Where do I even begin? My internship at the Feminist Majority Foundation has been one of the most incredible experiences of my entire life. Moving to DC for the semester was exciting enough, but I couldn’t have even imagined how much this internship would enhance my experience in DC. My first week on the job I got to attend a “Rally for Roe” on the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. It was so powerful to be surrounded by so many people rallying to preserve a woman’s right to choose. Even though it was SO cold I absolutely loved being part of the activism in the nation’s capitol. A few days later I got the opportunity to attend a press briefing addressing the violence against Planned Parenthood. After the press briefing, the interns spoke to the staff of the Congressional representatives who were investigating Planned Parenthood, and we urged them to redirect their focus to the violence against Planned Parenthood, or to disband. I was so excited to have the chance to influence people who could really facilitate change.
The second rally I attended was the Whole Woman’s Health Rally outside of the Supreme Court building during the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt hearing, which is one of the most important abortion access cases in decades. My fellow interns and I made signs for the rally and we stood outside the Supreme Court building with 3,000 other folks to rally for safe, legal, accessible abortion. One of the most exciting parts of my internship was when a picture of me outside the Supreme Court with my fellow intern Jessica Benitez was displayed on the Twitter Trending Page. Several pictures of me and my co-workers rallying were on World & News Report, NPR, and Buzzfeed. I loved having the chance to rally and stand up for women’s rights.
I had the opportunity to attend a lot of events during my internship. I helped table at the Young Women of Achievement Awards, where I was able to meet a lot of people from other organizations advocating for women’s rights. The National Young Feminist Leadership Conference was another great experience during which my fellow intern Jay and I set up the “Self-Care” room where students could go if they felt overwhelmed at the conference. The speakers at the conference were so thoughtful and inspiring, and it was such a privilege to hear them speak. I also had the opportunity to speak with a lot of passionate students about how to make the world a better place for everyone.
The Feminist Majority Foundation is an organization dedicated to making this world a safer and more inclusive place for everyone. I’m honored and grateful to have been a part of FMF, and I will never forget this experience. The events and rallies I attended were amazing, but one of the best parts of this internship were the people I was surrounded by. My fellow interns and my bosses have made an unforgettable impact on my life. They all brought their own opinions and experiences to this organization, which has helped me broaden my perspective on the world and my understanding of feminism. I’m so grateful for this experience and the remarkable opportunity to meet so many funny, smart, inspiring, and kind people. Kelli, Chelsea, Mari, Edwith, Beth, Emily, Bridget, Rachel, and Jay: thanks for changing my life and I hope we continue to change the world.
