Meet the Class of 2024 Donald K. Ross Future Leaders Program Interns

  • NYPIRG is proud to announce that the inaugural semester of the Donald K. Ross Future Leaders Program was a roaring success – for the organization, the Class of 2024 interns, and the people of New York State.

  • DONATE TODAY to keep this invaluable program going strong!

In June of 2024, we wrapped up the very first legislative session of NYPIRG’s Donald K. Ross Future Leaders Program. During the internship’s inaugural semester, we had five full-time undergraduates who participated in the program, focusing on critical issues including consumer justice and access to the courts, voting rights and ethics reform, climate and the environment, higher education, and healthcare access and affordability.

The interns were deeply involved in a wide range of policy victories and advocacy experiences – the kinds of experiences that Donald was always most interested in. He was not only curious, but had ideas on how to make those experiences better, more impactful, and fun. In his memory, we are trying to do just that – give students a unique experience in lobbying public officials, coalition building, participating in rallies and media events, and hearing from experts in the field.

Thanks to generous support from our friends and colleagues, we were able to build that during our very first year – and we are already looking forward to, and preparing for, an even more successful Donald K. Ross Future Leaders Program in 2025. In order to continue empowering and nurturing our next generation of leaders and honoring Donald’s legacy, NYPIRG needs sustained support from people like you. So we are asking for your help. Please make your vital, tax-deductible contribution today! Thank you so much.

Now we are pleased to introduce the Class of 2024...

Chloe Jules

Queens College, Consumer Justice & Access to the Courts

“Attending committee meetings, writing bills, and analyzing and comprehending the statutes that govern the state have all been quite valuable experiences. I have gotten to impact and advocate for consumer justice issues firsthand by participating in coalition rallies, lobby meetings and news conferences, counseling clients in NYPIRG’s Small Claims Court Action Center, and by having my letter to the editor published in the Times Union.”

Elijah Mateo Wedderburn

Borough of Manhattan Community College, Voting Rights & Ethics Reform

“This program gave me direct exposure to New York’s state legislative process that has inspired me to be as active and impactful a citizen as I can be. I am more knowledgeable on policies that affect the lives of New Yorkers and how to effectively advocate across a range of issues that are vital to the functioning of government and the quality of life of the people it represents – through collaboration with lawmakers, the press, and other organizers.”

Kaylee M. Evans

SUNY Cortland, Climate & the Environment

“This program has taught me about New York State policymaking in a way that a professor in a classroom cannot. I had the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations with lawmakers and ask policy questions. I learned all about the state budget process and how policy gets passed through the budget every session. This program has also connected me to career opportunities through NYPIRG's coalition partners in fields such as state policy, lobbying, and environmental justice.”

Michelle Mei

Hunter College, Higher Education

“Problem-solving and networking are two critical skills that this program helps develop. It is important to figure out complex problems thrown at you in advocacy work, especially with many perspectives and personalities involved to reach the common goal. The importance of connecting with government professionals and other organizations cannot be overstated. Advocates can understand various stakeholders' concerns and interests, and a support network can be developed and maintained.”

Nick Davydoff

Brooklyn College, Healthcare Access & Affordability

“Throughout this program, I have been exposed to New York State politics at a level that I couldn’t be if I was not in Albany and at the Capitol on most days. Some valuable skills that I have gained include talking to legislators and their staff about bills with confidence, and being able to build rapport with them. While lobbying, I find that my experiences are unique with every meeting and legislator. I never feel like I’m having the same conversation twice, even about the same issue.”

2024 Program Highlights

NYPIRG in the News
Activists urge NYS Assembly pass the Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act  (WAMC, Sepember 15, 2025)
The campaign against the climate law  (WAMC, September 15, 2025)
Health plan changes fore­shadow tough New York budget in 2026  (Spectrum News, September 11, 2025)
New York's energy plan  (WAMC, September 8, 2025)
Colleges open but face increasing financial threats  (WAMC, September 3, 2025)
Justice Department argues federal law 'trumps' New York's Climate Change Superfund Act  (Spectrum News, September 3, 2025)
New Yorkers need a utility advocate in their corner  (WAMC, August 25, 2025)
Blair Horner discusses the state budget, redistricting, and public health funding on The Capitol Connection  (WAMC, August 21, 2025)
NYPIRG calls on Congress to defend National Environmental Policy Act  (Mid-Hudson News, August 19, 2025)
Good government groups sidelined in NY redistricting dialogue  (Capitol Pressroom, August 19, 2025)
New York's finances get bleaker  (WAMC, August 18, 2025)
Area politicians are reeling in campaign funds from far outside Western New York  (The Buffalo News, August 17, 2025)
Hundreds march over Brooklyn Bridge to oppose pipeline in New York waters  (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 14, 2025)
Will Hochul’s focus on redistricting fight distract from state governance?  (City & State, August 11, 2025)
It’s baaaaack! Redistricting returns  (WAMC, August 11, 2025)
Hundreds march across Brooklyn Bridge to protest Staten Island pipeline, other projects  (SILive.com, August 9, 2025)
Big 4 accounting firms contribute millions to NY governors, get billions in business  (The Buffalo News, August 8, 2025)
Good government groups fire back at Hochul over redistricting after she tells them 'politics is a political process'  (Spectrum News 1, August 5, 2025)
The ongoing threat of algal blooms  (WAMC, July 28, 2025)
Students rally for QueensLink project  (Queens Daily Eagle, July 21, 20205)
News Archive
Reports & Features
New Yorkers Urge Governor Hochul to Reject Dangerous Gas Pipelines and Nuclear Power Plants Threatening Central NY
NEWS RELEASE: Over 100 Groups Call for Congress to Defend the National Environmental Policy Act
NYPIRG Group Sign-On Letter for the National Environmental Policy Act
NEWS RELEASE: NYPIRG's Statement on the Westerman-Golden SPEED Act
QueensLink Now: A Report from the Next Generation of Riders
Release: Students, Electeds, and Advocates Rally for QueensLink Proposal. Students Share “QueensLink Now” Report, and Deliver Over 1,500 Petition Signatures to Mayor and Governor to Highlight Growing Momentum for QueensLink as an Equitable Transit Solution for Train-Starved Queens
NYPIRG’S REACTION TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S NUCLEAR POWER PLAN
New Yorkers must not be fooled a third time about the purported benefits of nuclear power.
The public should demand that Governor Hochul deliver a full independent public vetting of her latest nuclear power plan. That means allowing the entire state to be part of the discussion, examining the expected costs (including the industry’s history of cost overruns), examining the waste storage requirements (on-site forever?), and examining the full cost impacts both directly and indirectly, such as what New York Power Authority projects will be scrapped in order to fund the building of a new nuclear power facility. The fact that the governor is eyeing new, untested approaches to nuclear power underscore the need for a full, transparent process.
The Albany Money Machine – End Of Session Edition : 176 Campaign Fundraisers Held in the Capital District or by Leadership During 62 Scheduled Session Days
See NYPIRG's 2025 Legislative Review - Tale of the Tape
NYPIRG Statement: The Straphangers Campaign applauds the New York City Department of Transportation's recently unveiled plan to implement center-running bus lanes and pedestrian islands along Flatbush Avenue between Livingston Street and Grand Army Plaza.
With momentum growing in the state legislature to pass a statewide rebate program for purchasing electric lawn equipment, representatives from STIHL, EGO, Milwaukee Tools, Ryobi, The Home Depot, and Ace Hardware joined organizers from NYPIRG, Environment America, and other advocacy groups for an informative day of testing out cleaner, quieter electric lawn equipment. The “Electric Lawn Equipment Demo Day” offered state legislators and their staff, as well local residents, the opportunity to learn about the benefits of going electric.
Marking the 500th day since the Department of Environmental Conservation released its once-in-a-decade “Solid Waste Management Plan,” a coalition of environmental, charities, and small businesses today called on the State Senate and Assembly to pass the Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill (S.5684/A.6543) and the "Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act" (S.1464/A.1749).
The groups cited the failure of the state to attack the mounting packaging and beverage container trash crisis as a compelling rationale for legislative action this session. All of the state’s landfills are set to fill up within the next 25 years, but there’s no plan in place to reduce waste and stave off a crisis. The groups urged approval of packaging and bottle bill legislation to help curb New York’s mounting garbage problem.
Reconnecting Queens: Students Lead the Charge for Subway Expansion at QueensLink Town Hall
More than 100 students, faculty, and community members gathered at Queens College for a town hall spotlighting the QueensLink proposal — a community-driven plan to transform the defunct Rockaway Beach Branch into a new north-south subway line through Queens. Hosted by NYPIRG, the event featured interactive stations, personal storytelling, and direct engagement with project leaders. With Queens residents facing some of the city's longest and most unreliable commutes, attendees voiced strong support for the plan’s potential to connect transit-starved neighborhoods, slash travel times, and foster sustainable growth. Student organizers emphasized the importance of community voices in shaping transit policy, especially as QueensLink clears key funding hurdles and gains political momentum.
CITING A NEW POLL, ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE ACTION ON PACKAGING AND "BOTTLE BILL" LEGISLATION A coalition of environmental groups today reacted to a new Siena Poll released today that shows that New York residents overwhelmingly support state policies to reduce single-use plastic packaging in New York. Seventy-three percent think big companies should be required to reduce packaging on their products, as proposed in the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. And 61% want the beverage container deposit increased from 5 to 10 cents, as proposed in the Bigger Better Bottle Bill.
NEW REPORT SHOWS THAT NY TAXPAYERS COULD SAVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF BIGGER, BETTER, BOTTLE BILL IS PASSED New York’s local governments could save tens of millions of dollars if lawmakers approved legislation to modernize the state’s “Bottle Bill.” That’s according to a new report released by a coalition of environmental, civic, labor and business organizations.
The report, produced by the think tank Eunomia, found that the state’s local governments could save as much as $108 million if lawmakers approved the “Bigger Better Bottle Bill,” legislation designed to modernize the four-decade-old law. The state’s Bottle Bill is the law that requires a nickel deposit for certain beverage containers and is redeemed when the consumer brings the container back to the store.
NYPIRG STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ORDER SEEKING TO OVERTURN NEW YORK’S CLIMATE CHANGE SUPERFUND ACT
EXECUTIVE ORDER MEANS A $3 BILLION TAB FOR ALL NEW YORK TAXPAYERS TO SHIELD BIG OIL
President Trump yesterday signed an executive order that, among other things, attempts to overturn New York’s landmark Climate Change Superfund Act. The Act was approved to mitigate the costs to state taxpayers resulting from the damage caused by the ongoing climate catastrophe.
AS STATE SENATE PASSES ELECTRIC LAWN EQUIPMENT REBATE BILL WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, 100 GROUPS ENDORSE PROPOSAL
Public health, environmental, and community groups call on state legislature to pass S1574/A2657 to promote transition from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric
As lawmakers consider the governor’s proposed higher education budget, NYPIRG today released a policy paper, “Promises made, promises broken.” The paper examined higher education policies which undermined the finances of public colleges and colleges in the independent sector.
REPORT AND NEWS RELEASE: Examining Delays in the Small Claims Courts Throughout New York State and Recommendations for Reform
NYPIRG applauds the decision by the New York State Court of Appeals to uphold the constitutionality of the state’s ethics and lobbying law and reject the separation of powers arguments advanced by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Reports & Features Archive