One fellow spent their summer working at a California senator’s office
The Freedom Fellowship is a transformative, 10-week, hands-on program for students ready to move from theory to practice. Rooted in the fight for economic justice, the Fellowship places participants alongside Black organizers, activists, and community leaders who are advancing racial and economic equity for Black workers across California to apply their learning in real time.
This year, Freedom Fellows were placed all over LA County for in person, remote and hybrid working positions with organizations such as, LA Food Policy Council, Earthlodge Center for Transformation, Black Lives Matter Grass Roots, and the Senate district 28 Offices. The roles these fellows worked were instrumental to the professional growth and skill building that they experienced during their time as an active Freedom Fellow.
Placed at the South Los Angeles State Senate office for Lola Smallwood-Cuevas for the 2026 Freedom Fellowship, Dave Goss shares his insights and reflects on his fellowship experience.
Where is your hometown?
I’m from Richmond, California.
What is your major and graduation year?
My major is sociology, and I minor in African American studies. I graduate in 2027.
Which organization site were you placed at this summer?
I was placed at the South Los Angeles office of State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas.
What did your day-to-day work look like during the fellowship?
I did a lot of communications work because I was assigned to the office’s communications staff member, Ms. Paulette. I worked on emails, flyers, newspaper materials and anything else related to communications. I was also assigned a major project at the beginning of the internship. The senator wanted to create a directory of Black women elected officials throughout Los Angeles County, so I helped work on that.
What was something you got to do that you never expected to do as a fellow?
I got to hang out with the mayor of Los Angeles and meet other esteemed politicians from across Los Angeles County. I attended events that I had only heard about on TV or seen on Instagram. I never expected to actually be there, rubbing elbows with important people in the community.
What challenged you to step outside of your comfort zone?
I think wanting to see something different and complete the internship challenged me. I wanted to see it through, so I kept fighting even though I was extremely terrified, especially given my background. Through the workshops and the support I received, I was able to overcome that fear.
If you had to describe your summer fellowship in three words, what would they be and why?
If I’m being completely authentic, the first three words that came to mind were “hella, hella dope.” I had a lot of fun going through the workshops and receiving guidance from [CARE at Work program coordinators] Shaeveon, Joe’l, Dwayne and everyone else. The experience was nerve-racking, but it was also super fun.
When I arrived at the site, I got to meet everyone, including the senator. I staffed an event where it was just the two of us, and she was extremely down-to-earth. The entire experience was hella, hella dope. It was super cool.
What is one lesson that you want to carry with you?
The biggest lesson is that I belong. As someone who was formerly incarcerated, I carry a stigma that was placed on me—not only by society, but also by myself. Sometimes, I walk into rooms carrying that cloud over me, and I sell myself short. This fellowship taught me that I can walk into any room and know that I belong. Through hard work and dedication, if I keep my head up and focus on my goals, I can make it anywhere. I worked in a senator’s office, which is crazy to think about.
How has participating in the Freedom Fellowship influenced your future career path?
I didn’t know where I was going to be placed. When I heard that I would be working in the senator’s office, I was scared—not only because of my background, but also because I didn’t know what I would be doing. I wondered whether I would just be fetching coffee, and I knew I didn’t want to do that. Instead, the experience introduced me to jobs and career paths that I didn’t even know existed, such as working as a legislative staffer. The staff members were incredibly welcoming. They took me under their wing and showed me that this could be a real, financially sustainable career. I also learned that working in politics isn’t only about becoming an elected official. The people who serve on an elected official’s staff are also important. Sen. Smallwood-Cuevas always says that for her to be strong, she has to have a strong team. I think being part of a team like that would be a cool career.
