Lalah C. Williams Discusses Her Internship at Nonprofit Prince George's County

Lalah C. Williams, a junior and Policy Studies major at Chatham University in Pennsylvania, recently completed an online summer internship through the Washington Internship Institute. We reached out to her at the end of the summer term to get her thoughts. Here’s what she said:

Where did you intern, and what does your internship site do?

This summer I was a Nonprofit Navigator at Nonprofit Prince George’s County (NPGC) in Bowie, Maryland. I worked directly under the leadership of the Executive Director Tiffany Turner-Allen where I helped in the revamping, creation, and execution of programs.

Nonprofit Prince George’s County works to strengthen and empower nonprofits by building capacity of organizations, providing networking and collaboration opportunities, and advocating for resources. This summer I worked directly with the Executive Director, Mrs. Tiffany Turner-Allen, on the revamping of programs and the creation of new ones.

Nonprofit Prince George’s County exists to serve and support nonprofits of the county and to meet the current, changing, and ever-increasing needs of the community. This is accomplished by strategic efforts to strengthen and empower nonprofits by building capacity of organizations, providing networking and collaboration opportunities, and advocating for resources.

What sort of work have you done at your internship? Are there any projects you are proud to have worked on?

I worked on four projects this summer and my favorite and directly impactful was Stand Up and Deliver (SUAD). Stand Up and Deliver is a food delivery program that was implemented by County Executive Angela Alsobrooks to address food insecurity in the county during this time. Local nonprofits became purchasing agents, local restaurants and businesses as vendors, and the parking lots of schools, churches, and community centers all over the county as distributions sites.

My role in SUAD was the office’s point of contact for this project in which I received and reviewed the purchase orders from the county, placed the order with vendors, and spoke with the point of contact at the distribution sites.

I wrote the office’s Standard Operating Procedures and taught my fellow Nonprofit Navigator how the process went. In completing this weekly task, I talked with community members who were vendors and those at the distribution site. I enjoyed hearing the positive feedback and being an integral part of a project that was working to meet a need that directly affected members of my community. I heard firsthand from the members at the distribution site how popular this program was and sent their suggestions further up the chain of command. By the end of my time at my internship, the office had provided almost 5,000 hot meals throughout the county.

What was your favorite thing about interning this summer?

This has been an interesting summer for everyone. I am so thankful that I was able to be a part of something that was productive and positive, and that was my favorite part. It was one thing to learn about how state and local politics operate and how they advocate for and support the constituents, nonprofits, organizations, and businesses they represent, but being part of the process was much different. I knew there were many moving parts, but I really enjoyed being a part of it. Interning at NPGC was exactly what I was looking for. It was in the county I call home and I enjoyed that it was rooted in the personal side of politics. I enjoyed listening to Mrs. Turner-Allen talk about the initiatives she is continuing to create and the capacities they will fill. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to be a Nonprofit Navigator and help create, contribute to, and participate in the programs that were specifically created for Prince George’s County.

What have you learned from this experience?

On campus I work part-time at the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics (PCWP) which is also a nonprofit. My work at the PCWP is in events, programing, and outreach. At NPGC I was on the administrative side of day-to-day operations.

Through SUAD, which is a product of an Executive Order due to lack of funding for food insecurity, I gained first-hand experience on how federal and state policies affect local policies. I also worked on writing the first draft for the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) and Developmental Disabilities Administration grant. With this project I learned that nonprofits are sometimes grouped with small businesses even though they are not, which leaves nonprofits overlooked for funding. In this research and writing, I was able to meet my learning objectives of enhancing my research skills and the introduction to writing for public policy. The experience I gained was like no other I had before. I am thankful to have been a part of the Nonprofit Prince George’s County team and I am looking forward to seeing what they do next.

Do you have any advice for future students in our program?

Get ready to work. When I arrived at Nonprofit Prince George’s County, they already had a list of projects and assignments for me to work on. There was never a dull moment.

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If you’d like to learn more about our program and how you can intern in DC, click below!

Alumni Spotlight: Alicia Smith

Alicia Smith participated in the Washington Internship Institute’s academic internship program in Fall 2016. She came to DC from Bond University, our partner school in Australia, and interned at the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. Here’s what she had to say when reflecting on her experience in DC:

What is your favorite DC memory?
There are too many highlights to name, but I'll never forget that I was in the heart of America during the 2016 election. All of us interns set up with snacks in front of the TV to watch the coverage roll in through the night; despite coming from different backgrounds, political views and even different countries, we were all brought together that night. It was especially interesting for me to be in the capital to experience such a significant moment in U.S. history, because I was taking a class at WII on U.S. politics at the time. That interest has stayed with me over the years and I find myself intensely watching the U.S. election unfold from the other side of the world now, almost 4 years later!

What is your best piece of advice for future interns?
If I could give one bit of advice to future interns is that no matter where you intern, you can use the valuable things you learnt as a springboard to an alternate career path. For so long I thought I was going to work in the law, specifically in youth justice, but I'm now working in a totally different area of government policy-making. Even though I no longer work in the field in which I interned in DC, I took with me so many valuable and transferrable skills that I still use in my daily work today, such as written research, interpersonal communication, and time management. You don't have to work in the same field of your internship once you begin your post-graduate career - it's important to remember a WII internship will always be an asset to your resume once you graduate college, no matter where you choose to work.

How did your internship affect your career?

I was an intern at WII in the fall of 2016, coming all the way from Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia. I studied law, international relations and communications, so my internship in DC was the perfect fit - the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC). I completed legal research to support the organization's significant piece of work: the Child Sexual Abuse: Model Legislation and Global Review. My time at ICMEC really set me up for the career I'm in now, where I manage relationships between stakeholders, conduct research and provide briefing, and deliver on strategic priorities. After graduating from law school in 2017, I went on to work within the Northern Territory Government on legal, intergovernmental and regional policy issues. I now work as an Advisor within the Federal-State branch at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in Australia's capital city Canberra. The best part of my job is coordinating meetings of all the leaders of Australian states and territories, and collaborating with different jurisdictions to achieve outcomes for Australians in various policy areas, particularly health, education, and Indigenous affairs. Studying U.S. politics at WII really encouraged my interest in learning more about government policy-making, as I was able to gain insights into another political system other than Australia's. WII definitely helped me on my career path to where I am now, working for the Prime Minister of Australia. I'll always look back at the memories I made in DC fondly and I hope it won't be too long until I can visit the beautiful city again. The friendships formed and memories made will last me a lifetime. The COVID-19 pandemic particularly has reminded me of the strength of my DC friendships, as my former roommates turned forever friends have used it as an opportunity for us to connect through regular video chat sessions.

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Learn more about how we help students find internships in Washington, DC at the link below. If you are an alum of the program, head to our alumni page to find out how you can become more involved in our organization!

Alumni Spotlight: Julianne Touhy

We recently reached out to some of our alumni to see how they have been doing, and hear their stories and reflection on their experience interning in DC through the Washington Internship Institute. Julianne Touhy participated in our program in the Summer 2014 term, when she interned at The Sierra Club, a DC-based environmental organization. Here’s what she had to say:

What is your favorite DC memory?
Memorial Day Concert on Capitol Hill

What is your best piece of advice for future interns?
Take advantage of your time in DC. Meet as many people and go to as many events as possible. Also, be open to change. Life has a funny way of pointing you in the right direction at obscure times.

How did your internship affect your career?
My internship at the Sierra Club - Student Coalition changed my entire career path. At Quincy University, I was the resident event planner in charge of a multitude of campus wide and sorority events. I was excited when I went to DC because I would finally be able to focus on what I thought was my career path at the time: lobbying. When I arrived at the Sierra Club, I was amped to learn all about environmental lobbying. As I developed in my role, I naturally went to logistics and helped coordinate four of the Sierra Student Coalition Summer Programs and the Sierra Student Coalitions involvement in the New York Climate March. I knew when I left DC that logistics and planning was where I belonged. Flash forward to my career today, I put on the two largest, association-wide meetings of the American Bar Association. Lawyers, judges, and political leaders from around the United States meet to discuss how to evolve the rule of law and make the US a better place. In the end, my love for politics/law and my talent for planning combined to make my dream job.

Learn more about how we help students find internships in DC at the button below. If you are an alum of the program, head to our alumni page to find out how you can get involved or share your story!

Alumni Spotlight: Aarron Dupuis

Here’s an Alumni Spotlight from Aarron Dupuis, a Spring 2016 alum who participated in our program during his senior year at Colby-Sawyer College. He interned in the US Senate at the office of Senator Kelly Ayotte. We reached out to him to share his story with us, here’s what he said:

What is your favorite DC memory?
”My favorite memory is the day that I got to shadow the Senator that I was working for for the entire day. I was able to sit behind her in committee hearings, march across the Capitol, meet other Senators, and walk with her to the Cloak Room and watch her give a speech on the Senate Floor through the doors of the Chamber. It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.”

What is your best piece of advice for future interns?
“Do everything! Take advantage of every opportunity given to you, visit all of the sites, visit places off the beaten path, take it all in. I learned so much about myself professionally and personally by doing everything I could during my time in DC. It really changed the direction of my life.”

How did your internship affect your career?
”It inspired me to enter a career of public service. I enjoyed working with people and my internship in a Senate office revealed the many ways that I could go forward in service to others in an official way. I now work for a nonprofit where we provide access and success programs for high schools students to plan for their future. Part of that support includes community engagement and advocating for resources from the local governments and even the Federal government. The skills and knowledge I gained during my internship have proved useful in this endeavor.”

What else would you like to share with us?
”I truly am grateful for the experiences that I had during my time in DC and I still think of it often. A few months ago, I was able to lobby on Capitol Hill for my current job and it felt like I had come full circle, having spent time learning the inner working of the Senate and then come back to apply that knowledge. I cannot speak highly enough of my experience and I love the program and enjoy seeing what the new class of interns are up on social media.”

Click the button below to learn more about how we help students find internships in DC. If you are an alum, head to our alumni page to find out how you can share your story or become involved with the program in other ways!

Simra Mariam's Internship at the United Nations Foundation

Simra with a supervisor at the United Nations Foundation.

Simra Mariam, a junior from Ursinus College with a Media and Communication Studies major, spent her spring as a Communications and Design intern at the United Nations Foundation’s 3D Program for Girls and Women. Here’s what she had to say about her experience:

“The 3D Program for Girls and Women at the UNF is focused on ensuring success in all areas pertaining to health, education, and economic empowerment for women and girls through field research, document analysis and collaboration with stakeholders. Their initiatives thus far have led to leaders across the private and corporate sector becoming aware of the issues and disparities women face internationally, and in turn taking action to develop and support programs that target these areas. Currently, the 3D Program is working in Pune City and rural Pune District in Maharashtra, India, and will ultimately expand to Kenya in the foreseeable future.

“As a Communications and Design Intern, my primary responsibilities include social media content creation, graphic design, website design, outreach, and development of the 3D Program’s communications schedule and strategy. It’s been an incredible experience getting to work behind-the-scenes to establish and promote the Program’s projects thus far — in the digital age, an online presence is absolutely vital for any business or organization to both impact a diverse range of audiences and build a portfolio of the work they’ve done.”

Asked what her favorite experience has been or what she is most proud of from her internship at the UN Foundation, Simra said, “The privilege of working for the 3D Program for Girls and Women, housed within the United Nations Foundation headquarters, is an experience I will forever cherish. I have been a long-standing advocate for the empowerment of women and girls, particularly women and girls of color, and this internship has provided me with a deeper understanding of what it means to empower someone — the doors that open for them, the opportunities, the validation they deserve — it’s noble work, and I’m proud to have been a part of an organization dedicated towards that. I’ve grown immensely, both professionally and personally, since the start of this internship — aside from applying the skills I attained throughout my education and career, I’ve learned so much by merely being a part of the work environment, getting advice from mentors that will undoubtedly help me in the future, and networking with colleagues across the UNF. I am smarter, bolder, and more prepared than ever before to enter the workforce after graduation.”

On her misconceptions and fears prior to arriving in DC: “I have to admit — I was terrified before arriving in D.C. Choosing to intern in a completely new city at a well-renowned organization where I did not know anyone seemed, at first, like I was jumping headfirst into quicksand. I questioned whether I’d be able to handle the work/study schedule, whether I was qualified enough to compete the tasks that were required of me, and yes, whether I’d be able to adjust to commuting via the Metro. What I now know is that it is completely normal to feel these things, because, chances are, you aren’t the only one. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that if you were chosen for something, there’s always a reason why — whether it’s getting accepted to the program you applied to at a college/university, or your dream job — you got there because they wanted you there. Secondly, we don’t give ourselves enough credit — yes, an opportunity like this may initially seem intimidating, but a part of you felt bold enough to take the risk. The friendships and connections you make, and the lessons you learn about yourself and your life will last forever, making all of these preconceived notions and apprehensions worth it in the end.”

“What I didn’t know about D.C. during my visits to the city when I was young is how there’s nearly always something to do — whether it’s visiting the many museums and art galleries, coffee shops, networking events, a diverse range of restaurants with amazing cuisines — there’s no room to be bored whatsoever. The Metro connects each part of D.C. so well, and I absolutely loved visiting places like Georgetown, Adams Morgan, and Dupont Circle, all bustling with life. One place I’d definitely recommend to any student looking for a serene escape to study, work, or unwind is The Kogod Courtyard, located in The National Portrait Gallery. You can enjoy the natural light seeping though the paned glass roof, the various activities and performances held there, and the museum’s exhibits themselves when you want to explore.”

Asked what she will take away from the program, Simra said: “After interning with the 3D Program and living in D.C., I feel confident in myself, my capabilities, and what I know I can bring to the table. Not every internship will give you room to learn as you go or to work closely with colleagues who value and actually seek your input, but I was extremely lucky to work with a team that went above and beyond to treat me as one of their own. Despite my time in D.C. being cut short due to COVID-19, I was still able to work remotely from home, and I will forever be grateful to the 3D Program team and the UNF for being so supportive and accommodating during such a scary and trying time in all of our lives. The connections I’ve made here are incredibly valuable to me, and I’ll always be grateful to the mentors who have, perhaps even without knowing it, helped solidify and further my future career.”

Gustavus-Adolphus Student Shane Ellanson Speaks on His Experience at the ICRD

Shane with his supervisors at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy offices.

Shane Ellanson, a Political Science major from Gustavus-Adolphus College, is finishing up his senior year with an internship in DC at the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD). We stopped by his internship site a month into the term to see how he was getting along. Here’s what he talked about:

“ICRD, [my internship site], is a peacebuilding NGO that focuses on the positive role that religious actors can play in preventing and mitigating conflict. We are not a religious organization, but we recognize the importance of religion. This organization is part think tank and part community work, meaning that we support our statistical research with on-the-ground work.

In my one month at ICRD I have helped with budgeting and research to support current projects. This consists of news briefs for the staff so that they can stay up to date with current events happening in their project countries as well as other necessary work like transcribing interviews and attending relevant events put on by other organizations. I also have been tasked with work for potential future projects. This work has allowed me the freedom of more creativity by allowing me to plan activities for future trainings of religious leaders and drafting concept notes for issues within countries focused on by ICRD without direct oversight by a staff member, until I am finished.

My favorite part of interning here has been the workplace environment. Everyone at ICRD has been so welcoming and willing to let interns help them with their work, as well as being happy to answer questions and explain to us how to improve with each individual project. I am most proud of the fact that one of the concept notes that I drafted has made it through editing by the program director with minimal revisions and is now awaiting editing by the President and VP of the organization before the Letter of Intent can be drafted to seek funding.”

“This internship has allowed me to understand how I can translate my education from college into the workplace. I have learned the process required for acquiring grants, planning future projects, how to set up and manage budgets, as well as the kind of work required to support current projects. This kind of real-world experience has made me feel much more prepared for the work force than any other single semester of college.”

Lastly, we asked him about his biggest misconception about DC before coming here:

“One misconception I had about coming to DC was that it was a big city. In reality it is a town with a lot of amazing, intelligent, and important people, but feels much smaller than other big cities in the U.S. and is much more easily traversed.”