I started my career in animal welfare as an unpaid intern. At the time, I never imagined I'd end up overseeing the same program I participated in. The privilege that allowed me to take an unpaid position demonstrates one of the many inequities of internships in the U.S. In my role, my proudest accomplishment has been proposing and implementing Best Friends Animal Society’s first paid internship program. Other barriers to participation in internships remain, and I pride myself on self-evaluation and accountability, knowing that our program can always be better and more equitable. Internships provide organizations with powerful opportunities to grow their movement and reach their goals. But more important are the opportunities the organization provides their interns; to engage, be inspired, learn, grow, and find their calling. At Best Friends, we focus on the intern and how their experience with us can lead them to discover who they are and what matters most to them.
Listed skills include Leadership, Communication, Public Speaking, Writing, and 9 others.