Luana Sacay is a senior global studies major and global communications minor. Over the summer, she took part in the Mayor's Internship Program, working in the city's Office of Immigrant Affairs. Read on to learn more about the program and what Luana gained from the experience! (Also, check out our conversation with Lindsey Minor, who worked with the Office of Immigrant Affairs through the Mayor's Internship Program in 2025.)

What office were you placed in through the Mayor’s Internship Program (MIP)?

There are about 50 interns in the MIP, and we're distributed across city departments. I was at the Office of Immigrant Affairs, working directly with the executive director.

What was the application process like?

I had to submit a cover letter and a resume. Then there was a phone screening where you were asked which agencies or offices you'd like to work with. The Office of Immigrant Affairs was one of the offices I mentioned. After that, there was a series of interviews with people from those specific departments.

What drew you to the Office of Immigrant Affairs? 

I'm an international student from Brazil, and I can relate to the experience of being far from my family and home. As a Global Studies major, I’ve always been very interested in learning about different cultures and communities from all over the world. I’ve attended international conferences and studied abroad in Rome. All of this drew me to the department—I want to make people feel welcome, and I love celebrating different cultures.

What was your day-to-day like? What were your typical tasks and responsibilities? 

There were standard daily tasks, like answering phones and voicemails, drafting emails, and tabling at various events, but working alongside our director, I got to do a little bit of everything. 

At the beginning of the summer, I was supporting the language access component of emergency planning for the World Cup games happening here in Philly. On game days, I would go to the emergency operation center where everything was being monitored by federal, state and city agencies, and help make sure in the event of an emergency, we had interpreters to communicate with visitors in their language. 

In June, we also reapplied for Philadelphia's certification as a welcoming city. I helped write memos for the recertification, which is still pending until the end of fall, but I contributed to that. I also represented the office at multiple events—I went to a business forum between Cote d'Ivoire and the USA with the Ivorian consul in attendance, and I went to the Mexican consulate to represent the office at an event for Mexican small businesses in South Philly. 

Do you feel like this internship aligned with your academic goals as a global studies major or your professional goals beyond graduation? 

Yes, I think so. I'm a global studies major with a minor in global communication, which deals with how we interact with different communities and adapt to how each culture shows up here in Philly. I think the Mayor’s Internship Program is a good opportunity for people looking to work in public service. 

I was looking for experience in the US specifically. I'd interned in Italy before, but I wanted the experience in a US work environment of being intentional about how I dressed, when I arrived and my level of commitment. As part of the Mayor's Internship Program we had bi-weekly professional development sessions about things like professional headshots and LinkedIn Learning, which also contributed to my professional journey.

As an international student, it's harder for me to get a position with the city with a work visa, so I don't know if I see myself working for the government in the near future. I think the easier path would be to find a position with a large company, but I'm also very interested in nonprofit work.

What this internship made me realize is how much I enjoy being out at events and interacting with people—from high school exchange students to teenagers from Taiwan to consuls from different countries. In the future, I'd like to keep working with people and supporting different communities in that close, in-person way, and not just at a computer. I do think computer/desk work is important, and sometimes it felt more like I was "getting work done" when I was in front of a screen, but I think things feel more meaningful when you can actually interact with and talk to people.