Recent Tufts graduate Elena shared the following about being a Community Events & Program Intern at Family Equality Council …
What did you do as an intern at this organization?
I was a Community Events & Program Intern for Family Equality Council, a nonprofit advocating for lived and legal equality for LGBTQ+ parents and families and those who wish to form queer families. My main project was planning and organizing Family Week, a week-long event for parents and children in Provincetown, MA. Family Week is the largest annual gathering of LGBTQ+ families in the world, so I knew that my work in event planning and organization was impactful in the community. My daily tasks included managing both the events and teams I was involved with for planning the week. For example, I was in charge of things like visual/text content for the weekly newsletter that went to already-registered families, as well as planning staff and intern meals for the week by coordinating in-kind donations and sponsorship information. In addition to these ongoing tasks, I was in charge of multiple specific events (one-time or recurring), for which I was involved with coordinating the venue, registration information, promotion, and other planning tasks.
How did you find this internship?
Tufts Handshake
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
It was incredible to apply the academic concepts I learned as a WGSS major to the workplace. We talked about gender and sexuality on a daily basis, and I learned to apply those concepts to a professional career. For example, I don’t address emails ‘Dear Mr./Ms. ____’, because we don’t assume gender without knowing anyone’s pronouns. It was so impactful to see critical conversations about these topics become normalized in a powerful national organization.
What did you find challenging?
It was challenging to work 9-5, five days a week, with no compensation. As an intern cohort, we were not just getting coffee or making photocopies; we were doing the brunt of the work for planning Family Week, and real issues and tasks fell on our shoulders. It was a lot of pressure at times, but the people and the cause, in addition to the professional experience, made it all worth it.
What advice would you offer to someone who wants to make the most of an internship like yours?
To make the most of this internship, it’s all about connections! Connect with your boss, with other interns, and with your supervisor. Connect with communities you come into contact with, be it patrons, donors, or others involved in supporting or benefiting from the work your organization does.
About the Organization
Family Equality Council connects, supports, and represents the three million parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer in this country and their six million children. We are changing attitudes and policies to ensure that all families are respected, loved, and celebrated—including families with parents who are LGBTQ. We are a community of parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren that reaches across this country. For over 30 years we have raised our voices toward fairness for all families.
