Pitzer Student Selected as Partners for Justice Fellow

Navigating the legal system is difficult, especially for those who can’t afford a lawyer. Jacklyn Ybarra Dahlberg ’26 seeks to support these communities as a client advocate fellow with Partners for Justice.

Partners for Justice strives to break the cycle of poverty and criminalization by supporting public defenders and their clients. Through early intervention and connection to social services, the organization has eliminated nearly 9,000 years of potential incarceration since 2018.

Fellows at Partners for Justice gain firsthand exposure to the criminal legal system and public service. Dahlberg will work as a client advocate at the Delaware County Public Defender’s Office in Pennsylvania.

Dahlberg cultivated her passion for addressing injustice and partnering with local communities at Pitzer College. From clubs to classes to community engagement programs, Pitzer offers students the chance to tackle various social issues alongside non-profits and organizations.

In her new role, Dahlberg looks forward to equipping those within the criminal justice system to rebuild their lives.

“I can’t think of a better way to continue working toward my values of social justice and responsibility that Pitzer has helped me deepen,” said Dahlberg.

Pitzer’s core value of social responsibility pushes students to go beyond the classroom and make real change. Opportunities range from doing community-based research with professors to grassroots organizing with local partners through Pitzer’s Community Engagement Center.

As a student, Dahlberg worked as a legal intern for Professor Sumangala Bhattacharya’s ImmPowered Law Office and a fellow for Pitzer’s Office of Study Abroad and International Programs.

Dahlberg also majored in political studies and Spanish at Pitzer. Her liberal arts curriculum offered tools from multiple disciplines to think critically about systems of power, cultural understanding, and diverse communities. Mentorship and encouragement from her faculty in a small classroom setting also supported Dahlberg’s development as a scholar.

“I’m so grateful for the space that Pitzer has given me to learn and grow over the past four years,” said Dahlberg. “I owe this achievement to my parents, my professors, and the community that has supported me.”

Dahlberg looks forward to assisting public defender clients and connecting them with resources for their long-term success. It’s one more step on her path to build a better world.