In the summer of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, I virtually interned for my local NAACP branch in Hillsborough, North Carolina. I redesigned their website, created a social media presence for the branch, and helped organize a two-part virtual town hall event to address racism, racial inequity, and police brutality in our community. I also became a crucial member of their communications committee.
Especially given the social climate of the United States and my hometown community, this opportunity really helped me develop as a person and communicator. I wanted to use my communication skills to help benefit a local organization that was promoting ideas that I agree with, which is why I chose to work with the NAACP. It was challenging to work with the NAACP because all of the board members were volunteers with other full-time jobs, so I was often left to determine how to update things on the website on my own. This provided me with an opportunity to become a more independent worker and not seek out instructions from supervisors for every task.
Unfortunately, our two-part virtual town hall was hacked by white supremacists and ultimately we had to cancel the event. This experience really altered my perspective. It made me realize how important it is to protect citizens, especially when they are being vulnerable and discussing their personal lives. We promised an inclusive and safe space for all participants, and unfortunately we did not succeed. However, after further research following the event, I am more prepared to implement security measures in virtual meetings to ensure safe environments are maintained.