Women, Politics & Non-profits
Sierra
Experience Information
Employer: SMG Strategies
Job Title: Ready to Run Michigan Intern
Major: Political Science
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: No
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
SMG Strategies is a bipartisan political consulting firm that aims to get more underrepresented portions of the population in elected office.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
During this internship I had to do a variety of tasks, including: Creating and maintaining a social media presence, recruiting participants, researching the political activity of past participants, researching statistics on women in office, acquiring sponsors and tracking donations, attending networking events, and drafting documents such as biographies, contracts, recruitment materials, and event logistics.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
I gained a variety of new skills and knowledge through my internship. First and foremost, I now have abetter understanding of both the non-profit sector political process. I learned all of the components and planning that goes into a successful conference. Through all of the tasks and projects I worked on, I was able to improve my communication skills, become a better writer, strengthen my research skills, and better my fundraising skills. The conference itself taught me how to plan a campaign, fundraise/budget for that plan, network with professionals, and run for elected office.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of all of my experiences was the actual conference. Just watching all of our hard work and dedication come together was incredible! And being able to watch these women blossom and embrace their passions for politics was inspiring. Women walked through the door in the morning unsure if they were even at the right place and walked out at the end of the day planning their campaign for elected office. Being able to meet them and the political professionals that inspired them was an amazing opportunity.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
This internship has made me reconsider getting involved in local and state politics. I had originally written off domestic politics and wanted to focus on the international sphere. It has also sparked an interest in working with non-profits in the future.