Amy LaNoue | MSW Intern
Amy is working towards a Master’s in Social Work from Grand Valley State University. After completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Michigan State University, Amy moved to Quito, Ecuador, where she became fluent in Spanish and developed an interest in social justice.
Since returning to West Michigan, she has worked as a foster care case manager for Unaccompanied Children. In her free time, Amy enjoys hikes with her golden retriever and cooking new recipes.
Marjory Clay | Community Relations Intern
Marjory will be interning with us for the summer semester. She is currently a senior at Grand Valley State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies, with a minor in Public Relations and Advertising. She is looking forward to learning how non-profit organizations function, and how to effectively communicate the mission of Affinity with potential and existing supporters.
Her goal is to one day become a communications director for a non-profit organization, or an advertiser in the music industry. When she is not working or in school, she enjoys creating, being outside, listening to music, practicing yoga, traveling, and spending time with friends, family and her two kitties.
Ariel Simaz 
Annalise Piazza
Wearing her favorite pair of converse sneakers Angela lugs her rolly backpack up the last few steps. She loves school. A little timid and shy, but she absolutely loves reading. Her favorite book is 
Her parents leave for work each morning at 4am and get home after 7pm. They get home tired each day. As the second oldest, Angela takes care of her younger sisters – gets them ready for school, helps them with homework, and walks with them to and from school.
Other days they didn’t have enough food. Angela would look forward to the the free lunches at school. She could see the pain in her mom’s eyes when she asked if there was anything to eat. Her mom always found a way to make it work. Angela remembers waking up the next morning to warm tortas and chorizo con huevo.
At the end of the school year Angela and her family move. It’s hard being the new girl. Sometimes Angela gets teased for her dirty uniform. She only has one and can’t wash it every day. She’s often lonely, but seeing Wendy is a bright spot. Her new school doesn’t have in-school mentoring so Wendy starts visiting Angela and her family at their house. 
Fifteen years later Wendy and Angela still keep in touch. Angela and her family moved 6-7 times and Wendy moved to Chicago when Angela was in 7th grade. However, that didn’t stop either of them. Wendy is still one of Angela’s biggest role models, “I really appreciate her. Sometimes I feel lost and she helps me focus.” 
Angela still enters those brick archways each week at Burton Elementary, but now for a different reason. She is the Program Assistant for Affinity Mentoring and the entrance of the old building has been renovated into Affinity’s Mentor Center. “After Burton was renovated everything looks so different, everything but the archways. It’s exactly as I remember it. I remember being in this school and now I get to help students like me.”