2010 - 2011
 My name is Liz Baker. I graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, AL in May 2008 and moved to Atlanta, GA, near where I grew up. My parents, Carol and Newell, have been the best parents a kid could ask for and have continually provided my brothers and me with unending support and encouragement. My older brother, Jonathan, always has something cool and interesting going on, and his determination and positive attitude in achieving goals are things I really admire. My younger brother, Patrick, is studying at Columbus State University, in Columbus, GA. Patrick has always been the fiestiest of the three of us, and I love to hear about his latest passion (from cooking, to fishing, to theater, to politics, etc) on his visits home. I know how lucky I am and always look forward to spending time with them.
Since 2009 I have been working nightshift as a registered nurse. I love the science,the caring, and the puzzle solving of my profession, but have lost sight of some of that in the chaos of my unit and the constant fatigue of working nights. I know nursing is what I am called to do, but I know I will be a better nurse by taking some time to serve and care for others in a different capacity, as well as learn to find a better balance in caring for myself. Whenever I go to a bookstore I can never manage to get out before looking through books on health and medical history. I mean, who doesn’t love a good epidemic story? I am continually fascinated by the intricacies of the human body, the ways they break down, and how to prevent and treat them. Not surprisingly, I am really interested in nutrition and food, and its impact on health.
I am also really looking forward to rediscovering hobbies that were put on hold when I started sleeping during the day. I hope to get back to running, since I’ll be able to go out in the daytime, and cooking, since organized meals went out the window with night shift. My other hobbies include yoga, reading, watching documentaries, being in the sunshine, and daydreaming about fixing the world’s problems.
 My name is Drew Bonner. I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. I am the son of Jeff and Cathie Bonner, and older brother to Catherine, Austin, and Michael. I am a graduate of Auburn University, with a degree in Radio/Television/Film with a focus on Broadcast Journalism. During my time at Auburn, I served as Sports Director for the WEGL 91.1, the student radio station, Executive Vice President of Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, and worked as a youth director at First Presbyterian Church. I love watching and playing sports, being outside (especially on the water), dancing, talking theology, serving others, and medium length walks on the beach. Some of my most influential times have been spent at Montreat Conference Center in Montreat, North Carolina, where I spent a week each summer in high school, and a long weekend each year during college. These conferences played a big role in my spiritual and social development, in addition to being a catalyst to great friendships. I have spent the last year serving as an Americorps NCCC, traveling around the Southeast working with non-profit and government organizations, helping in areas of urban and rural development, disaster relief, energy conservation, infrastructure improvement, and environmental stewardship. I look forward to continuing my service with the JIP, while adding the spiritually intentional community aspect, which is very intriguing and important to me as I look to the rest of my life.
Hey friends! My name is Megan Boyle. Like the stereotypical Irish family, I grew up with a multitude of siblings: five, a few furry critters (a cat and a dog), and a loving, hard working mother in Rockaway Beach, NY. Being around so many beings has helped me to cultivate an interest in the complexities of the human mind, which is why I chose to study psychology and criminology at Stonehill College in Easton, MA, from 2007-2010. During my time at Stonehill, I also found meaning in service work and have spent a great deal of time there feeding this interest.
Next to service and watching others be changed through service, I am incredibly passionate about and inspired by music; I love to sing and find release through song. I’m also fond of reading, running, hiking, soccer, and sleeping under the stars. Oh, and I’m addicted to hummus.
I am so moved by service and social justice; it’s what I live for and what I want to focus my life around. I came to JIP to further fuel this passion in an intentional living context, to uncover hidden elements about myself, and to find and welcome new people, places, and passions into my life. I embrace any challenges along the way and know that I will work through them with God and all the love in my heart.
 My name is Kirasten Brasfield. I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama and lived there until my family moved to a city outside of Fort Lauderdale, Florida when I was 16. While I currently live with my mom in the Tampa Bay area, I still consider Mobile my hometown and love going back to the place that houses my childhood memories.
I graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, minor in Spanish, and certificate in Global Health. During my time at Duke, I was involved in a student organization called Project HEAL (Health Education and Awareness in Latin America), which helped me to realize my desire to work with underserved populations. My coursework in my certificate program really opened my eyes to the various social and economic factors that cause health disparities not only globally, but also locally in the U.S.
One of my passions is dance! I started going to ballet class at the age of 3 and have been in love ever since. It was great being able to continue dancing and performing in college, and I also enjoyed teaching at Walltown Children’s Theatre in Durham. Don’t be fooled though – while the ballerina title may suggest that I eat like a bird, I definitely love food and could probably out-eat a lot of guys.
I am hoping that during this time as a JIP intern that I can take the time to discern where God is leading me next, to discover and continue to grow in the gifts that He has given me and to gain a sense of how I can use those gifts to serve others and the Lord. I have learned and am still learning that God may be calling me to do something that I never even imagined for myself, so I hope that this program can help me to remain open to whatever that calling may be.
 My name is Stephanie Gans. I grew up in New Jersey with my two siblings, an older sister and an identical twin with whom I am very close. I recently graduated from the College of William and Mary where I got to explore inequality in our society through my major in sociology. In college I worked with the local community to oppose a proposed coal plant nearby, the fight helped me to understand the different social, environmental, and governmental systems which interact to create and reproduce inequalities. I think serving in JIP will help me to put some of that knowledge into practice and further my understanding of what it means to pursue social justice. Besides my passion for social justice and sociology, I also love learning languages and exploring different cultures from my own. I like playing games, especially word games, as well as cooking using local, sustainable ingredients. I hope to one day find a job in community organizing, helping to build power in communities so that we can all demand the rights and resources which should be guaranteed to us all.
 My name is James Helton. I was born in North Charleston, SC and have lived in five states and Puerto Rico. My father retired from the Coast Guard and had his ceremony one week after my college graduation, making for a very busy May 2011. My older brother also joined the USCG and is currently stationed in North Charleston where he lives with his wife and two children, ten minutes from my parents. I attended four colleges, ending up at the College of Charleston, earning a B.A. in Biology. I am an avid sports fan, especially football and basketball, both collegiate and professional.
I was raised in a Christian home but never had much interest in learning more or acting on my beliefs until I joined Charleston Baptist Collegiate Ministry. I went on a mission’s trip to the mountains of Peru in May of 2010. When we returned I felt like we, as a group, needed to have more of an impact on the city of Charleston so I helped start an outreach serving in the city in many different ways, including a weekly trip to the Eastside of Charleston, playing basketball, having arts and crafts, etc., and having a short Bible story.
I am very excited to come in as a JIP intern because I am ready to have service of others become my primary focus instead of something I do every week or a couple of times per week. I plan on eventually working with inner-city youth or homelessness in some capacity and I believe this will be a great way to gain experience. I believe with all of my heart that the JIP is where I am supposed to be for this coming year and I am ready to be blown away with the things God has in store for me during the program and beyond.
 My name is Leandra Lambert. On a wintry January evening 22 years ago my mother was at home with my two brothers. I said to myself, “It’s time,” and made my grand entrance into the world.
Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, I was not only exposed to my Caribbean heritage (my family hails from Carriacou, Grenada – the spice island), but to a variety of cultures. This sparked my interest in travel. After 5 continents and over 25 countries, it was in Greece where I was reborn and would gladly pass my years as an international student. I loved among a beautiful people who welcomed me and allowed me to accomplish my personal goal of making Greece feel like home, having a sense of solidarity with Greek people, and “becoming Greek” on my own terms.
I graduated this year with a B.A. in both classical civilization and Political Science. Looking back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, I have a better understanding of what it means to be a citizen and part of civil society. My studies taught me that society has a responsibility to tend to those marginalized in our midst locally and in our global community. My belief in collective responsibility aligns with the tenets of the Johnson Intern Program, and I am excited to learn from and grow with the other interns as we seek to be change agents in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro community and our world.
 I was born in Houston, Texas, but my family moved to Georgia when I was six. Now I live in Powder Springs, northwest of Atlanta, with my wonderful parents, my beautiful younger sister, Jessie, and our two little dogs, Tasha and Toby. My family can be very goofy, but I’m thankful that they’ve always been supportive of whatever I do. Music is very important to us, so much so that we sing our blessing before dinner. Even Toby squeaks along! My current musical adventure is learning to play the hammered dulcimer, but I’ve dabbled in a few other instruments as well. I also love camping and hiking, arts and crafts, flag football, curling up with good books, playing all sorts of games, and exploring cities with friends. Chapel Hill is new to me, so I’m sure there’s a lot to explore!
I recently graduated from Rice University in Houston with a degree in architectural studies. While I was there, I realized that I was more interested in the people that would use the buildings I designed than I was in the buildings themselves. Because of this realization, I’ve decided that I don’t want to be an architect, but I’m not really sure what comes next. Last summer I had the opportunity to work at AIDS Foundation Houston helping to plan a summer camp for HIV-positive kids. This experience really opened my eyes to the overwhelming need around me, and I’m excited to spend this year loving people and working for social justice in the Chapel Hill community. I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started, as I’m sure this will be an incredible journey!
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