Hello L.A.C.E.S. community! My name is Connor Desai and I am the new Refugee Youth Sports Program intern.
A bit about me
I am a Junior at Georgetown College studying Government and Economics. I’m interested in joining the Peace Corps after I graduate and going to law school. I’m from Buffalo, New York (Go Bills!) and come from a family of six. I have 3 sisters, one of whom is my twin, and my earliest memories of them are playing soccer together at our local park. I’ve played soccer since I was 7, and when I first stepped onto the pitch I fell in love with the sport. My favorite soccer team is Manchester United, and you can find me on any given weekend watching the Premier League with my friends! In my free time, I love volunteering, hiking, reading, and playing video games (FIFA mostly).
What drew me to L.A.C.E.S.
What initially drew me to L.A.C.E.S. was its connection to past volunteering experiences I’ve had. Alongside some of my teammates from high school, I spent time with the International Institute of Buffalo and Westminster Economic Development Initiative (WEDI) in tutoring refugees and immigrants. My time in both programs is especially meaningful to me, as I was able to see the immediate impact I had on my community and relished the connections made with the people I was partnered with. I stumbled across L.A.C.E.S. when looking for internships, and immediately knew it was the right fit for me. L.A.C.E.S.’ vision of service and community building in D.C. meant that I am able to positively and quickly affect the refugee community just like in Buffalo.
What I’m looking forward to
What most excited me about L.A.C.E.S. is the opportunity that I have to create and run programs. I like to think of myself as a self-starter, and I hope that the projects I start within L.A.C.E.S. and it’s community can promote its core values of empowerment, quality, and mentorship. Not only do I want to contribute to a hard-working and determined attitude to L.A.C.E.S.’ already impressive team, but through that work I aspire to elevate the service that this organization provides to all of you and the youth L.A.C.E.S. serves.