Meet Our Summer Intern: Breanna Garner
Hello! My name is Breanna Garner, and I was born and raised in Clayton, North Carolina. I am a rising junior at Duke University studying Public Policy with a minor in African & African American Studies and a certificate in Human Rights.
From a young age, I have always been interested in law and politics. As I got older, that interest developed into a passion for social justice, advocacy, and equity. In high school, I joined my school’s Equity Club and later became an officer. Now in college, my passion for advocacy and equity remains constant through my involvement as a Justice Lab Affiliate, member of the NAACP, and incoming Advocacy and Black Caucus Co-Chair for Duke’s Black Student Alliance after previously serving on the committee this past year.
My commitment to equity is also reflected through my volunteer work with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina, where I help increase access to essential hygiene items while promoting dignity, health, and quality of life for families across North Carolina. These experiences have shown me the importance of community and collective action in making change.
Listening to people’s experiences and using those stories to help create stronger communities has always been important to me. I believe that creating a more equitable society requires people to listen to one another, collaborate, and actively work toward change together. The older I get, the more I recognize both the importance of advocacy and the necessary role community plays in creating meaningful progress. That is what drew me to Union Capital’s work. Creating opportunity and advancing equity requires investment in people and the communities themselves, and I admire Union Capital’s commitment to building social capital and strengthening community connections. I hope to both learn from and contribute to their work this summer.
At Duke, I chose to study Public Policy, African & African American Studies, and Human Rights because I am passionate about understanding and addressing systemic inequities and advancing equity through advocacy and policy change. As a pre-law student, I hope to use my education to better understand the structural barriers many communities face and pursue a career that promotes equity, justice, and public service. Ultimately, my goal is to become a judge and work toward sentencing reform by advocating for fairer practices within the judicial and criminal justice systems, particularly for minority communities that are often disproportionately impacted.
In my free time, I enjoy reading, watching true crime documentaries, and spending time with my friends. I am also a Duke Cheerleader and a Duke tour guide, both of which have been really meaningful ways for me to connect with campus, build community, and spread school spirit.
Overall, I am very excited to work with Union Capital this summer. I think that its emphasis on community collaboration and recognizing the value of social capital is both meaningful and necessary in creating lasting change. I look forward to contributing to Union Capital’s work and learning more about its members and community throughout the summer!