Clay Institute Programs
The William L. Clay, Sr. Institute of Civic Engagement and Economic Justice at Saint Louis University offers a number of programs to SLU students and faculty to foster engagement with the greater community.
Policy Pods
Policy Pods are small groups of students who engage in legislative research and meetings. Students meet weekly on topics such as criminal justice reform, immigration reform, environment, education, immigration and disability rights. Toward the end of each semester, they set up legislative meetings, advocate for their positions, and host an event to educate the campus. Groups start each year by meeting with advocacy agencies to get information on their topics and celebrate with a keynote address at the end of the year. Students can receive CP2 Credit for Pods if they are a regular part of their group and attend a reflection with the assistant director about their experience with pods connecting to their vocation and development.
Pathways To Progress
Pathways to Progress offers justice-based experiential learning and advocacy training. Participants will focus on equity, opportunity and justice for all with a local economic justice lens. During the spring semester, a cohort of 10-12 students engage in weekly education and community-building activities with local partners. Students will attend a spring break trip to Washington D.C. to meet with legislators, advocacy groups and visit important sites for civic education.
In addition to hands-on learning and policy engagement, Pathways to Progress emphasizes personal reflection and leadership development. Through facilitated discussions, journaling and direct interaction with community leaders, students will explore their own values, identities and roles in advancing justice within their communities. It's a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of social justice while building practical skills and meaningful connections.
Pathways to Progress is open to undergraduate students from all majors and backgrounds who are passionate about creating a more just and equitable society. Whether you're deeply involved in advocacy work or just beginning to explore issues of economic and social justice, this program is designed to meet you where you are and help you grow. Ideal candidates are curious, open-minded, and motivated to engage with their local community while developing real-world skills in organizing, policy and civic leadership. We especially encourage students who are interested in public service, nonprofit work, law, social entrepreneurship, or community-based change to apply.
2026 Program Participants
Clarence Alexander
Clarence Alexander is a junior studying political science and economics at SLU. They are passionate about working with communities to create more just and inclusive systems. Their interests include economic justice and access to education, and they have previously been involved with the Freedom Community Center, where they examined courtroom cases to evaluate the fairness of judicial rulings. Through the Pathway to Progress Program, they hope to deepen their knowledge of equity-driven advocacy and civic engagement. They aspire to pursue a career focused on advancing justice and expanding opportunity for underrepresented populations. In their free time, they enjoy playing basketball and spending time with friends.
Mahi Besur
Mahi Besur is an undergraduate student at Saint Louis University majoring in health sciences, with minors in women and gender studies and biology. She is deeply passionate about community outreach and research, particularly in areas that address health inequities. Mahi volunteers with students in St. Louis public schools as well as at the St. Louis juvenile detention center. Outside of academics, she enjoys swimming, drawing, and reading. In the future, she hopes to apply her scientific knowledge to improving the lives of underserved populations in her community.
Suzan Clinton
Suzan is a freshman studying biology and public health. She hopes to become a physician and policy advocate in the future. She is passionate about economic and environmental justice and how structural inequities shape health outcomes in marginalized communities. Through Pathways to Progress, she seeks to better understand how economic policy influences access to healthcare, housing, and environmental safety. She looks forward to this program as her introduction to the world of policy and as an opportunity to explore intersectional strategies that promote health, environmental, and economic equity.
Raegan Jinson
Raegan Jinson, from Jefferson City, Missouri, is a senior at SLU studying economics with a minor in philosophy. She is passionate about advocacy and justice, and wants to better connect to individuals across a large spectrum of identities and backgrounds. Following her undergraduate graduation, her biggest aspiration is to pursue law school in the fall.
Adara Joiner
Hello, my name is Adara Joiner, and I am currently a first-year student at Saint Louis University. Pursuing a bachelor's degree in political science on the pre-law track. My current academic interest is international politics and American politics. I want to use my political science knowledge to travel and learn in different places. I look forward to gaining more experiences outside of my hometown to help me learn directly about policy change and political work.
Mark Park
My name is Mark Park, and I am a business technology management student with experience across the consulting space through multiple internships. I am especially interested in how technology, strategy, and data can be leveraged to drive impactful decision-making. I have a strong passion for civic engagement, particularly within the economic space, and I am motivated by work that creates sustainable, community-level impact through thoughtful policy and innovation.
Raghu Penugonda
Hello! My name is Raghu Penugonda, and I am a sophomore majoring in exercise science on the pre-med track. On campus, I am involved in Overground Railroad to Literacy, Labre, MLK Scholars, and Policy Pods. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, throwing around a football, and listening to music. My interest in policy and institutional reform stems from my involvement in the healthcare policy pod, where I have advocated and learned about prior authorization reform at Jefferson City and organized events educating students on the opioid epidemic. Through Pathways to Progress, I look forward to developing as an advocate and collaborating with my cohort to promote meaningful change.
Kevin Stokes-Bonnett
Kevin Stokes-Bonnett is a third-year economics student at Saint Louis University committed to advancing equity, opportunity and economic justice. He also serves as a financial education insight intern for the Scholarship Foundation St. Louis, where he evaluates and compares financial literacy platforms, builds an assessment framework focused on usability, instructional quality, accessibility and measurable student outcomes and develops recommendations to support student success. Additionally, he has served as a policy fellow with The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis, advancing equitable higher education policy priorities across institutional, state and federal contexts. In that role, he researched financial and systemic barriers to college access, supported public policy campaigns and advocacy efforts, and collaborated with student teams to design initiatives focused on affordability and well-being. Across these experiences, he brings a practical, impact-driven approach to turning research and community insights into actionable solutions.
Jade Williams
I am a passionate student, writer and advocate committed to advancing social justice through education, storytelling and community engagement. I am especially interested in addressing inequality, representation and the lived experiences of marginalized communities, particularly Black women in professional and creative spaces. Through academic research, artistic expression and open dialogue, I work to challenge harmful systems and amplify underrepresented voices. I believe meaningful social change begins with understanding, empathy and accountability. This program will help me strengthen my voice, expand my perspective, and develop the tools needed to create lasting impact in my community and beyond.
Johnny Yeung
I’m a senior at Saint Louis University majoring in finance and international business, and I was born and raised in Hawaii. Growing up in a place shaped by global trade, tourism and cultural diversity sparked my interest in how markets and public policy impact everyday life. My academic work focuses on economic development, data analysis and understanding the role institutions play in shaping long-term outcomes. I’m especially interested in the ethical side of business and how policy decisions affect different communities. I hope to pursue a career in consulting or finance with a strong international and policy-oriented focus.
Bobbylynne Zinnah
I am a sophomore majoring in criminology and criminal justice and minoring in African American studies. I am interested in law, public service, and civic engagement. I am excited to participate in the Pathways to Progress Program and the Washington, D.C., immersion experience. I want to learn more about how policy, advocacy and government institutions impact marginalized communities. Through this program, I hope to learn how to advocate for people like me who are directly impacted by these systems and to bring what I’ve learned back to my communities in St. Louis and Kansas City and apply it to my future in legal work.