Manhattan University senior named NYC Urban Fellow

A college student at Manhattan University has earned at spot in the highly prestigious New York City Urban Fellows Program – one of 25 young leaders selected nationwide.

MU senior Jazi Riley, the first in her family to attend college, is kicking off her nine-month fellowship this fall. She will be among a cohort of recent graduates eager to gain experience in the public policy sector, bringing her one step closer to her goal of a career in law. Fellows are placed in various city agencies, working directly with public sector leaders and engaging in hands-on policy work.

“I want to make a difference in the legal world,” she said. “And maybe this is where I start.”

The MU student body president double majors in political science and philosophy and has channeled her academic work toward a career in child advocacy. 

As part of her fellowship application, Riley submitted a policy proposal statement calling attention to a critical gap in New York State’s approach to sex trafficking laws – one that she says leaves many minors unprotected. She’s particularly passionate about strengthening prevention efforts involving minors.

At the heart of the submission was a call to amend New York's legal definition of child sex trafficking, which currently requires evidence of a commercial third-party trafficker to classify an incident as trafficking – and those under the age of 21 cannot be charged.

In Riley’s view, this legal framework overlooks cases where minors are exploited by peers, acquaintances or family members. 

The Florida native’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children comes from her time interning at the Florida State Attorney’s Office in the 10th Judicial Circuit where she worked on cases involving special victims.

 “Coming to New York, it was just a big political change,” Riley said. “In Florida, our whole legal system operates on the fact that anyone under 18 is a victim, no matter what it is—you’re a victim.”

Riley calls for statutory reforms that would presume all minors engaged in sex work are victims – and advocates for the expansion of safe housing programs modeled on those in Florida and Tennessee. These programs provide shelter and trauma-informed care for young survivors, something she believes is crucial to their recovery.

As she inches towards her post-graduate journey, Riley looks forward to “pulling the curtain back” on the inner workings of city government.

 “I’m excited to know and see what actually is keeping everything moving,” she said. “I know it’s the people that are running the city day and night.”

Looking ahead, Riley sees herself in a role where she can continue to fight for children’s rights, whether in a courtroom or on a global stage. 

When asked where she sees herself in 10 years, she shared her ambition to become a child advocacy lawyer, potentially working with international organizations like the United Nations or independent bodies dedicated to human rights.