Grace Busser ('25)
Grace Busser (‘25) is an Urban Studies major and French minor, from Philadelphia. She is working this summer as an Investigative Intern at the Brooklyn Defenders Services where she is thrilled about the opportunity to engage deeply and directly with diverse communities in New York City, gathering evidence to support individuals facing charges. She has worked in a variety of Urban Studies-related fields, most recently as a housing researcher at the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation for her Fieldwork placement. As a COVID technician at homeless shelters across Philadelphia, Grace has developed a keen understanding of the need for interconnected social services. This summer she hopes to draw on knowledge from her work in politics and public policy, social services, the modern U.S. penal and judicial systems, and migrant labor patterns. She is excited to explore a new city from a unique perspective and work towards the Brooklyn Defenders’ mission of making New York City a better place by defending those who face hidden, systemic barriers and advocating for systemic change. Grace is dedicated to working towards a project of community-based justice and sovereignty. She can’t wait to share her experiences and learn from the amazing work that the other Gordon Fellows are
doing.
Sade Taiwo ('25)
Sade Taiwo (’25) is a rising senior at the University of Pennsylvania studying Health and Societies with minors in Urban Studies, International Development, and Latin American Studies. She is a Philadelphia native who loves her city and its vibrant community. She is working towards a medical degree to specialize in Pediatrics and hopes to dedicate her medical career to community health. At Penn, she runs a non-profit that connects families in the West Philadelphia area to low-cost or free health resources. She’s also served as the Community Service Chair for UMOJA, sits on the HSOC Student Advisory Board, and volunteers with the Shelter Health Outreach Program. In March 2024, Sade won the Women of Color Award for her tireless work in community initiatives. Throughout her time at Penn, she has dedicated countless hours to volunteering and furthering community health initiatives. This summer, Sade will be working on the Coalition to End Racism in Clinical Algorithms (CERCA) Project at the New York City Department of Health. CERCA was formed to end the inclusion of race adjustment in clinical algorithms. Clinicians use clinical algorithms to guide their decision-making in the medical care of patients. Clinical algorithms using race adjustment often negatively impact treatment and care for people of color. CERCA is the first city-wide initiative tackling race adjustment as a public health issue.
Sophia Liu ('26)
Sophia Liu is a junior with a double major in Urban Studies and Health & Societies. She is from St. Louis, Missouri and is especially interested in public health, bioethics, healthcare policy, and how urban environments impact health. She is active on the Urban Studies Undergraduate Advisory Board.
She will be interning at The Community Grocer, a nonprofit committed to reducing food waste, providing workforce development, hosting community roundtables, and ensuring access to fresh, culturally relevant, and delicious meals by making available SNAP eligible meal kits or hot meals in a retail setting and community kitchen. Sophie is excited to explore the intersection of food accessibility and health outcomes by addressing the issue of food insecurity through community engagement and sustainable practices.
Yeeun Yoo ('26)
Yeeun Yoo (she/her) is a junior majoring in Urban Studies and Sociology and minoring in Asian American Studies. At Penn, Yeeun is a Civic Scholar and is involved with Civic House as a Community Partner Coordinator for Moder Patshala. She is also part of the Asian American Studies Undergraduate Advisory Board and an ASAM Fellow, where she is conducting research on South Korea’s military conscription’s role in Korean gender norms and culture. Yeeun is interested in community organizing, mutual aid, food sovereignty, and abolitionist theory/praxis. This summer, Yeeun will be working at the People’s Kitchen Philadelphia, where she will be supporting the team’s various administrative tasks, grant-writing, as well as the community gardens and kitchen.