Internships and Employment

Main Street One

Senior Digital Relational Organizer

September 2020 to Present

Here in the United States, our military is accustomed to waging and winning conventional wars with tanks, troops, and planes. The problem that exists today, however, is that our battlefields are quickly becoming digitalized. False and misleading information has posed a serious threat to our democracy in recent years, and Main Street One has stepped up to counter the proliferation of harmful narratives. As a Senior Digital Relational Organizer, my role is to recruit trusted, local messengers to advance positive narratives and push back against negative ones on behalf of organizations, campaigns, and corporations. For months, I have helped lead a campaign that fights for women’s reproductive health and the continued use of preventive cancer screenings. I work directly with clients and creators to build stories that capture social media attention and shed awareness on subjects that are often misconstrued or misunderstood.

Here’s an example of the content that I source!

 

The Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group

Remote Internship

September 2020 – March 2021

As an intern at The Pennsylvania Public Interest Research Group (PennPIRG) I was able to work as an advocate for the public interest. PennPIRG is committed to standing up to powerful special interest groups that pose a threat to individual well-being and the common good. The issues that we addressed were neither liberal or conservative in nature – rather they are issues that affect us all no matter our political affiliation. The projects I worked on were mainly environmental, but I also touched on subjects related to consumer protections and public health. During my time here, 

  • I testified at the Philadelphia City Council town hall meetings, where I supported initiatives like the Regional GreenHouse Gas Initiative (REGGI) 
  • I was published by the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Hudson Reporter, and the Jersey Journal for a pieces I wrote that encouraged the passage of specific state legislation
  • I co-authored press releases that informed the public about unlawful price gouging practices during the pandemic and toys that posed a threat to children’s safety. 
  • I contacted state and local legislatures to push for common-sense Right to Repair legislation, so that consumers have more options when it comes to fixing old or damaged devices.

Throughout my time as an intern, I collaborated with other public interest networks, like Penn Environment and New Jersey PIRG, to coordinate strategies, share expertise, and find commonalities within work. Developing my skills in teamwork and problem-solving has aided me in all areas of life – both in and outside of the classroom. I also gained “technical” expertise, such as how to properly write to and communicate with legislators, how to build connections with media and news outlets, and write reports that are both informative and persuasive. Perhaps the most valuable skill of all was learning how to communicate effectively with others. As an intern, I learned how to turn complex problems and translate them in such a way that an unfamiliar audience would not only understand, but be interested in hearing more. 

Here’s an example of one of my published LTEs: