We recently wrapped up our summer internship program, wishing our interns well before they returned to college but also wishing they could stay.
Before they left, though, they reflected on their experiences. Maddie spoke about our monthly staff meetings, where she “realized—and continued to realize throughout [her] internship—that everyone at Girls Write Now is having so much fun and seems so comfortable and content in what they are doing. That’s a very inspiring and empowering work space to be a part of.”
Tiffani, a former mentee, spoke about the highlights of interviewing Naomi Jackson at the June CHAPTERS Reading, celebrating Malala Day at City Hall, and visiting Penguin Random House for a Lunch & Learn. She also discussed the circular nature of her internship and the new vantage point it offered. “Particularly in the mentee evaluations,…a lot of [the mentees] notably said that CHAPTERS really boosted their self-confidence! I felt really lucky to have been the recipient of the same growth they talked about.” She also feels “so humbled to have been witness to how these opportunities are made available to so many girls, and to be one of the invisible hands behind the operations of Girls Write Now, helping advance the work.”
Finally, Wandy discussed how Girls Write Now redefined what a workplace can offer: “I would refer to Girls Write Now less as ‘work,’ and more like ‘a community.’ We all know it takes a village, and certainly it should to get a program that harbors 100+ girls to run smoothly over the course of a school year, but this empowering village of kindness and diligence raises more than just the next generation of women writers. It expands, offering a place of learning and growth for even itself.” Our interns brought immense enthusiasm, thoughtful ideas, and a willingness to try anything. We are grateful for all that they contributed to Girls Write Now.
While we were sad to say farewell to our summer interns, we are excited to welcome our fall class of interns! Julia Lubey, a junior studying Economics at Barnard College, will be our Development intern, assisting with funder research and grant writing. Kelly Sullivan, a junior at Fordham University studying English and Marketing, will be our Communications intern, lending her creativity to our social media platforms. Our Programs interns will be Jessica Merino, who is currently earning her BA in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Nikila Cranage, a senior at Pace University majoring in Modern Languages and Cultures, and Women Studies. They will be supporting our staff with workshops, the CHAPTERS Reading Series, the QWERTY Digital Media Exhibition, and cultivation of our mentor and mentee relationships.
The upcoming semester promises to be an exhilarating one, and we look forward to working closely with our interns. Stay tuned for a new internship opportunities coming soon.