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The Helping Hands Initiative, a program that connects the University with local nonprofits and corporate philanthropy, offers underrepresented students hands-on opportunities to explore nonprofit leadership roles. Created by Marcus Paca, MBA, assistant director of employer relations for the University’s Career Development Center, it is a collaboration between the University, Wells Fargo, and nearly a dozen regional nonprofits.

The program aims to create opportunities for students to learn about the important work of nonprofits and the impact of community engagement while building leadership skills. It also offers opportunities for students to take part in paid summer internships, subsidized by Wells Fargo. Students including Christian Rosario ’24 and Adrielys Gomez ’22, ’23 MBA completed internships with local nonprofits during the summer.

Lou Perno, executive director of , worked with Rosario this summer.

“It has been a great opportunity to be involved in the Helping Hands Initiative,” he said. “I have truly been impressed from the onset by how the project was initiated, the information provided by program staff, and all that was done to enable agencies to engage the students.

“Chris, our intern, has done an outstanding job and has been a wonderful part of our team,” continued Perno. “He has contributed new marketing strategies for promotional materials as well as engaged new partners for Literacy Volunteers to recruit adult students from a variety of basic needs assistance programs needing literacy services. He piloted work with these agencies that will become an ongoing initiative and an opportunity to seek funding for a new staff position, as well as interns from other sources to carry out the duties he performed.”

Below, Rosario and Gomez reflect on their internship experiences this summer.

Christian Rosario ’24, Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven

I became involved in the Helping Hands Initiative program after one of my peers handed me a flyer and told me it’d be a great opportunity for me. After that, we attended a networking event where I met Lou Perno of Literacy Volunteers. We discussed ways in which I would be able to help his nonprofit organization. Throughout my internship, I took on a diverse range of tasks, giving me a rich internship experience, which I appreciated.

I’ve completed many tasks at Literacy Volunteers, including redesigning flyers and rack cards to reach a larger audience, designing a new retractable banner for tabling events, and performing outreach at soup kitchens and libraries to recruit students and tutors. As a result, Literacy Volunteers has enhanced their relationship with other nonprofit organizations, expanding its reach in the community as well as bringing in more students who can be served.

A major highlight of my internship is the role I played in the rebranding effort of promoting more in-demand services in a post-COVID era. This will help Literacy Volunteers to serve clients with more pressing matters, such as obtaining a driver’s license or preparing for the workforce.

Interning at Literacy Volunteers has helped me personally and professionally in that I have enhanced my communications skills, created marketing content that I can show future employers, and allowed me to gain insight into how an organization functions including the many facets that keep it running.

Before this internship, I never considered working at a nonprofit in any capacity other than volunteering. However, after completing this internship, I’ve gained new insight. I would be open to helping nonprofits with the business side of things, including marketing, communications, and creating strategic plans to enhance the organization.

Adrielys Gomez ’22, ’23 MBA, Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services

I became involved with the Helping Hands Initiative through Marcus Paca from the Career Development Center. I was in the Myatt Center for Diversity and Inclusion when he walked in with flyers and told the students in the Center about the importance of nonprofit work and how an internship can benefit us. From that moment, I applied and encouraged my peers to as well.

My summer internship with , specifically serving as a data analyst for the SUN team (Services for Undocumented Neighbors), was life-changing. I have always been involved in and interested in community work, and through this internship, I was able to use my data skills to help case managers present their impact on the community.

A lot of my time has been spent data cleaning and showcasing data through graphs and visual representations, such as the demographics of the clients being serviced and those who still need more services. The other side has included lending a hand during events such as legal clinics or SUN resource days. These day-long events allow clients to come and receive services, talk to lawyers, and receive goodie bags full of toiletries and toys. I have been able to not only use my skills but also work face-to-face with clients in need of resources.

My experience has allowed me to not only use my skills in data but also my love for community work to make a difference. As I look forward to starting my career, I now have a passion for community work, and I will continue to devote my time to volunteering with nonprofit organizations such as IRIS and . The people I have met, both the staff and clients, have impacted me and my thoughts on what my career path will look like.

Christian Rosario ’24, a marketing major at the University who is pursuing a minor in finance, interned at Literacy Volunteers of Greater New Haven. Adrielys Gomez ’22, ’23 MBA, a candidate in the University’s MBA program and a recent economics grad, interned at Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services.