In early May of this summer, I eagerly opened my laptop to await an email from HR. It was the first day of my internship with WFC and my first time working for a non-profit. I was jittery, ecstatic to begin the journey yet a bundle of nerves due to the uncertainty of what was to come. I knew little about the work that non-profits did and even less about their daily operations. However, I knew going in that I wanted to be a community member, someone who advocated for their neighbor, someone who sought to improve the quality of people’s lives. WFC, as I accurately assumed, would be the perfect space to explore what being a community member meant.
The jitters subsided as I was greeted by each of my new colleagues, who earnestly exclaimed, “We’re so happy you’re here!” With just a single line, I had been inducted as a part of the team with open arms, and not much time had passed before I was roped into my long-term project: SLI.
The Summer Leadership Institute, or SLI, is a place where magic happens. It’s a site where young women and gender-expansive youth from all over the state of California gather to dream. During times of injustice, it’s important to understand that the existing conditions we live in required a complex system of pulleys and levers to manifest; it needed to be imagined first to become invented. Therefore, SLI prides itself on being a space where fellows can dream and co-create with one another. Simultaneously, SLI functions as a site where these young leaders, who already perform social justice work in their communities, find like-minded allies, learn organizing strategies, and, just as importantly, rejuvenate before the long fight ahead.
It was this pitch that alerted my sense of wonder. SLI was an opportunity for me to help allocate vital resources to these changemakers, ones I myself lacked at that age but desperately desired. This was how I could uplift and make an impact on the youth of California!
And so began a hectic few weeks of communication, data management, coordinating travel, and outlining workshop curricula. Each meeting leading up to the retreat was steeped in a sense of collective respect and gratitude, for we collaborated as a team with our mission to the youth in mind. As I had hoped, I quickly became an individual my team could depend on, which filled me with the utmost pride and satisfaction.
Then the unexpected came: “How would you feel about attending SLI this year?” Despite planning SLI, I did not anticipate to be actually present during the retreat, given my role as a remote intern. I was cautious at first, indecisive. Would I be a right fit there? Could I live up to the expectations of my colleagues? To the foundation? Upon suggestion from a respected peer, I decided to ignore the doubts that had riddled my mind and accept the offer enthusiastically. This internship was a chance for me to engage in new things, meet other people, and prove to myself that I had the makings of a leader. I couldn’t miss this opportunity, especially when my colleagues at WFC wholeheartedly believed I would excel at my role.
At last, the day arrived and my first-day jitters returned in full swing! Besides the fact that I was constantly checking for ETA updates from the chaperones, this was also the first time I was meeting the SLI team in-person. Would the dynamic we had online remain the same? Should I be more reserved at first and then open up? Should I come in with a hug or a handshake? Fortunately, these rampant thoughts ceased the moment the team and I crammed inside a rental van on our way to Sonoma. Each laugh we shared along the way was like a crashing wave taking my anxiety with it as it receded.
The joy and synergy I felt between myself and the SLI team would only amplify over the course of the next three days. SLI had taken our connections and lit a whole new spark beneath them! Additionally, not only was I able to witness the fruits of our collective labor in real time, I felt grounded by the experience. I was able to meet the incredible fellows who we extensively read up on during the application process. And seeing these fellows in action, I found a deeper appreciation for my story and breathed new life and strength into it. I laughed and broke bread with some of the warmest people I have ever met. I connected my heart to a beautiful community of visionaries. This experience gave me lifelong memories and relationships that I will forever carry.
Overall, SLI reaffirmed for me my path in non-profit work. I realized that perhaps I was meant to engage in youth programming, that maybe the warmth I had felt in Sonoma wasn’t just the heat but the desire to explore this kind of community work further. WFC’s torch ignited my own, and I wish to share this blaze with others as I continue to walk the path toward a more equitable future.
I want to thank everyone at WFC for their support and belief in me during my internship. I entered this space uncertain, but I left it having gained a family and a new perspective of myself. I can’t be any more grateful for the time I have shared with you all. I love you all dearly.