NAME: Robi Roberts

HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Georgia

Meet Robi, the third member of the Brooklyn site team! Robi is a recent graduate from Davidson College, where she studied Economics with a minor in Education Studies.

Robi is excited that the fellowship combines direct service and research, and says that being able to have direct interactions while reading literature will give her a holistic view of policy. For her research, Robi is looking at how remote schooling is affecting mothers’ outlook on the workforce and how it can constrain their search for employment. In her final semester of college, she took a course titled “Economics of Gender and Family.” Given that it took place during the pandemic, her class talked a lot about how female labor force participation may be adversely affected during this time. Robi is excited to combine this knowledge with our clients’ realities to garner well informed research!

ROBI’S FAVORITE QUOTE:

"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh. It's the sweetest thing one can do for oneself & one's fellow human beings."

–Maya Angelou

ROBI’S FAVORITE MOVIE:

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

OUTSIDE OF WORK, ROBI ENJOYS:

Spending time with her 3 dogs, Taco, Bradley, and Luna; and taking walks with her mom!

In college, Robi was a Bonner Scholar, completing over 280 hours of community service annually, this allowed her to really appreciate volunteering and direct service work. Furthermore, as an economics major she became really interested in social and economic policy and this fellowship allows her to explore both of these interests.

Now that you’ve met some of our Work First Fellows, keep up with them! Follow Work First on Twitter and Facebook to support our work connecting people with jobs and researching innovative strategies to combat poverty.