WOW Fellowship Blog

When I began my internship at the start of June, I was excited, but I thought the two months and change of work I would be doing wouldn’t go by quickly. Yet here I am. Summer is ending, and with it, I am concluding my time with the Integrity Institute in the capacity of a research and communications intern. 

When I think of what makes the Integrity Institute special, I have trouble assigning the title to one entity. As I end my time as a member of the staff, it is clear that everyone, both members and staff, are highly talented. Each staff member made a gesture of some kind that improved my internship experience, and for that, I am incredibly grateful. While the Institute’s staff is still in the single digits and growing, they can achieve whatever is set in front of them.

I just gave myself a perfect segway into what makes the institute so remarkable: its members. I may have given the institute’s members a brief introduction in my previous post, but I would love to give them more recognition in my final post. The institute’s members are talented tech professionals with a background in trust and Safety and/or integrity work and who use their valuable time to volunteer for the institute. Members will lead discussion groups, contribute original research, and develop content such as the podcast, which I had the pleasure of spending the majority of my time on. 

The Trust and Tech Podcast, led by Alice Hunsberger and Talha Baig, is a unique piece of media. When I started this internship, I repeatedly questioned how I, as a Philosophy major, could contribute to helping a think tank. This podcast was the answer. This podcast not only taught me about the world of tech policy but also helped me think about the problems that technical advancements such as open-sourced AI may cause for the world. In this way, I could expand my field of view on ethics and general issues of morality.

I have enjoyed my time on the podcast to the degree that I asked to remain on the team through the fall semester. Luckily, Talha said yes, and I have been “promoted” to Senior Producer of the podcast. As an editor and producer of the podcast, I have enjoyed the responsibility of being the final set of eyes on the episodes before they are published. I look forward to the different kinds of learning I will be able to experience this fall in this position. 

This internship has been a vital step in preparing me for the future. My position with the Integrity Institute developed countless interests, some of which I had no prior knowledge of. I now look forward to returning to classes with the opportunity to turn those interests into skills by taking Computer Science, Math, and Politics classes. While this internship currently doesn’t serve as the moment when I found the career I want to immerse myself in for the rest of my life, I feel very pleased with what I accomplished and thankful for the opportunity.

— Jacob Morse

As my summer internship at the Right to Immigration Institute is coming to an end. I decided to interview my boss, Professor Doug Smith. This interview provided invaluable insights into the nature of his role, the challenges he faces, and the future prospects in the field. In this report, I will share the key takeaways from the interview and reflect on its impact on my understanding of social justice and advocacy.

Doug Smith’s responsibilities as the manager of a non-profit immigration law firm are diverse and demanding. His daily tasks range from overseeing office management and community outreach to engaging in fundraising efforts and supervising a caseload of immigration and human rights cases. Furthermore, he plays a critical role in coordinating the efforts of diverse groups, such as retired lawyers, students, refugees, and community leaders, to contribute their expertise and support the firm’s mission.

The position requires a unique skill set that encompasses legal knowledge and political acumen, as well as a range of practical skills like interviewing, negotiation, trial practice, counseling, and non-profit advocacy. Doug’s ability to navigate through these complex responsibilities underscores the importance of versatility and adaptability in the realm of social justice and law.

One aspect that struck me during the interview was Doug’s genuine satisfaction when the office is bustling with activity and the team is working harmoniously together. The tangible impact of their unique advocacy approach on clients and the community served as a source of motivation and fulfillment for him. It became evident that the work they do not only matters to him personally but also positively impacts the lives of those they serve.

However, Doug also candidly expressed the challenges and frustrations that come with the territory. Securing funding and recognition from certain organizations is an ongoing struggle for the firm. Additionally, dealing with students who join the organization sourly to boost their resume and don’t put in the work poses an obstacle to the advancement of the firm’s goals.

Regarding compensation, Doug revealed that he currently receives no salary for his role. While he mentioned that clinical professors and legal services shop managers typically earn around $100,000 yearly, it was evident that the nature of his work transcends monetary incentives. This selflessness and dedication to the cause of justice exemplify the higher purpose that drives individuals in the non-profit sector.

The career development path in this field appears to be unique for each individual. Many initially start by assisting the firm and then proceed to law school, other job opportunities, or further education. Accredited representatives, like Doug, who play a key role in the firm’s work, remain a rare but essential aspect of the field.

Doug’s optimistic outlook on the future of the field, particularly for accredited representatives, was inspiring. He believes that their role in promoting access to justice will significantly contribute to the field’s growth and development. This positivity reinforces the importance of maintaining hope and commitment when navigating challenges in the pursuit of social justice.

Doug’s career path was remarkable and served as a testament to the transformative power of experiences. From labor and community organizing to law school and teaching positions at various law schools, his journey reflected a profound dedication to breaking down barriers and making justice accessible to all.

Interestingly, Doug emphasized that while law school provided necessary prerequisites and legitimacy through a bar card, the most valuable skills and knowledge were acquired through experiential learning and real-life practice. This insight challenges the traditional notion of education and underscores the importance of practical training and learning from real-world encounters.

In conclusion, the interview with Doug Smith was an enlightening and transformative experience for me as a college intern. His unwavering dedication to justice and advocacy left a lasting impression on me. I am now more motivated than ever to pursue a career that positively impacts society and fosters meaningful change. The challenges he faces also underscored the importance of perseverance and adaptability in a constantly evolving field. This reflective report has given me deeper insights into the complex world of non-profit immigration law and reinforced my belief in the power of advocacy to effect real change in the lives of individuals and communities.

— Phoenix

With just two weeks left of my WOW fellowship, the time is coming for me to say goodbye both to Avodah and to summer. Working at Avodah and becoming a part of their genuine and welcoming community has truly been a privilege. I chose Avodah partly because of the network I felt I would build by working at such a tightly knit nonprofit, as even though my boss is located in New York, there are headquarters in Chicago.

Unfortunately, my plan to work in person was foiled due to a serious injury that left me on bed rest for the first part of the summer. After my injury, I was deeply afraid that I would not be able to work in the same capacity, and even if I did manage to work, I was worried that I would not enjoy a fully remote position. Thankfully, I am proud to say that I proved my worries wrong. While my condition was certainly not ideal, I worked hard to adapt, integrating my physical therapy into my lunch breaks and scheduling my check-ups with my surgeon early in the mornings before work — a tough feat for a night owl! Instead of a summer sulking while on bedrest, my internship provided me with a remote outlet. More than that, it showed me how supportive and understanding people are at Avodah, something that I truly hope will remain throughout my work experience.

Interning at Avodah helped solidify my desire to work in the social justice nonprofit field. While last year I also interned at an incredible nonprofit, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Avodah’s focus on social justice and educational programming was especially meaningful to me as it combined my interest in academia and nonprofit work, the two fields I am currently torn between in my quest for a fulfilling career. Being able to see the difference my work makes is incredibly rewarding, and I know that feeling will only increase in more hands-on positions.

By scrolling through my Asana (a collaborative to-do list resource that I highly recommend), I can see just how much I accomplished this summer, from database building to searching for prospective candidates. Additionally, I have seen how my internship has impacted Avodah, from the “high-fives” I have gotten from coworkers thanking me for assisting them on projects and bringing new insight, to the applications received from candidates that I sourced and contacted for the Jewish Service Corps. 

Although my time as Avodah’s Brandeis intern is coming to an end, I am excited for the future student who will fill my role next summer! If I could give them any advice, it would be to exceed what is asked of them and bring whatever unique skills and knowledge they possess to the table. For instance, I was able to go beyond my job description and assist Avodah in creating social media graphics since it is an area I have interest and experience in.

I encourage future interns to fully partake in their company and to feel empowered to speak up, as even though it can be intimidating, you were hired for a reason! By embracing a confident mindset throughout the internship, you will be able to not only succeed in what is asked of you but go beyond and leave a positive impact!

— Dahlia Matanky

I grew up with an artist for a mom and not only did I enjoy watching her paint or her lessons in drawing perspective, but I always loved making art in all its forms. I would make collages, write poetry and always doodle. Even to this day I doodle in the margins of my sketchbook or when I take notes in class. As the only creative intern at Brown Joy, I have only realized how much more interested I am in all the dynamics of being on a creative team, sharing my ideas and working in digital design. Having worked alongside my supervisor, Ms. Brown, I have gained confidence in communicating my ideas effectively and creating boundaries for self-care to ensure that I am not  overwhelmed.

Since I began my journey with the Brown Joy Team, I would have never imagined the knowledge and creativity I would be gaining from my time. While one of my many goals, to learn more program and software skills concerning digital art was not achieved due to its irrelevance in my current role, I had so much fun learning about digital design and marketing. From creating pitches for business partners and networking with Back to school programs to celebrating Brown Joy and its customers with social media posts, I have been so amazed at the success of the sales and the rate of engagement on social media and beyond.

Some other goals I had included building a stronger connection with members of the Brown Joy Team including the CEO, Miss Charminta Brown, who has not only encouraged me in my academic endeavors but has offered support beyond me being an intern such as looking at my resume and offering guidance in my career interests. I am very confident that I will continue to maintain contact with Ms. Brown outside of the internship and reach out with updates and questions especially as she is a successful Black woman running her own company and not to mention mom.

I have worked on many projects throughout the summer and I am most proud of creating a workbook for kids about design thinking. Design Thinking is a solution based thinking to solving problems we have in our world today. There are several companies like Netflix, Apple and Disney that incorporate this into their model and creatively for their products and Brown Joy wants to share this with kids. Towards the end of my internship I began working with Ms. Brown to create a workbook for kids aged between 7 to 13 to come up with their own ideas and essentially stimulate their creativity, imagination and innovation. I really love how the workbook turned out. I must admit during some days I did have some creative block so being able to work on the design and complete everything on time was really exciting.

I have also started to work on a pitch to Abbott Elementary, yes, the amazingly witty ABC hit series about teachers in Philly. I can’t give out too many details but this is something that is in the process of being created as it is important to acknowledge the series as many other network shows are on hold due to the writer’s strikes. I also want to say as a potential future screenwriter I stand with the writers strike and it is important that everyone working in the film and entertainment industry is treated and paid fairly!

And finally I would highly recommend this internship to any level college student interested in marketing and digital design. I did plan on having a more active role in drawing characters and while I was not able to work directly with making the stickers designs, I had an equally important (and fun) role in creating posters, social media posts and working on marketing materials that are not only used currently but also for the future. My advice for anyone who wants to work for Brown Joy as a creative intern or in a different capacity is to be yourself! I say this because Ms. Brown is an awesome human being, she is really understanding and empathetic so you should not feel the need to impress her or over-exert yourself. Just be you authentically and use your unique perspective on life to inform how you create. Working at a company that makes products to create diversity means that kids of color are the priority so I would encourage students of color in particular to apply or send their resume along because your voice matters. We all know what it was like for us as kids and not always seeing ourselves represented in stickers, on TV or in literature.  Working for Brown Joy is just one of many chances to work to create a more positive and diverse future for kids everywhere!

— Minar

As a legal studies minor with aspirations to be a lawyer, I had hoped that my internship this summer would give me the chance to apply knowledge from my legal studies classes outside of an academic setting, gain experience in a new field of law, and improve my communication skills with clients. I am now proud to be able to say I met these goals. Attorney Gbehan, the lawyer who I have been working with this summer, has thrown me straight into real-life, challenging, highly applicable legal situations that would typically require much more experience. I had the chance to use words that I vaguely remembered from my classes while drafting documents for or meeting with clients. I was able to see firsthand not only what they meant, but also what their purpose was in the world of law. The attorney also threw me into situations where I had to give clients case updates or ask them questions for forms with very little information about their circumstances. I had to be very adaptable and quick-thinking in order to obtain all of the necessary information and make clients feel confident in the firm. As I developed these abilities, my communication skills with clients improved greatly. 

Because this internship immersed me so quickly and completely in real legal work, it allowed me to very well understand what a career in law might be like. Because my firm consisted of only the attorney and I, I was able to gain insight into all elements of case processes instead of just one specific element within a bigger firm. I enjoyed thinking flexibly and employing problem skills to deal with case nuances, piecing together the necessary information to move forward with a case, and getting to know several different types of clients. However, working in such a small firm spread an extremely large amount of responsibility onto very few people and meant that I was working with fewer people than I would have liked. For my long-term career, I perhaps see myself working at a larger firm.

I am extremely proud of myself for being able to keep up with my demanding workload. Attorney Gbehan told me that legal internships are often very “sink or swim,” and I feel that I successfully demonstrated that I have the ability to “swim” in challenging environments. I have been pushed beyond my comfort zone, forced to ask questions, think critically, adapt quickly, work under pressure, and write with a completely new voice and style. I have now made it to a point where I am not only able to manage these demands, but have even grown used to them and been able to anticipate what my next tasks will be. I have always thought of myself as a follower who takes direction well, but had never fully realized my leadership and advocacy potential until this summer. I learned that I am able to take initiative, stand up for myself and my opinions, and figure out tasks on my own. I have even learned that I am capable of leading others, as I largely supported and trained another intern at the law office when she started four weeks after me. I remember this intern asking me for advice about the internship. I told her that it could be difficult, demanding, and even overwhelming at times, but if she persevered and just did her best, she would be surprised just how much she was capable of. Now, I would still give prospective interns the same advice. If you give yourself the chance to succeed, you just might surprise yourself.

Sydney Duncan

Last Friday, I concluded my internship with the American Economic Liberties Project. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to do meaningful work and immerse myself in the world of antitrust policy. 

In my first post, I defined my goals for this internship to be to learn as much as possible about corporate power and monopolies, as well as to understand the ins and outs of activism work and how nonprofits like AELP function. I’d say that, by and large, I’ve attained these goals – and something that is rather emblematic of this fact is that I catch myself applying what I’ve learned to examine examples of monopoly and corporate power in my own life. For instance, grocery shopping is no longer simply an endeavor to secure what I need to eat for the week — it’s also a case study into the illusion of choice caused by decades of grocery consolidation, and an examination of how these large retailers contribute to food deserts and play a role in shuttering mom-and-pop businesses. Ever wonder why you rarely see small, family-owned grocery stores nowadays?

This internship has also helped me solidify my interest in pursuing further opportunities at justice-oriented organizations or in various forms of advocacy. I’ve realized that I enjoy work that is centered heavily around research, writing, and communication — it was an immense privilege to be able to learn while working this summer (though this can be said about most internships in general) and to share my knowledge with the general public through producing written content.

In terms of my workplace identity, I’ve also learned that self-sufficiency and accountability are a few of my strengths. I was concerned at the start of my internship that, because it was fully remote, it would be difficult for me to motivate myself without others holding me accountable. However, because the work I was doing was interesting and fulfilling, I found that this wasn’t really an issue. Just as my self-motivation and sufficiency was beneficial to my experience, however, I found that it also led me to hyperfocus on a task at hand, at the expense of taking the time to speak with and get to know more people at the organization. As such, networking is something I’ll strive to prioritize in the future.

For folks who may be interested in an internship with Economic Liberties, here are two pieces of advice I can offer based on my experience this summer: First, don’t be afraid to speak up, ask for help, and have the courage to learn. Everyone at AELP, besides being incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about their work, is always willing to help and have a conversation about just about anything. More generally, in terms of working in this field or perhaps a nonprofit in general, understanding your own capacity is key. There’s always a million things going on in the world of antitrust enforcement, and while it’s important to keep up to date with relevant activity, cases, and investigations, it is completely okay (and necessary!) to temporarily block out what isn’t relevant to you so you can focus on a specific task at hand. This can certainly be hard to do, but I believe it’s important to honor your own capacity and know when you can get involved in or pay attention to something new, or when you have to dial in and focus exclusively on one project.

Overall, I had a great time with AELP this summer. I’m proud of myself for the vigor with which I approached this internship and how much I threw myself into the work. As with all new positions, it can be easy to be overwhelmed by a sense of unfamiliarity or inadequacy. However, coupled with a supportive and flexible working environment, I think my commitment to learning as much as possible made my time at AELP an incredibly rewarding experience.

— Hedy Yang