Summer 2008 Internships
Some more Summer 2008 students with their Internship Placements:
Megan – My internship is with Streetwise, a non-profit newspaper that helps “down on their luck” people get back on the right track by providing jobs for them as vendors and offering typing/reading classes and various skills training. I chose that internship primarily because I had a difficult time finding available, quality internships within my desired field of book publishing. More positively, though, I chose it because Streetwise is a fantastic organization with great intentions; they function as a legit, well-respected news organization, but they also do everything in their power to help the people of Chicago. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that? Although I wanted to edit, Streetwise has me working mainly as a reporter. I’ve been researching Chicago’s culture and politics, tracking down interviews and writing news stories–the whole journalistic shebang. I work almost completely by myself, so it’s a little lonely, but, on the positive side, it’s pretty cool to have so much responsibility.
Nikki - I am working at The Branch Family Institute. I chose this internship because I want to get a Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling. When I interviewed here, they said I would get to do some counseling as well as supervise visits between parents and their children. Since I arrived I have been creating a database of clients and performing some other office work. However, I am also being trained to counsel clients and to supervise visits. I am also getting to see how a non-profit organization runs and so far it’s been a great experience!
Diana – I am interning at the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, which is a non-profit providing free representation for the people of Chicago in eviction and default 
proceedings. I chose this organization because I am interested in going to law school and I already have worked in the housing field prior to Chicago Center. I also liked the aspect that it is a non-profit and their main goal is to keep people in their homes and off the streets. I am working with the social worker to place people with immediate need in temporary shelters, homes, and emergency housing. I am also working on a one-on-one basis with clients locating housing and employment and providing the resources people need to get back on their feet.
Julie – I’m interning at Latinos Progresando in Pilsen. It is a nonprofit grassroots organization that offers legal services to immigrants along with community education and workshops, a youth theatre program, and a college bound youth group. I am interested in this kind of work because I am interested in human rights and social justice. LP works for just immigration laws. I also have an interest in the Hispanic population since I am a Spanish major and have studied this culture in depth. I have also traveled to 
Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua and plan to return to Central America two weeks after the program to study for the fall semester in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. I enjoy speaking Spanish and have gained a lot of Hispanic friends through my experiences which have made me feel close to the culture. Right now, I am working on an education model for the College Bound Youth Group. I am making a graduate school guide which includes topics as how to choose majors, how to succeed in college, how to motivate students for higher education and promote specialized degrees. I am contacting colleges with bridge programs, organizing information, researching, learning a lot about immigration law, and using some Spanish when clients are unattended.
Sarah Lindesmith – My internship is at World Book Publishing. I chose that internship because it offered me the opportunity to get to do some real editing work; it also is a good name to have on my 
resume so that when I am looking for a place to publish my own manuscripts, I will have a good reference. I’ve been working on updating the online articles at World Book – sorting some of the biography articles, fact-checking and updating some articles, and working with the Spanish encyclopedia to find websites suitable for little kids.