27 May Introduction – David Escobar

Hi everyone! My name is David, and I am delighted to be a part of the Latino Heritage Internship Program. I am currently pursuing a B.A. in journalism with a minor in digital technology and emerging media at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. This summer, I will be working as a Historical Research Intern at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California.

Despite going to school in the Bronx, I am no stranger to the San Francisco Bay Area — I grew up in San Francisco, so I am excited to be back close to home for my internship. As a journalism major, the opportunity to dissect John Muir’s legacy interested me very much. I am constantly tasked with synthesizing documents, interviews, and press releases to create a story worth reading in my studies. I have a passion for storytelling, and I often use my multiracial background to bring nuance to every story. This internship will task me with weighing Muir’s contributions to the development of the National Park Service against his problematic rhetoric.

Only a year after the Sierra Club’s decision to cut ties with John Muir, I thought this internship would be a fantastic opportunity to do some investigative work. I will comb through John Muir’s archived documents to see what we can learn from his thoughts during his travels across North America. I am excited to do hands-on archival research, and I hope to gain experience in professional research. Through my research, I wish to gain experience in archival journalism, and I hope to continue my work with the National Parks Service once I graduate college in two years.