Claudia Runk, Public Policy Apprentice

Claudia Runk Jun 20, 2021 Bio – Apprentice – Past Apprentices 1 comment

National Leadership Program, Summer 2021

Claudia Run

Claudia Runk was a Public Policy Apprentice in RespectAbility’s National Leadership Program for Summer 2021. RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities so that people with disabilities can fully participate in all aspects of community.

Runk earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Sociolegal Studies from Loyola University Chicago. Through her time at Loyola, she was a member of Active Minds, a club dedicated to educating students on mental health and de-stigmatizing mental illness on campus. She hopes to pursue a career in public health policy with a specific interest in mental health advocacy.

In the Spring of 2019, Runk was an intern in Senator Elizabeth Warren’s Washington D.C. Office. While working as a Senatorial Intern, she worked to hone her research skills and write concise memorandums for the consideration of Legislative Aids. Likewise, she has also gained experience working in local politics as a Housing and Real Estate Policy Intern for the Office of Alderman Harry Osterman in the City of Chicago. As a Housing and Real Estate Policy Intern, she worked on projects that included issues of affordable housing, SRO laws, Homelessness and their intersectionality with Chicago’s disabled population.

Runk is passionate about beginning a career in public policy dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of the million Americans that are affected by mental health and mental illness. Particularly, she has an interest in the intersection of mental health and education policy. Through this Apprenticeship, she hopes to expand her skills in political advocacy while gaining a new perspective on disability policy.

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RespectAbility is a nonprofit organization fighting stigmas and advancing opportunities for and with people with disabilities. Learn more about the National Leadership Program and apply for the next cohort! Contact [email protected] for more information.