2020-2021 Fellow,
Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits - Public Policy
Economics & English Majors
Home Town: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
What were your responsibilities at your internship with the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits?
I worked on a variety of different projects this past year as a public policy intern. My first few weeks I spent a lot of my time watching and taking notes on webinars to learn about the rules and regulations surrounding nonprofits. Later, I was given a few projects to take on. First, I hosted a Meet and Greet with Council member Matt Mahan. I loved having the experience of planning and executing an event all on my own. I also worked on an agenda tracker/database, and I created policy and advocacy webpages for the website. Additionally, I aided my supervisor in taking notes on specific agenda items for the city council and Board of Supervisors.
In what ways do you think you made positive contributions to the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits?
I think that it is important to have a variety of voices within the nonprofit community, and I believe that I was an adequate young voice that contributed positively to discussions. Specifically, I was a part of the REAL community, which was a coalition that was based in discussing racial equity. I was able to contribute positively in these discussions by engaging with other community members about my own experiences and my own insights.
What would you recommend to LSB students who want to make a difference in the community?
I would recommend that LSB students continuously ask questions and ask for work. There is so much work to be done within the nonprofit community, and sometimes making it clear that you are ready and willing to help is the best way to make a difference.