This summer, we welcomed two interns from Brown University as part of a summer internship program supported by Brown’s Careers in the Common Good program. This opportunity allows Brown Students to engage with organizations that drive positive social change, gaining practical experience in the nonprofit sector and applying their skills to real-world challenges. Throughout the summer, the interns made valuable contributions to Eleison’s ongoing efforts to strengthen survivor leadership and promote ethical, community-based practices.
Natalia Reed and Avery Liu, two undergraduate students, spent ten weeks with us as part of this program. They supported the team across a variety of projects, including co-creating a toolkit for anti-human trafficking organizations on forming survivor advisory boards and presentation deck regarding our Survivor Leadership Council (SLC); generating content for our newsletter and social media pages; developing a research brief summarizing findings from Eleison’s recent photovoice research; and supporting with grant reporting. By working across multiple focal areas, from communications and research to financial tracking, the interns helped us make meaningful progress on initiatives central to our mission.
In reflecting on their time at Eleison, the interns emphasized the collaborative spirit and supportive team environment. They shared how the cross-team support made a lasting impression and strengthened their commitment to the cause. Intern Avery stated:
“Everyone on the team is so supportive of each other and eager to help out with or provide feedback to any new project, no matter the topic. Due to this collaborative nature, I’ve been really lucky to be able to work with so many different people on the team who have all been very inspiring.”
The internship also provided students with the opportunity to explore multiple facets of nonprofit work. Through this experience, they built valuable professional skills and knowledge that will support them in their future career paths. Natalia remarked:
“I enjoyed having the opportunity to work on an array of different projects and tasks within the nonprofit sector, and in doing so getting a true sense for the ins and outs of running a nonprofit. By working on projects ranging from social media posts to informational pamphlets to investor pitch decks, I have gotten experience in several different areas and learned many new skills.”
Avery added:
“I’ve loved being able to explore every side of nonprofit work, ranging from academic research to communications. This exploration has been incredibly useful for helping me to learn more about the inner workings of a nonprofit and discover what I would like to do in the future.”
Similarly, intern Avery highlighted how meaningful it was to delve into academic and survivor-centered research related to anti-human trafficking. She shared:
“I’ve loved learning more about how ethical scholarly research can drive nonprofit work and change in the anti-human trafficking sector. As an Art History major, it’s been especially cool to learn about Photovoice, a participatory research method where participants utilize photography to explore a research question.”
Being part of Eleison’s mission-driven work throughout the internship deepened both interns’ understanding of survivor-centered approaches and left a lasting impression, strengthening their commitment to the anti-human trafficking movement. Natalia reflected:
“In working with Eleison, I have learned that there are ways to support survivors in their recovery and that create long-term, meaningful impact. By helping Eleison implement and spread the ideas of survivor leadership and survivor-led research and practice, I feel like I have made a difference in the anti-human trafficking movement and helped support survivors’ personal and professional growth. Being part of such important initiatives has truly been inspirational for me, and I want to continue contributing to the fight against human trafficking.”
We are deeply grateful to Brown University for making it possible for these two students to join us, and to Natalia and Avery for their dedication and impactful contributions throughout their summer internship with Eleison.
