Madison Ray is CCYJ’s Policy and Communication Intern for the 2024-2025 school year and this fall! Through her internship, she identifies, tracks, and analyzes policies and ills, facilitates internal meetings around policy, strategy, and alignment, and follows narratives concerning the child welfare and juvenile justice system. She earned her dual bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Law, Societies, and Justice from the University of Washington (all while interning at CCYJ!). Her passion for transforming systems of inequity through persistent advocacy and activism has inspired her to pursue a legal education and career. 

We are so grateful to have Madison as part of our team this year!

“My biggest takeaway from interning at CCYJ is the importance of adaptability.

As the organization navigated the termination of two federal grants, which led to internal restructuring, I was in a position to reassess my responsibilities and show interest and enthusiasm in other areas of work. A month later, with the support and trust of my coworkers, I extended my contract with the opportunity to contribute across various departments. I gained exposure to different aspects of the organization’s work and garnered insight into how nonprofit organizations operate during times of uncertainty. 

With no set expectations for what my time at CCYJ would look like, I embraced these changes, remained flexible to the evolving needs of the organization, and learned A LOT. 

I am incredibly grateful for my time at CCYJ. My coworkers have shown me what it takes to lead with hope and perseverance in the face of adversity, and I will carry that with me as I continue on my professional journey.”