Stories

Denae Rivera '25 completed a REAL internship as an archivist for the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, where she worked to connect and inspire fellow Latinas.

By Kate Vander Vort '27

Senior Denae Rivera started her internship through the REAL Program without expectations, just hoping to make meaningful connections. However, by the end of her time as an archivist at the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, she walked away with a stronger sense of identity and a truly supportive and loving community.

Denae first heard of the REAL Program through the LEAD Scholars program on campus. She was interested in the program, which supports students as they engage in career exploration over the summer, and decided to pursue an internship at the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley. She was inspired to work with the Latina community, particularly because it is a vital part of how she identifies. Being a Bay Area native, she also wanted to work in Silicon Valley to serve people in her community directly. Not only that, but it would help her maintain connections from the coalition, even after she was done working.

The Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley is a safe space for Latinas to come together for various career and professional development programs. It has an extensive network with some of the most successful Latinas in Silicon Valley. The coalition works to inspire and connect Latinas within Silicon Valley to be proud of who they are and what they do.

Denae’s primary role as an archivist was to gather information and accomplishments to put into a 25th anniversary video for the Coalition. In doing this, she was able to interview successful members and the past presidents of the Coalition to grasp what the organization is and how they have grown. In addition, she attended and organized multiple networking events for other Latinas to connect and inspire each other. She played a main role at their biggest career fair, the Futura Fest, in which she reached out to Latina Organizations about providing professional development-related workshops and panels for fair attendees. She also helped with the day-of tasks of the Futura Fest, including managing their social media.

Both Denae’s major in Communication and minor in Religious Studies helped her be successful at the Coalition. She mentioned that many classes within her communication major prepared her with interviewing techniques and videography knowledge which she applied when producing the 25th-anniversary video for the organization. Through this project, she drew on her ability to connect with people on camera and bring stories to life. Her Religious Studies minor helped her understand the community and history behind the Latina identity. By understanding the spiritual and historical roots of these identities, Denae was able to foster a sense of respect and authenticity in her work, helping her connect with community members on a more personal level and enriching the Coalition’s message.

Denae expressed that her internship made her realize how “powerful and supportive the Latina community is” and how much of her Latina identity she connects with. Working with her community all summer, Denae found a sense of home at the Coalition. She expressed that in the future, she hopes to find a job involving diversity, equity, and inclusion after graduation. Denae’s internship not only taught her more about the powerful Latina community she is a part of, but it also inspired her to seek out professional opportunities involving her identity and the diversity of her community in the future.

About the REAL Program

The REAL Program provides paid experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences. Developed to allow students to discover their interests, gain a rich understanding of a particular field, discern their career goals, and explore future employment fields, the program has distributed roughly $2.8 million to more than 730 students across all majors since its inception in 2018. Placements range from non-profit and community service organizations to research labs, governmental organizations, and beyond.