Name: Luka Bati
Class Year: 2025
Major: Growth and Structure of Cities
Hometown: Silver Spring
Internship Organization: id22: Institute for Creative Sustainability
Internship Title: Researcher/Intern
Location: Berlin, Germany
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
My internship with id22 (Institute for Creative Sustainability) focused on the housing of social-ecological cooperatives in Berlin. id22 is a multi-disciplinary non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the theory and practice of cooperative housing. The organization emphasizes education about self-management, social-ecological housing, and promoting the common good. My internship with id22 included participation in two seminars, contributions to the monthly newsletter, updating website content, and conducting tours for various groups. This role was closely linked to my thesis research, providing a comprehensive understanding of Berlin's social housing landscape. The most important aspect of my seminar was my participation in the seminars, which included Dr. LaFond’s TU Master’s in Urban Management students. These seminars deepened my understanding of Berlin's cohousing models and their historical and contemporary contexts. Case studies such as K12, K65, and Haus der Statistik provided valuable insights into urban management and cooperative housing's potential to address housing crises. These seminars emphasized the importance of diverse perspectives, intersectionality, and cultural dynamics in shaping inclusive housing policies.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied to this internship because it was an opportunity to connect with a diverse array of professionals, activists, and scholars, laying the groundwork for a robust and supportive network that I am eager to cultivate further for my senior thesis. Berlin’s rich history, coupled with its forward-thinking initiatives, presents an unparalleled setting for advancing my research and contributing to the development of sustainable and inclusive urban solutions. This experience has solidified my commitment to this field, and I am enthusiastic about returning to Berlin to immerse myself more deeply in its vibrant community of changemakers and thought leaders.
Was there anything special about how you found this internship?
I reached out to Dr. Michael LaFond directly hoping if there were any opportunities to shape a summer internship for me. I was simply interested in a possible internship/volunteering opportunity this summer, in Berlin. I admired the ethos and impactful work in the realms of community development, urban sustainability, and self-organizing housing initiatives.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
It is a very dynamic work environment with several aspects shaping the internship- from seminars to site visits.
What is something you have learned from your internship that you didn't expect?
I learned that different organizations of non-profit, research-oriented work. I didn't anticipate it to be deeply personal work that gave me an insight into the principles of transformative/imaginative housing models and enriched my personal growth and leadership skills.
Working remotely for the first time? What has that experience been like for you?
I worked hybrid for the first time, where most of my time was spent doing work outside of the office space.
Can you give us three adjectives and three nouns that describe your internship experience?
Adjectives:
1. Transformative
2. Inclusive
3. Intentional
Nouns:
1. Sustainability
2. Cohousing
3. Seminar
What is most rewarding about your internship?
The most rewarding aspect of this internship was the intimate working environment of the organization.
Was this internship what you expected it to be?
There were several surprising elements to this internship, mostly that came with the novelty of an international and interdisciplinary organization in the German/Berlin work culture.
Career & Civic Engagement Center Growth and Structure of Cities