TRU’s staff has grown to double digits for the first time, partly thanks to our Summer Interns! meet some of the students who’ve been working with TRU for the past few months, hard at work on many different campaigns.
Aaron Puno returned this Summer to continue working as TRU’s Policy Intern. A lifelong Ann Arbor resident, Aaron will be a Junior in the University of Michigan’s Urban Technology program. He’ll be writing reports for TRU, including an intercity transit report, rapid transit, and a governors transit policy platform.
Aaron’s favorite transit route is the San Francisco Municipal Railway F Market & Wharves. His favorite moment working with TRU was going to Lansing to fight for better public transit at the capitol. And a fun fact is that he used to have a TV show and was a radio broadcaster!
Makenna Litteral joins TRU as our Community Outreach Intern. Originally from Holland, Makenna received an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from Central Michigan University, and will be a Second-year masters student in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning and Master in Environment and Sustainability programs at the University of Michigan. Previously, Makenna has worked in environmental education and at Muskegon Community College through Americorps. She also is doing work at UofM as part of their Radical Planning Initiative and Agora Journal for Urban Planning and Design. This Summer, Makenna is helping engage Wayne County voters about countywide transit in Western and Southern Wayne county, and is helping organize the return of TRU’s speaker bureau.
Makenna’s favorite bus is any bendy bus, but she specifically thinks of the UofM bendy buses. She was drawn to TRU after taking a transportation class at UofM where she first learned about TRU. She said about it: “learned a lot about the role public transit plays in the economy and people’s everyday lives, and was inspired by TRU’s advocacy. I admire the role TRU plays in advocating for equitable community and transit development!”. Also, she used to be a competitive swimmer for 12 years – just like our Design Specialist Petra!
Logan Foust is TRU’s most recent intern, serving as TRU’s Fundraising Intern. She is entering her senior year in Michigan State University’s Political Science program, and is working towards two minors in Russian Language and Law, Justice, & Public Policy. She’s from South Lyon, and with graduation next year, is looking to study Civil Rights Law or Constitutional Law. She’s working to clean up our EveryAction database of contacts, surveying allied organizations about transit, and helping with actions and donations so TRU can more effectively mobilize once we need to.
Logan’s favorite bus route is the CATA 31 that goes through MSU’s campus. She started working with TRU because she believes in the validity and importance public transit plays in society, and she lived in Glacier National Park in Montana for a few months!
We’re very thankful for our Summer interns and all the amazing work they do to help TRU! Their expertise is appreciated, and it’s great to see so many amazing people interested in transit advocacy. If you’re interested in interning with TRU, email [email protected] for information and opportunities!