826michigan interns volunteer their time with us for a semester, a school year, and sometimes longer. They’re an integral part of everything we do from communications, programs, research and evaluation, to volunteer outreach. Interns support our work by helping us dream bigger, connect better, and expand our capacity as an organization. We’re so grateful for the time and talent that each cohort brings and we’d like to celebrate this special group that wrapped up their work with us at the end of April and beginning of May. Meet Amelia, Katherine, Jan, Cayla, Sarah, and Amanda!
Feeling curious and ready to learn more about 826michigan internships? Click here to visit our internship webpage
Here’s a little bit about each of our winter and yearlong interns:
Amelia Popowics
826michigan Research & Evaluation Intern
For a full year Amelia has been revolutionizing and greatly improving the way we collect and use feedback.
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
Most of my work at 826michigan this year has focused on devising innovative ways of getting feedback from students about what aspects of programs they enjoy and what aspects they’d like to change going forward. I’ve also been helping out with virtual field trips, which are always delightful. You simply cannot leave those sessions without a grin on your face!
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
The virtual format of 826michigan programs during the pandemic has created new challenges for getting feedback from students and families. I’ve really enjoyed working on ways to overcome these challenges and hear their voices. The evaluation team and I have made interactive surveys for younger students using a tool called PearDeck, created an ongoing survey for people who have downloaded Writing Kits, and developed focus group questions for an in-school project with high school students. These projects are all exciting because they’ve enabled us to get feedback from students and parents who we don’t usually hear from! It’s also been great to get experience with such a wide variety of survey tools.
Favorite 826michigan Memory
During a virtual field trip this winter, Dr. Blotch said they didn’t like kids because they were always “sticky”. A student indignantly replied, “We’re not sticky! We’re slimy!”
Favorite 826michigan Publication
Words of Wisdom
Take the chaos with both hands and learn to dance with it.
Favorite Kind of Robot
The milkshake-making kind!
Katherine See
826michigan Volunteer & Outreach Intern
During the winter Katherine supported volunteer and outreach efforts, Wee-bots, and all of our virtual programs.
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
As the Volunteer and Outreach intern, not only did I process volunteers, enter data into Salesforce and did other research, but also volunteered in various programs. I was a part of the weekly Wee-bot Writing Program, a few virtual field trips and The Carpenter Project. The students wrote brilliant stories and drew vibrant pictures that put a smile on my face each time. 826michigan is a beautiful, inclusive community, and I’m honored to have been a part of it!
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
I loved working on the Detroit research project and gathering names of volunteer organizations who could partner with 826michigan. The Carpenter Project was also a great experience assisting fourth graders in creating their own community manifestos.
Favorite 826michigan Memory
My favorite memory was when Black Men Read came to Wee-bots. We focused on words, particularly our favorite words, and it was a fantastic time hearing what everyone came up with.
Favorite 826michigan Publication
Words of Wisdom
Don’t be afraid to ask all the questions that come to mind! Say yes to as many tasks as you can handle, so you get the most out of your experience. Listen to those around you: knowledge can be gained from your supervisors, while inspiration can come from students. Most importantly, have fun and be creative along with the writers!
Favorite Kind of Robot
Drones!
Jan Christine Macasa
826michigan Program Intern
Jan has supported virtual after-school programs this winter offering invaluable planning, delivery, and support to students and volunteers as they imagine new stories.
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
I’ve enjoyed everything about the 826michigan program internship! The staff, volunteers, students and the team I’ve been interning with have been nothing short but delightful, and I’ve always left each After-school program session with a lighter heart.
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
I’m also having a ton of fun working on a lesson plan for the Choose Your Own Fairytale module for the After School Writing Lab — it really is the cherry on top of a fruitful but enriching cake. I enjoy the process of scaffolding two pretty popular literary narratives, and I can’t wait to see the kind of fairytale creatures students will produce!
Favorite 826michigan Memory
After School Writing Lab! With the students, I enjoyed listening to all of their wonderful stories and seeing them grow as confident writers. I was especially amused, during one session, where I went to each of the breakout rooms and learnt that at least one student was writing about some form of a unicorn portmanteau! With the volunteers, I thoroughly loved that large volunteer conversation where we checked in with each other, and we also touched upon spooky/scary media — that was awesome!
Virtual Schoolwork Support! With the students, I enjoyed sharing artwork in a breakout room with the volunteers and student — that was super fun! With the volunteers, I looked forward to remedial Geography with one of the volunteers! I also particularly enjoyed the session where we all shared our love for the Phineas and Ferb music. That was one to remember!
Favorite 826michigan Publication
Words of Wisdom
Don’t be afraid to ask questions or reach out for support! The 826michigan staff are genuinely kind, warmhearted and understanding.
Favorite Kind of Robot
The kind that can sing and dance
Cayla Byron
826michigan Program Intern
Cayla supported our After-school Programs this winter semester and also took on copyediting and publication preparation for a soon-to-be released book!
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
I love to help out with both the After-school Writing Labs and Virtual Schoolwork Support! I also have fun copyediting the field trip publications. It was always so fun to see the ideas of students!
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
My big project was copyediting all the student work from the After-school writing labs! The manuscript was about 80,000 words, and I absolutely loved seeing the creativity from the students. This has definitely helped me prepare for going into book publishing!
Favorite 826michigan Memory:
Volunteers and students negotiating homework time and story time!
Favorite 826michigan Publication
The one I copyedited! (to be released soonish)
Words of Wisdom
Go with the flow!
Favorite Kind of Robot
Any robot like Wall-E
Sarah Allen
826michigan Research & Evaluation Intern
Sarah has worked through the fall and winter to revolutionize the way we do program evaluations, generate reports, and use data to make changes!
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
I just wrapped up my internship with 826 as a Research and Evaluation intern. I worked closely with Catherine Calabro-Cavin and fellow intern Amelia to assist in program evaluations for Wee-Bots, After School Writing Lab, and Virtual Schoolwork Support. I really enjoyed how my role enabled me to extract insightful feedback from quantitative reports while also getting to interact with students!
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
I worked on a handful of projects that served to evaluate student programs. More often than not, the data we collected enabled us to reach interesting conclusions regarding program effectiveness. This, in turn, allowed us to suggest the implementation of meaningful changes to address aspects of programming that could be made better. I really enjoyed the quick turnaround that these projects featured – finding a problem, suggesting a solution, and then implementing the solution.
Favorite 826michigan Memory:
Conducting surveys with the Wee-bots and finding out that some students were open to changing the name of the program!
Favorite 826michigan Publication
As I am currently reading Harry Potter for the first time right now, I’d have to say my favorite publication is The Hogwarts War!
Words of Wisdom
Favorite Kind of Robot
think Wall-E!
Amanda Putti
826michigan Communications & Development Intern
Amanda came to us through the Ginsberg Center as a fellow and worked closely with our team on grants, social media, and many projects for the future!
Tell the world about a little bit about your internship:
My favorite part of my internship has been being able to read student writing excerpts!
What kinds of projects have you worked on this year and what has been meaningful or enjoyable about them?
I have worked on grant writing and researching, compiling student writing excerpts, and sending out emails about programs.
Favorite 826michigan Memory:
Getting to help out with Wee-Bots!
Favorite 826michigan Publication
Because No One
Else Could Do It
Words of Wisdom
Ask questions (not just directly relating to your internships), read student writing!
Favorite Kind of Robot
Robot that looks like a
stuffed animal
