Ben LaZebnik CC’18, an urban studies major from Los Angeles, has been selected to participate in the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. LaZebnik will return to his hometown of L.A. to complete his fellowship.

Selected through a competitive process, participants in the Coro Fellowship are given the opportunity to pursue various job placements in public affairs in one of five cities: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, PA.

“We are excited that Ben has been chosen to be a part of the cohort of Coro Fellows. This accomplishment speaks to the commitment that Ben, as well as other Columbia students and alumni, have to public engagement and service,” said Scott Carpenter, associate dean of global education and fellowships.

“I cannot wait to gain a new perspective on my hometown, and I am looking forward to meeting a wide variety of people who also care deeply about Los Angeles,” said LaZebnik. “This opportunity would not be possible without two decades of support from amazing people back in California and here at Columbia.”

While a student at Columbia College, LaZebnik was a volunteer debate teacher for Columbia University Youth for Debate, a columnist for the Columbia Daily Spectator and a lead activist in the Columbia University College Democrats.

LaZebnik also completed internships with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti CC’92, SIPA’93, on both his campaign team and in his office once elected as mayor.

LaZebnik added that he hopes “these experiences will help [him] better understand the political, cultural, social and economic landscape of Los Angeles.” He attributes his preparedness for various aspects of the fellowship to taking Core Curriculum courses that were “out of [his] comfort zone.”

Once the fellowship concludes, LaZebnik hopes to work with organizations and community members who are addressing poverty, homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing in California