by Sarah Pawlowski, ’26

As the semester comes to an end, so does my internship with the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic. I sought out this internship after taking Professor Remondini’s course on Poverty and Access to Justice – a class that taught me about the justice gap in the US and the mechanisms by which poverty has been criminalized and so heavily stigmatized. After a semester of classes on a topic so disheartening, I wanted to learn more about how we can advance access to justice at a local level. The NCLC provides free legal services for housing, immigration, taxes, and veterans’ justice, and each day at the Clinic I had the opportunity to talk to clients, learn their stories, and see how even just a short conversation with an attorney can open new doors.

One of the most remarkable parts of my internship was seeing how working in a faith-based organization not only builds community, but also creates an atmosphere of hope and joy during difficult times. An unshakeable memory that I often reflect on is a conversation I had with a mother and son who came to us seeking help with an eviction. I sat with them for an hour to listen to their story; housing is fundamental to most aspects of a stable life, and having that threatened can feel like the world is closing in on you. At a moment of such great uncertainty and fear, the mother made one last request: to pray with us. To see such commitment and trust that she would be protected and carried through this situation by God was incredible. As we parted ways, each of us with a smile on our face, the scripture that the Clinic uses as its driving mission echoed in my mind: “Do justice. Love mercy. Walk humbly” (Micah 6:8).

A quote that has stuck with me throughout this year is “We’re all just walking each other home.” I stumbled across it on Instagram, and when I Googled it while writing this reflection, I learned it’s a quote from spiritual teacher Ram Dass about how we do not go through life alone; life is a journey we take together that leads us to the afterlife. We guide one another, giving support in difficult times and finding meaning in our shared experiences. No human is made superior to another, and this quote has pushed me to live more consciously and work actively to love my neighbors. As I leave my position with the NCLC, I am excited to continue volunteering with this organization and advancing justice for our neighbors. And to my fellow students at Butler, I ask you this: who is your neighbor? Can you look beyond the Butler Bubble and see the broader context in which we are situated? Look past worldly differences and see the deep interconnectedness with your fellow humans. I will carry the invaluable experiences and lessons learned from my time at the Clinic with me throughout my life and career, and I extend my gratitude to everyone who made this internship opportunity possible.