Community Partner : Out for Justice Site Supervisor : Tresa Brown
What is Out for Justice ? Out for Justice , Inc . ( OFJ ) is an organization comprised of individuals who are both directly and indirectly impacted by the criminal justice system advocating for the reform of policies and practices that adversely affect successful reintegration into society .
Community Partner : Office of Councilmember James Torrence Site Supervisor : Kirsten Lewis
What is the Office of Councilmember James Torrence ?
Intern : Fatima Mendoza
The Office of Baltimore City Councilmember James Torrence believes systemic change can only be achieved when principled leaders engage in collaborative problem-solving approaches that empower communities and protect our vulnerable neighbors . Councilmember Torrence serves the 7th District .
Compiled a list of organizations that offer job readiness programs Drafted sponsorship and donation letters Research into offices of returning citizens and recidivism Assembled the weekly newsletter for the organization
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This summer has been quite an experience . Almost halfway through the program , we added an additional placement due to changing needs at Out for Justice . Now , I ’ m doing part-time work at both Out for Justice and the Office of Councilmember James Torrence . At Out for Justice , I have gotten a closer look into the administrative side of a nonprofit . I have different tasks every week , but every assignment helped me develop my analytical , communication , organizational , and research skills . At first , I was very nervous to start my internship because I had never had an internship before and did not know what to expect . Also , because I am at home on the West Coast and doing things virtually , I was worried about how much that would impact my experience . Thankfully , after orientation and a couple of days into the internship , my worries completely eased . At Out for Justice , I got the chance to compile a resource list , draft sponsorship / donation letters , assemble the weekly newsletter , and help a member with their resume and cover letter . However , because the office was going through a transition period , I was not able to fulfill my 35 hour per week commitment . This is where the Office of Councilmember James Torrence comes into play . This time around , I was not as nervous about starting the internship . My job there has been primarily researching . I was tasked with different research topics and providing a report on the findings every week . Some of the issues include offices of returning citizens and other post-incarceration problems , food insecurity , and garbage disposal . By interning at both Out for Justice and the Office of Councilmember James Torrence , I have learned the importance of communication and collaboration . Because the majority of my work has involved information gathering and presentation , I understand the significance of clear communication . In terms of collaboration , it is remarkable that I get to be a part of both sides of organizations trying to achieve their goals . For example , at Out for Justice , I had to reach out to multiple organizations for support . At the same time , at the councilmember ' s office , I watched the team talk about grant proposals for nonprofits . It is because of this that I understand the challenge of operating an organization . I ’ m thankful for the experiences at both placements .