More often than not, they are sucking at the teat of higher education through Cornell U or Ithaca College
Yes. They work for Jonah House. Wherever they are sent, JH pays their room/board/medical and pays them about $300/month each. They are indeed professional protestors, usually recruited right out of college and then brainwashed to the point of no return.
Think "Kool-Aid."
Think "Jim Jones."
Think "Useful Idiots."