As I wrap up my internship with LMM, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on the wonderful experiences I have had. While I was initially most interested in the work LMM does with reentry, throughout my internship I have gained a deeper understanding of the support they provide for individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, getting to interview LMM staff partners allowed me to gain different perspectives about issues like homelessness, the criminal justice system and fair chance hiring.
This summer I was able to work on projects for both the Communications and Advocacy departments at LMM. Through this experience, I was able to see the interconnection between these two departments. I realized early on in my internship that most of the time an advocacy project will have a communications component and vice versa. This realization allowed me to think about advocacy in a broader sense—rather than simply asking, “What is the issue?” I learned to consider, “What important aspects of this issue should I share with others?”
I had no real expectations going into this summer with what projects I would get to work on. However, LMM allowed me to work on important projects that surpassed anything I could have anticipated I had experiences that ranged from meeting with various people at Cuyahoga County to researching legislation that will impact LMM’s work, all of which contributed to my growth as an advocate.
Lastly, I would like to thank everyone at LMM who helped make this summer full of learning and growth. The people at LMM are some of the most passionate and hardworking individuals I know. I would also like to thank John Carroll University, specifically the people at the Center for Service and Social Action (CSSA), who gave me the opportunity to work at LMM this summer. I could not have asked for a better experience, and for that, I am forever grateful!
– Caitlin Larkin, Communications & Advocacy Intern
