Laura Friedman, Rep. Luz Rivas, Rep. Emilia Sykes, Rep. Norma Torres, and candidate Marni von Wilpert. This was the first political event I had attended that was predominantly women, and it reinforced my desire to advocate for feminist causes, specifically reproductive justice, so that all women have a voice in shaping their own futures.

Looking ahead, how has this experience influenced your career goals or the kind of impact you hope to make after graduating from UCLA Luskin?

Surrounded by women leaders in clinic access advocacy and Ms. Magazine writers at the Feminist Majority Foundation, I’ve found the community I want to build my career around – one that reinforces my desire to use my UCLA education to enact change for the next generation of women. This experience has allowed me to see myself in spaces I never would have dreamed of, from a casual conversation with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to collaborating with leading voices in reproductive rights. My coursework in the program and my work on the National Clinic Violence Survey have made clear that research is where my strengths and interests align.