2021 Peggy Browning Fellows

2021 Peggy Browning Summer Fellows Estefania Palacios JD’23 George Washington University Law School CASA Hyattsville, MD Originally from Ecuador, Estefania’s interest in labor justice was sparked during her coursework at Lone State College. Her research included wage inequality, social changes from women, and solidarity politics during World War II. This interest led her to transfer to the School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University. While earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, she worked with women-only businesses in Nicaragua, represented low-income clients in their unemployment insurance benefit cases in Upstate New York, led an advocacy skills workshop for labor students in Vietnam, and fought for workers’ rights as a summer legal intern in India. This journey deepened her understanding of legal advocacy and reinforced her commitment to helping workers overcome labor injustices. Viraj Patel JD’23 Temple University Beasley School of Law Philadelphia, PA Strategic Organizing Center (formerly Change to Win) Washington, DC A native of Maryland, Viraj attended the University of Maryland, College Park, graduating with a degree in History. His experiences in college, with organizations like the Student Labor Action Project and the United States Student Association, exposed him to the world of organizing and community struggles for justice. Since freshman year, Viraj has been a part of a number of students organizing and union organizing efforts in his community. After graduation, he worked as an organizer for AFSCME Council 3 where he was able to learn and grow as an advocate as well as gain a better understanding of how our legal systems impact unions and working people. In law school, Viraj is aiming to start a legal career that is focused on fighting for social and economic justice. Caitlin Pennell JD’23 Rutgers Law School Camden, NJ Sheet Metal Workers Local Union No. 19 Philadelphia, PA Caitlin is a first-generation student and a Jersey Shore native. In college, she developed an interest in workers’ rights while working towards her bachelor’s in History. Over the course of her undergraduate studies, Caitlin took various courses which touched on labor movements throughout history. However, Caitlin’s interest in workers’ rights peaked after learning about the job discrimination that her Irish ancestors faced, as they were paid lower wages and told, “No Irish Need Apply.” She is passionate about vulnerable workers, economic justice, and the labor movement. Her purpose is not only to become a lawyer, but to become an advocate for workplace justice and to learn from lawyers and union members this summer. Melissa Perez JD’22 Rutgers Law School Newark, NJ Segal Roitman, LLP Boston, MA Born and raised in New Jersey as a daughter of Cuban parents, Melissa developed an interest in labor and employment law from her work in human rights at the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit in Geneva, Switzerland and Lawyers Without Borders in Washington, DC. She earned her bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the George Washington University where she headed the César Chávez GW Organization as a marketing leader to advocate the values of workers’ rights in both the campus and city communities. In law school, Melissa is a proud member of the Minority Student Program and the Dean’s Student Advisory Council. She currently serves as a law clerk at NYSUT. Melissa is excited for the opportunity to continue advancing employee protections in the workplace this summer.