Labor Summer

About Labor Summer

Established in 2022 and hosted by the Inland Empire Labor & Community Center at UCR, the Labor Summer Fellowship is an annual program that brings together emerging leaders, labor unions, and community organizations who share a vision for worker justice and labor rights. Student participants are matched with a host organization for an 8-week paid internship to engage in local campaigns that advance worker, racial, immigrant, and other social justice initiatives.

Throughout the summer, students will learn the basics of community and labor organizing and get hands-on experience building power with workers and Inland Empire residents. Several Labor Summer alumni have been offered full-time positions after the program and are at the forefront of the labor movement in the Inland Empire and beyond.

UCR students receive a stipend in recognition of their participation in the program. The program also provides students with leadership and professional development training, a certificate of completion, and access to a UC statewide labor summer network.

Who is eligible for the Labor Summer Fellowship?

Labor Summer 2026 is open to all UCR upper-division standing undergraduate students regardless of their immigration status. Current UCR undergraduate seniors graduating in Spring 2026 are welcome to apply along with continuing undergraduate students. Please note that all participants must have either SSN or an ITIN to receive the fellowship funds.

Labor Summer 2026

The application period for Labor Summer 2026 is now closed. Please join the IELCC student mailing list to be notified about future opportunities.

Key Dates for Labor Summer 2026

December 1, 2025 to February 13, 2026	Student fellow application period. Applications will be due February 13th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT.
Mid-February, 2026	Finalists invited to the interview round. Interviews will be held in early March.
March 18, 2026	Student fellows selected and notified.
March 30, 2026	Student fellows deadline to confirm participation.
Late April - Early May, 2026	Fellow(s) matchmaking with host organization.
June 22 to June 26, 2026	Opening retreat for fellows at UC Riverside and surrounding community.
June 29, 2026	Fellows’ first day of work at host organizations.
July 10, July 24, Aug 14, 2026	In-person teach in days with the IELCC team.
August 13, 2026	Fellows graduation ceremony & Fellows’ final day of work at host organizations.

Labor Summer Alumni

Class of 2026

Labor Summer 2026 Fellows, CALA-RCC Interns 2026, and IELCC staff. (Photo credit: Frankie Aguilar)

UCR 2026 Labor Summer Fellows
	Deborah Sule-Odu with UDW 3930
	Denise Campos with UDW 3930
	Alejandro Zesati with SEIU 721
	Ramón Iniguez with SEIU 721
	Luis Díaz with the Inland Empire Labor Council
	Alice Parra Rios with the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center
	Anahita Hooshyari far with SEIU 2015
	Alex Huffstedtler with Warehouse Worker Resource Center
	Jessica Vicente with the People's Collective for Environmental Justice
	Eric Chow with Teamsters 1932
	Alyssa Cedano with Teamsters 1932
	Mythreyee Shankara Narayanan with UAW 4811

Community Action Leadership Academy- Riverside City College Interns (participated in Labor Summer 2026 Programming)
	Jessica Zenteno CALA Student Coordinator
	Gabriel Otte with the Inland Empire Labor Council
	Victoria Chediak with FirstServ/Affirmotions
	Adela Gonzales with the Inland Empire Labor Institute
	Kalisha Gomez with FirstServ/Affirmotions
	Anthony Sanchez with The Civil Rights Institute Of Inland Southern California
	Nathan Garcia with FirstServ/Affirmotions
	Joel Melena with the Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties
	Jack Boren with the The Civil Rights Institute Of Inland Southern California

Class of 2025

2025 Labor Summer Fellows — UCR Labor Summer 2025 Fellows. Back: Eren Whitfield, Kai Levenson, Pamela Romero, Priscila Esparza, Jaylene Peralta, Mata Elangovan. Front: Evelyn Cruz Jimmenez, Alexis Reabroi, Priscila Fuentes Garcia, Amisha Dohgra, Isabel Carreon Morales, Isabella Verjat.

	Alexis Reabroi with SEIU 721
	Amisha Dohgra with SEIU 721
	Eren Whitfield with the Pomona Economic Opportunity Center
	Isabella Verjat with the Inland Empire Labor Council
	Mata Elangovan with SEIU 121RN
	Pamela Romero with SEIU 121RN
	Evelyn Cruz Jimenez with the People's Collective for Environmental Justice
	Isabel Carreon Morales with UDW 3930
	Jaylene Peralta with UAW 4811
	Kai Levenson with Teamsters 1932
	Priscila Esparza with SEIU 2015
	Priscila Fuentes Garcia with the Warehouse Workers Resource Center

Class of 2024

	Cal Lee with the Warehouse Workers Resource Center
	Ketsia Mbuyamba Mukenge with the Inland Empire Labor Institute
	Eric Guerra with the Inland Empire Labor Council
	Paolina Ochoa with People's Collective for Environmental Justice
	Jessie Parks with SEIU 721
	Max Ohshima-Li with SEIU 721
	Jaylin Alvayero with SEIU 2015
	Yadira Alvarado Santillan with United Domestic Workers
	Arlene Reyes with Pomona Economic Opportunity Center
	Ricardo Gonzalez with IE-AWU
	Josue Silva Garcia with Just San Bernardino

Class of 2023
UCR Labor Summer 2023 Orientation. From left to right: Balgis Muhammad, Jana Gad, Jeffery Ortega, Arlette Guttirez, Gabriela Clatenco Martinez, Jacqueline Ma, Lesli Valladares Escobar, George Jimenez, Elizabeth Romo Romero, Deidre Reyes, Jeddy Jacinto Molina, Arturo Ramirez Diego, Gregory B. Hutchins (Lead Graduate Researcher, IELCC).
- Arlette Gutierrez with UFCW 1167
- Arturo Ramirez Diego with the Warehouse Workers Resource Center
- Balgis Muhammad with SEIU 721
- Deidre Reyes with UDW 3930
- Elizabeth Romo Romero with the Inland Empire Labor and Community Center
- Gabriela Clatenco Martinez with the Inland Empire Labor Council
- George Jimenez with SEIU 2015
- Jacqueline Ma with UDW 3930
- Jana Gad with UDW 3930
- Jeddy Jacinto Molina with UFCW 1167
- Jeffrey Ortega with SEIU 2015
- Lesli Valladares Escobar with the Warehouse Workers Resource Center