The Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth and Families develops a pipeline of knowledgeable and effective advocates dedicated to ensuring all children are healthy, safe, educated and joyful. Throughout her life, the late Karabelle Pizzigati empowered advocates with the critical policy tools needed to drive meaningful, lasting change. In her honor, the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative Fellowship—a collaboration between the School of Public Policy and the School of Public Health—motivates outstanding students to pursue careers in children’s advocacy.
As part of the program, students complete a paid internship, gaining insights from seasoned professionals while actively contributing to initiatives that improve children’s lives. In addition to the internship and coursework, students benefit from continuous mentoring and coaching, equipping them with the skills and knowledge for a successful career in children’s advocacy.
This year’s fellows include:
Esther Bonney
Environmental Science and Policy Major
Esther Bonney is a freshman at the University of Maryland, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy on a prelaw track. She is dedicated to advancing youth empowerment at the intersection of mental health and environmental action. At 19, Bonney is the founder and director of Nurture Natives, a nationally recognized youth-led nonprofit empowering young people through native biodiversity restoration. Under her leadership, the organization has educated more than 10,000 youth, planted 2.5 million native seeds and distributed over 70,000 native seedlings. Her work has earned national recognition, including the President’s Environmental Youth Award from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National 4-H Youth in Action Award and the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. She plans to pursue a career advancing systemic change through policy and youth-centered grassroots leadership.
Elizabeth diTargiani
Public Policy Major
Elizabeth diTargiani is a sophomore at the University of Maryland on an accelerated three-year path studying public policy and minoring in law and society. Her academic focus centers on child and family policy and the structural inequities impacting underserved communities. diTargiani is the founder and president of Legal Guardian Angels (LGA), a child advocacy organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable youth across Maryland and Washington, D.C. She manages a nine-member executive board and directs large-scale philanthropic and educational initiatives, including fundraising efforts that have provided financial support, technology access and essential resources to underserved children. Through LGA, she collaborates with attorneys, nonprofit leaders and child welfare professionals to advance advocacy-driven solutions. A natural continuation of the work of LGA is her current fellowship at Coalition to Protect Maryland's Children which advances policy and practice ideas to prevent and intervene in child maltreatment. Her professional experience includes internships in criminal defense and nonprofit legal services, where she developed foundational skills in case analysis, client intake coordination and legal reasoning. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, diTargiani intends to pursue a law degree with the goal of advancing systemic reforms that protect and empower vulnerable communities.
Julia Fay
Public Health Practice Major
Julia Fay is a junior at the University of Maryland studying public health practice with minors in global poverty and humanities, health and medicine. She completed her University Honors citation with the Health Matters cluster and is working to address youth health disparities in Prince George's County through her departmental honors project and involvement in SPH’s Terrapin Think Tank. She is passionate about the overlap of the health and policy fields, with a focus on disadvantaged communities and children’s education. This fall, Fay will begin coursework for an accelerated master’s degree in public health in health equity to further develop her advocacy skills and work on youth-related health policies.
Francesca Onianwah
Public Policy Major
Francesca Onianwah is a sophomore at the University of Maryland pursuing her bachelor's degree in public policy. Fueled by a passion for educational equity, her areas of interest include providing stronger educational support for students experiencing mental health challenges and students with disabilities. Onianwah believes that the role of the education system in a child’s life is to facilitate an environment where students from all backgrounds and experiences can feel supported in their academic journey. She believes that giving children access to stable and supportive learning environments gives them access to a better life, making it an undeniable right that all children deserve. After completing her undergraduate studies, Onianwah plans to attend law school where she will pursue education law, developing her skills to provide legal support in the education advocacy space.
Esther Ou
Public Policy Major
Esther Ou is a junior at the University of Maryland pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public policy and minoring in education policy, equity and justice. She believes that an excellent and equitable education system is how we invest in a flourishing future and a just democracy, and this is what drives all her endeavors. As a legislative researcher at the Maryland General Assembly, she originated and researched a bill idea that improves multilingual education standards in Maryland, which is now filed as HB807 in the 2026 Maryland General Assembly legislative session. Ou also advanced arts education access by creating MGA advocacy connections for Arts Education in Maryland Schools (AEMS) and creating a drama class outreach program serving AAPI students with Young Artists of America (YAA). She is also the director, writer and producer of “Behind the Blackboard,” an independent documentary that explores the teaching profession and factors behind the public school teacher shortage. After graduation, Ou plans to pursue a career advancing education policy through advocacy, research and public administration. Ou is supporting the advocacy efforts of the Maryland Center for Economic Policy which published the Annie E. Casey KidsCount data for the State of Maryland annually.
Scott Schultz
Public Policy Major
Scott Schultz is a senior at the University of Maryland pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public policy. His interests include homelessness policy and child welfare systems, with a particular focus on supporting children and families experiencing housing instability. After graduation, he plans to attend law school and pursue a career in public interest law advocating for vulnerable children and their families. Schultz is supporting advocacy efforts at Family Promise, which seeks to prevent and end homelessness for families with children through a community-based response.
Jasmine Sonpar
Public Policy and English Majors
Jasmine Sonpar is a junior at the University of Maryland, studying public policy and English with a focus on racial justice. She is dedicated to amplifying the voices of children in underrepresented communities and advocating for juvenile justice reform. Sonpar firmly believes that the juvenile legal system should focus on rehabilitation and the equal treatment of children under the law. Her long-term goal is to attend law school and pursue public interest law to serve indigent youth as well as advocate for children marginalized by the criminal legal system.