#Fisher2025: From Internship to Impact — Fisher Grad Heads Back to the Capitol

Bella Peracchi, a recent graduate of St. John Fisher University, began her internship with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) through the SUNY Brockport Washington Internship Program during the fall 2024 semester. Now with a bachelor’s degree in political science, she returned to Washington D.C. this month to work as a policy and program associate for World Without Exploitation—an organization fighting to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation.

After her first few weeks in D.C., Peracchi knew she was where she was meant to be. “I think this is really the heart of politics and policy,” she said in Sept. 2024. During her time in the nation’s capital, she was able to attend a women’s march, see presidential candidate Kamala Harris speak during her election campaign, attend the Christmas tree lighting at the White House, and partake in lobbying and rallying on the Hill.

Upon returning to Fisher after her internship with NCOSE concluded, she continued to work with the organization as a contractor through the spring semester, maintaining her focus on public policy.

Recently, Peracchi traveled to Rhode Island on behalf of an advocacy group called New Englanders Against Sexual Exploitation, delivering testimony in front of the State Senate that advocated against the passage of Senate Bill 810, which would decriminalize prostitution.

“During my speech, I talked about a solution to this bill, and that is partial decriminalization. Let’s criminalize the buyers and decriminalize the victims. Most women in the sex trade are not there because they want to be,” Peracchi said.

She has submitted written testimonies in New Hampshire and Rhode Island supporting a bill that would increase the fines of buyers, further directing the paid amounts toward funds for survivors. “It’s called the Survivor Model. Maine has already implemented it, but we’re trying to implement it in every state,” she said.

Peracchi is currently part of the World Without Exploitation’s youth coalition, the largest anti-trafficking coalition in the country and a partner of NCOSE. As she takes on her policy and program associate role, she will continue to travel to different states and testify in support or opposition of proposed legislation, advocate for federal legislation on the Hill, support the youth coalition, and work closely with exploitation survivors.

Peracchi said that the exposure to speaking on the spot in front of prominent political figures allowed her to become confident in her work and knowledge.

“This is what I’m passionate about, this is exactly what I want to do and put my mind to. That’s the best takeaway I could have gotten,” she said.

This article was written by Brooke Eastman, a senior media and communication major. Eastman currently works in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the spring 2025 semester.