One of the most pleasant things about interning at the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center was how warm and welcoming the staff treated the incoming interns. Each staff member took the time out of their day to explain what they did and how their ties to Esperanza began to create a connection with the organization and the new incomers. This friendly attitude was authentic as they were work passionately for the community through grass-roots activism. The duties varied from community outreach, group workshops, providing illustrations for their monthly newsletter, and attending community events to see their work flesh out. In addition, they were always understanding of unexpected events such as family emergencies and sickness and allowed days off for the interns with ease.
What I wish was different
As non-profit community work truly never ends, the workload never ends and so does the demand for help from volunteers. I unfortunately finished my required hours by the middle of the semester and wished I spread out the hours a bit more evenly so I could have spent more time at Esperanza.
Advice
My piece of advice for those incoming at Esperanza would not to be afraid of speaking up and giving feedback as they rely on community feedback. They very much so welcome responses and I would recommend not to be afraid of speaking your mind about new ideas, projects, or any other outputs that may come across your mind while working for Esperanza.
