From Modesto to the White House: One Modestan’s journey in public service
Shelby Benz was over the moon when she landed an internship at the White House — an opportunity she never thought was within reach. But returning as a full-time staffer? That was beyond her wildest dreams.
The 24-year-old Modesto native rose from a high school community organizer to serving as part of the first White House team dedicated to advancing environmental justice, delivering upon the president’s Executive Orders 14008 and 14096.
“It’s just been the most amazing, wonderful, beautiful journey to go from Modesto to working in the highest office in the land and working with the most amazing, dedicated public servants that are working to make the world and our nation a better place,” Benz said.
She credits her upbringing in Modesto for shaping her perspective on how low-income and marginalized communities disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change, pollution and environmental hazards.
Benz graduated from Modesto High School in 2019. As a student there, she started a club called Panthers for a Cure after her mother, Patricia, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during Shelby’s freshman year. From there, her love for community organizing grew.
“I think that kind of was an activating moment in just understanding that my life should be more than, or can be more than, just me. It can be about making a difference and making people happy and lifting up my community,” she said.
Benz went on to earn her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgetown University. On a whim, she applied for an internship with the White House Domestic Policy Council, doubting she’d be accepted.
But she was, and during her time there, she worked alongside Susan Rice, director of the Domestic Policy Council, focusing on the economic mobility portfolio, particularly housing issues.
“I thought that there was no chance I would be accepted. I mean I worked really hard and I had accomplished a lot, but those things are competitive and I just didn’t think that something like that would be in my reach,” she said.
When the internship ended, Benz recalls walking out of the building saddened by the thought that she’d never return. But soon after, she landed another internship — this time with the Council on Environmental Quality’s climate resilience team.
After completing two terms, Benz once again left, assuming her time at the White House really had come to an end. But when her boss recommended her for a new role, she was hired as a full-time staffer, serving as special assistant for environmental justice on the Council on Environmental Quality.
In this position, Benz worked closely with Jalonne White-Newsom, the federal chief environmental justice officer and a longtime advocate in the field, who was appointed to lead the first-ever White House Office of Environmental Justice.
Benz described her role as “a charcuterie job,” encompassing a variety of tasks including team operations, policy initiatives and, most importantly, direct engagement with communities. She emphasized the critical work of connecting communities to federal partners and helping them access resources, while also ensuring that community voices were reflected in federal policies and decision-making.
One of her most rewarding experiences was helping to lead the creation and execution of the first White House Summit on Environmental Justice and Action. The event brought together over 100 community advocates, leaders and individuals from diverse backgrounds to the White House, highlighting the progress made by the Biden-Harris administration and celebrating key accomplishments in advancing environmental justice.
“I just feel so grateful to have been a part of it and to have worked with those leaders to make something like this happen, and I think that it was just a beautiful moment that I’m going to carry with me in this next phase of our nation’s history,” she said.
Growing up in Modesto
Benz said her upbringing in Modesto has deeply shaped her work. While the city is making strides, she noted persistent disparities such as poor air quality, pollution, contamination and economic inequities.
Her experiences in Modesto opened her eyes to a society divided between the haves and have-nots, with environmental justice providing a lens to understand how these disparities affect people’s livelihoods, from employment opportunities to health and education.
She emphasized that the environment is more than just nature — it encompasses the places where people live, work, play and pray.
“Going to Modesto High and seeing just a very different physical environment that we live in when you cross those railroad tracks, it’s a very physical stark difference of realities and opportunity that people have,” she said.
One of the most valuable lessons Benz has learned is not to sell herself short. She admitted to struggling with imposter syndrome and never believing she’d have the chance to work at the White House.
Her work in Washington, D.C., ended Jan. 8 due to the upcoming change in administration. While she’s sad to close this chapter, she’s eager for the opportunities ahead.
Benz, who continues to live in D.C., credits the Modesto community, her teachers, mentors, friends and family for guiding and supporting her throughout her journey.
“This country is ours and this world is ours, so we need to take that as an opportunity to make it better for everyone,” she said.
