June 17, 2025

We are thrilled to welcome the third cohort of BLAISE interns this summer. This year we are welcoming 6 students, paired with Croatan Institute and our partners at TIFS (Transformational Investing in Food Systems), and Veris Wealth Partners:

• Yafae Cotton, Pomona College
• Dung Le, Oberlin College
• Kamil Mahmood, Amherst College
• Destiny Jackson, Spelman College
• Parshva Maniar, New York University
• Melanie Vega, Northern Arizona University

Interns will embark on an 8-week learning experience, covering personal financial health, as well as the intersections of impact investing, sustainability, social equity, and more. We are partnering with Freedmen Heirs Foundation for bi-weekly Lunch & Learn sessions where students will develop critical financial literacy to steward personal financial health.

Our holistic approach to the BLAISE internship is designed to not only shift the finance industry, but also cultivate the next generation of community wealth-building. 

Subscribe to our newsletter to follow the cohort’s journey and receive the latest updates on their learnings.

If you are a mission-driven organization dedicated to social equity and finance, contact reefs@croataninstitute.org and submit an interest form to explore hosting interns for 2026.