The National Urban Fellows (NUF) program is a 14-month, full-time leadership development opportunity designed for early to mid-career professionals, with a focus on advancing racial equity and social impact. Fellows receive a fully-funded graduate education, leadership training, and hands-on experience in public policy, while also receiving financial support. In this interview, Nhi Nguyen, a 2023 NUF graduate and current Community Safety and Justice Policy Manager at Chinese for Affirmative Action, shares her journey, insights from the fellowship, and advice for future applicants. Read on to learn more about how Nhi’s experience with NUF has shaped her career in social justice.
What inspired you to study human development and political science as an undergrad, and then pursue a master’s in education, equity, and social justice?
I was drawn to human development and political science because of the engaging discussions I had in both fields. In my human development courses, we explored how identities like race, gender, and religion shape the way we navigate the world. This complemented my political science studies, where I examined the impact of policies and laws on everyday people.
In 2016, I discovered my passion for teaching while working at a language school in Iwakura, Japan. The classroom became a space for mutual learning and growth for both me and my students. I wanted my students to realize the power and potential they already had within themselves. This teaching experience inspired me to pursue a master’s degree in education with a focus on equity and social justice.
During and following school, what did you spend your time doing?
During my first master’s program, I wanted to marry my interest in human rights work with my experience in higher education. This led me to take on several roles during those two years. I served as a lead advisor for the counseling center at CSULB (California State University, Long Beach), where I worked one-on-one with undergraduates and graduate students on career-related concerns.
Along with my time as an advisor, I also worked part time as a Law Clerk at the Legal Aid Foundation (LAFLA) and as a Communications Intern at Liberty in North Korea (LiNK). In my Law Clerk capacity, I conducted intake with limited English proficient community members who needed support with legal issues that touched family and immigration law.
At LiNK, I supported our narrative change work to shift conversations from nuclear weapons and Kim Jong-un to the stories and experiences of the North Korean people.
How did you first learn about the National Urban Fellow program, and why did you apply?
Before learning about the National Urban Fellows (NUF) program, I served as the Hate Crime Prevention Coordinator at Orange County Human Relations (now Groundswell) in 2022. In this role, I oversaw the county’s hate crime prevention network, published the county’s hate report, and worked closely with community members affected by bias-motivated incidents, helping them navigate the healing process. While this work was meaningful, I soon recognized a gap in how we were addressing harm. Most of my interactions with impacted community members began after the incident had already occurred, but I knew that in order to truly combat violence, we needed to focus on the root causes by addressing systemic issues.
This realization pushed me to explore ways to engage with public policy at a deeper level, and I began preparing to apply to law schools. However, my mentor and former supervisor, Norma Lopez, a NUF alum, encouraged me to consider the NUF program instead. She recognized that it aligned with my interest in addressing policies, practices, and structures that contribute to cycles of harm and violence. Her recommendation resonated with me, as I knew I wanted to be part of a larger effort to create change at a systemic level.
Although I was accepted to several law schools, the National Urban Fellows program stood out for its unique offering of hands-on experience in public policy, support from a senior mentor in the field, and the opportunity to earn a fully-funded master’s degree in Policy Management from Georgetown University.
Then, as a NUF, what was your role as a fellow?
As a NUF fellow, my role involved several key components. First, I participated in a nine-month mentorship at a partner organization, where I gained hands-on experience and learned from established professionals in the field. In addition, I completed two intensive summer sessions and two concurrent academic semesters over the course of the 14-month fellowship, which deepened my understanding of the issues we were addressing. Throughout the program, I also engaged in leadership development training and workshops, which helped me grow both personally and professionally under the guidance of NUF.
What was the biggest takeaway from this program? And how did it impact your future aspirations?
There are so many, but the three biggest ones would have to be 1) being placed at the National League of Cities, 2) being paired with a mentor, and 3) having a cohort.
As a Fellow, my residency placement was at the National League of Cities (NLC), where I, alongside my team, worked with elected leaders across the United States to close the racial disparity gap in their cities, towns, and villages. This could range from introducing the racial equity budget tool to city council members to conducting racial equity training for city managers. During my time at NLC, I also led the organization’s first National Day of Racial Healing.
My NLC mentor and liaison, Seantae Byers and Shawna Davie, also played a pivotal role in helping me understand the complexities of racial equity work across cities, towns, and villages. They guided me through the nuances of addressing systemic disparities at the local level, pointing to community engagement, policy reform, and equitable budget distribution. Through their mentorship, I gained a clearer understanding of elected leaders’ roles in structural and systemic change.
Complementary to my placement and mentorship, being part of a cohort helped foster numerous opportunities to collaborate and learn. Each person in my cohort brings with them a wealth of experiences, knowledge, and lived experiences that inform their understanding of systemic inequities and solutions to complex issues. I found a lot of value in hearing from my cohort members, learning from their past experiences, and being in dialogue.
Now I serve as the Community Safety and Justice Policy Manager at Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA). I lead, develop, and implement local policy work on community safety issues in San Francisco. I also serve as a thought partner to Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition co-founded by CAA. At CAA, we believe that community safety is not only the absence of violence but also the presence of economic mobility, affordable housing, equitable education, and so much more.
I believe that we each have an opportunity to impact the lives of others. My hope is that I can continue to play a small role in ensuring our communities receive the support, resources, and opportunities to thrive and live in abundance.
Finally, can you share any advice about applying to the NUF program?
My advice is to connect with other NUF alumni to gain diverse perspectives on the program. It’s a significant commitment, so it’s essential to carefully weigh the costs and benefits before applying. Everyone’s professional and academic goals are different, so hearing from multiple people can help you get a clearer picture of whether the program aligns with your personal circumstances and aspirations.
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