20 Questions with Intern Lexi Cribbs

By Christopher Edwards on 06/28/2010 @ 10:52 AM

Each season Immigration Equality offices welcome interns, legal fellows, and volunteers. Beginning this week, we will be introducing you to some of them with 20 questions. Want to work with us? Find out more here.

Name: Lexi Cribbs
Age: 19
School/Major/Year: UNC Chapel Hill/English/2012
Position: Development Intern
Office: New York Headquarters

In one sentence, what do you do all day?

I help everyone I can offer my assistance to and learn as much as I can about immigration policy, legal work, development, and current issues facing members of the LGBT community.

How is that going?

Incredibly awesome.

What are you hoping to accomplish while here?

I'm hoping to have played a part in getting UAFA passed and having more corporate sponsors sign onto the Business Coalition. I also would like to walk away with an abundance of knowledge regarding non-profits and the legal system. I sincerely hope that I will leave Immigration Equality impacting at least one person's life in terms of helping them lead a safe and happy life in the U.S. with their partner.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Jacksonville, North Carolina and I am currently attending school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?

Ghana!!!

What do you like most about New York?

I love the diversity of New York. I can walk a block or two in one direction and be in an entirely different cultural place than when I started. This not only broadens my horizons, but it broadens my taste buds with all the different foods I am able to try.

The least?

Coming from the South, I don't like the crowding or the rapid pace of city life that much, but I am learning to adjust.

What neighborhood are you living in?

Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

Any suggestions for interns trying to live in New York?

Try to find your housing as early as possible! You can find great deals online subletting in Brooklyn or in Manhattan, but don't wait until the last minute and settle for a ridiculously expensive place. Also, don't be afraid of the subway system -- it's easier than it seems.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to write, play the guitar or piano, and hang out with friends. When I'm at home, I love going boating or being on the beach. In the city, I like to explore!

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently reading "Orlando" by Virginia Woolf and "The Secret Lives of People in Love" by Simon Van Booy.

Favorite TV show?

Intervention

If you had one superpower what would it be?

Web slinging.

What's the most surprising part of your internship?

Seeing how many countries still have discriminatory legislation against LGBT individuals.

What's the hardest part?

Talking to people on the phone.

What's your interest in immigration rights?

I'm a Latino/a studies minor, and a lot of the literature I read has to do with immigration and how families confront its impossibility. I also am good friends with a binational lesbian couple and I have witnessed first-hand how difficult it is to be with the person you love.

How did you learn about Immigration Equality?

Through [fellow UNC] alumni Win Chesson.

Are you at immigration Equality just for the summer?

Yes

To whom would you recommend an Immigration Equality internship?

Anyone who has a passion for LGBT/immigration issues and anyone who believes that the U.S. should extend the same rights to LGBT couples as they to do straight couples.

What are you planning next after your time with us?

Going back to UNC and studying hard in order to go to law school.