I completed a professional internship at Communities of Hope Civic Media in Bristol, RI, fulfilling a requirement for my COMM/PR 460 course at Roger Williams University. This experience was instrumental in deepening my understanding of public relations within a nonprofit setting, specifically focusing on social justice and media advocacy.
Communities of Hope is a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and advocating for social justice. Its mission is to empower individuals and foster an inclusive society by focusing on issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, media representation, and First Amendment freedoms through various projects including podcasts, outreach initiatives, and educational programs. The organization’s commitment to innovative media strategies and grant-funded initiatives drives its impact forward. During my internship, Communities of Hope ran four main projects: The Hope Pod, First Amendment Rights with the New England First Amendment Coalition, an Environmental and Climate Justice Podcast, and Queer on Campus (QoC).
My role involved playing an important part in the success of the team and projects. The majority of my internship was carried out on the Queer on Campus (QoC) Podcast team, where I ran the project and published the podcasts. Initially focusing on daily tasks and team support, I stepped into a more significant manager role in the second half of the internship after my co-host departed. I worked directly under Director Bernardo Motta, receiving his guidance on every project and task, which allowed me to incorporate his insights and feedback into my work. Motta’s leadership, rooted in environmental and community journalism, is dedicated to elevating underrepresented voices and is characterized by a collaborative approach and commitment to student mentorship.
Project Management for the Queer on Campus Podcast
As the project manager, I oversaw all aspects of production, including setting deadlines, researching, recording, and editing episodes. I was also responsible for selecting the topics covered, which included: “Intersectionality in Activism,” “Navigating Gender-Neutral Spaces,” “Queer Representation in Curriculum,” and “Supporting LGBTQ+ Mental Health”. Furthermore, I designed the podcast’s webpage, created promotional materials for social media, and developed its logo to strengthen its brand and increase online visibility.
Public Relations Campaign Development and Execution
I implemented more than two PR campaigns, primarily focusing on a social media strategy campaign (including an initial audit, content strategies list, content calendar, and a final audit) and a promotional campaign for the “Queer on Campus” podcast. This included creating social media and website promotions, as well as a plan to promote the podcast on Spotify and Apple Music, alongside designing its web page, logo, and other graphics. I also managed promotions for journalism classes, the major as a whole, and the organization’s national affiliation with the Society of Professional Journalists.
Social Media Management and Content Creation
I was responsible for managing the organization’s Instagram page. I conducted comprehensive social media audits at both the beginning and end of my internship, which provided measurable insights into the effectiveness of my work and its impact on Communities of Hope’s online presence. To ensure consistent and engaging content, I created a social media calendar. (Examples include the First Social Media Audit and the Post Internship Social Media Audit). I published several podcasts covering various chosen topics, including a “meet the hosts” episode and an FAQ episode. Additionally, I created and distributed multiple social media posts and stories (such as the First Social Media Post and the Thanksgiving Update Post), as well as grant-seeking memos.
Grant Seeking
I contributed to the administrative functions by seeking grants to support various projects and podcasts. This involved researching numerous nonprofit websites for grants aligned with our focus on podcasts, media, LGBTQ+ issues, and First Amendment rights, allowing me to apply skills gained from my NonprofitReady certification in Grant Seeking and Grant Writing Essentials.
The internship met my expectations, building upon previous roles I had held with the organization and allowing me to continue running the nonprofit and the podcast I created. My supervisor, Bernardo Motta, was very open to my ideas and actively encouraged my creative choices. I am proud of the excellent quality of my work, leading my team effectively, and actively participating in all projects. I would absolutely recommend Communities of Hope to other interns and have actively encouraged other students to apply.
