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Name: Katie Klapmeyer 
Class Year: 2026 
Major: Sociology, Minor: International Studies 
Hometown: Clinton, NY 
 
Internship Organization: City of Philadelphia Office of Reentry Partnerships 
Internship Title: Reentry Services Associate 
Location: Philadelphia, PA 
 
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing! 
This summer, I have been lucky enough to intern at the City of Philadelphia Office of Reentry Partnerships (ORP), which elevates and organizes citywide reentry efforts to “interrupt cycles of harm and build thriving communities.” We serve to empower returning citizens (individuals returning to communities from jail/prison) and their loved ones by providing referrals, training, and resources, including: healthcare, housing, education, workforce development, legal assistance, financial literacy, and countless more. As an intern, I perform a wide variety of essential functions, such as: conducting program research, crafting marketing materials, assisting with grant writing, and attending community engagement events. More generally, I aim to increase coordination and efficiency between relevant parties, including community members, service providers, local government, etc., to ensure returning citizens receive the most successful reentry outcomes possible. ORP works tirelessly to lessen the barriers and challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals, providing the services necessary for long-term social and economic justice. 
 
Why did you apply for this internship? 
I have always been passionate about abolishing unjust systems of policing and incarceration, especially as they originate from systematic resource deprivation of marginalized communities. This interest led me to becoming a Sociology major, but an academic environment is not sufficient to grasp the lived experience of justice-involved individuals (people who have had interactions with the criminal legal system). ORP’s focus on direct services and community engagement has granted me a more comprehensive and true vision of our nation’s criminal legal system and its inherent violence. I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to support ORP in disrupting violence at its origin through working to end the immense resource gap present in Philadelphia, which is further exacerbated by mass incarceration.     
 
What has been your favorite part of this internship? 
My favorite part of interning at ORP is the regular opportunity for firsthand learning experiences. I recently observed Judge Stephanie M. Sawyer’s (Court of Common Pleas Judge in the Criminal Trial Division) courtroom for a day. Judge Sawyer pioneered the Resource-Based Sentencing and Supervision program, which “acts as a proactive system of accountability” and advances restorative justice designed to radically reimagine the criminal legal system and its relationship to communities by addressing the dehumanization and injustices typically present in criminal courts. Because I am currently conducting research for Resource-Based Sentencing and Supervision, witnessing the program operate in person was endlessly rewarding. Further, gaining insight into a successful and materially significant form of restorative justice gave me the confidence and creativity to imagine an end to mass incarceration and to advance the forms of community-centered justice necessary to replace it. 
 
What is most rewarding about your internship? 
One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship is understanding that the work I do is vital and enduring. Because of the extremely talented and kind staff at ORP, who provide me with endless support and guidance, I have completed numerous tasks and projects to the benefit of the organization. For instance, I have conducted extensive research and accumulated resources into databases that will continue to aid returning citizens for years to come. Further, I have aided my supervisors in grant writing that will ensure the continued success and community impact of ORP. However, even more impactful, is the opportunity to learn from returning citizens and activists that have dedicated their lives to improving the lives and outcomes of justice-involved individuals. I am forever grateful for the passion of all reentry advocates who made this internship possible for me. 

Career & Civic Engagement Center Sociology International Studies