picture of katherine badia outside

 



President's Office Intern, National Organization for Women (NOW)

Major: Government and Politics, BA/MPP

Class Year: 2024

 

 

 

 

What was a typical week like in your internship position?

A typical week in my internship revolves around what project the President of the organization is working on. A large task is taking notes for meetings on event planning, communications, and development. I would work alongside the Executive Administrator and Chief of Staff to outline strategic planning, policies, and initiatives. Brainstorming ideas for activities, speakers, and campaigns that revolve around a targeted women's issue is another large part of the position.

When I am not working on a larger task, I will research a topic of my choice within women's issues to write a blog post on. When we cosponsor rallies or marches, we are also tasked with going to the location and passing out signs.

 

 

What do you enjoy most about your current position?

What I enjoyed most about the position was being able to plan a national conference in Chicago and a convention in Houston. During this time, I was able to correspond with other big organizations and figures such as, Women's March, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Maya Wiley, and Amanda Brown Lierman. I would meet with these people and their offices to coordinate logistics and create briefing documents. Overall, it was amazing to see months worth of hard work pay off.

 

 

How did your coursework help you in your internship?

Classes, such as GVPT 479B, 479C, and 479W, have been very helpful in informing my internship work. 479C was beneficial in understanding ways everyday citizens can impact policy. I was able to use this information when writing blog posts and giving people action items they can accomplish. 479B and W are a great foundation when doing work on issues that impact BIPOC people. Since this organization deals with social issues it is beneficial to have some background on their impacts.

 

 

How did you locate your internship position?

I keep a list of organizations that interest me in my specific field. I would then frequently go on their hiring/internship pages until one was available. I found this specific position on their internship page.

 

 

Advice for students:

Do not feel pressured to take an internship that is unpaid. Experience is incredibly valuable, but it is not always worth taking on a financial strain. You should really consider the financial aspect before accepting any internship. Also, do not be afraid to ask for a bigger assignment in your internship. It is easy to settle with mundane tasks, but to get the most out of it you should be challenging yourself.

 

 

What did you like or dislike about working at a nonprofit organization?

I really enjoyed working for a nonprofit because the environment is much more intimate. The smaller team allows for a more hands on experience. You also become a lot closer with your fellow interns and staff!