From ferrying Ferraris to helping the poor, these interns do a lot more than fetch coffee
By LINLEY TABER
Connecting with the community
Susanne Hansen has spent many summers as a lifeguard, but in her current post as an intern for the nonprofit LIFT-The Bronx, the 21-year old is literally guarding the lives of the area’s low-income residents.
“I’ve never had a job where I’ve been given this much responsibility,” says the New Jersey native, who works with struggling families to secure everything from housing to child care.
Recently, she saved two clients from eviction by writing letters to the court to extend the process, and securing emergency funds from community partners. She has also helped clients refresh their resumes, find new job opportunities and sign up for public benefits such as food stamps.
The intense, hands-on experience “has really made me think about poverty on a bigger level,” says the Fordham junior. And it’s inspired her to seek creative solutions for these problems, such as improved technology systems to better connect the needy with partner resources. To that end, Hansen is spearheading a project to update LIFT’s online database of resources.
“The most rewarding part is getting to know the community around me,” she says. “Everyone has their own story to tell.”
As an added bonus, the internship has helped solidify Hansen’s once-vague career ambitions. She’s now looking into graduate school and social work programs in order to pursue a job in nonprofit management.
“I’ve heard that internships help you find what you like and what you don’t like,” she explains of her initial hopes for the post. “In my case, I was lucky enough to find something that I love.”
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