During this semester, I was a research intern for the Donna Street Community Center/their Hip Hop Entrepreneurship Academy. To preface, I came into my internship not knowing what to expect as this was my first internship. All I knew was that I liked the organization’s mission and I wanted to contribute using my background in psychology. I am interested in working as a forensic psychologist, and this internship aligns with that interest as it has allowed me to study at-risk adolescent behavior and juvenile recidivism. The internship has illuminated how communities are important for social support, and it has further inspired me to find creative ways to help others.
The organization aims to change the lives of teenagers by using hip-hop as an intervention to reduce behavioral and mental health issues. This is a complex mission that may involve background knowledge in psychology, Black/hip-hop culture, music history, the criminal justice system, and social justice. Future interns should expect to conduct quantitative research on the organization’s hip-hop programs taking place in schools and after-school programs. One bit of advice I have to is connect with your fellow internship-mates and discuss ideas early on. Some of the most memorable and beneficial parts of my internship were discussions with my fellow researchers. I found that when it comes to doing research with an organization in the community, the research questions being asked will be more specific and creative to the organization’s needs compared to academic research. The discussion with my fellow intern facilitated a lot of brainstorming, creativity, and inspiration.
It's great to hear about your positive experience with the Donna Street Community Center and their Hip Hop Entrepreneurship Academy. It's inspiring to see how you were able to apply your background in psychology to help study at-risk adolescent behavior and juvenile recidivism. It's also encouraging to hear how your internship has further motivated you to find creative ways to help others. Your advice to future interns to connect with their fellow researchers and discuss ideas early on is excellent, as collaboration and brainstorming can often lead to innovative solutions. Keep up the great work!
Hi Courtney,
Thank you for sharing! Your experience appears meaningful and enjoyable. I loved having to have the opportunity as well to go out and apply my psychology background to opportunities in the community and actually making a difference. Going from an academic research background to a business-specific, community-driven intervention involves having a better understanding of the population you're serving, but in a good way. This is only an assumption, but this experience would likely be more hands-on, allowing more interactions with the individuals the program serves too. Similarly, my internship also involved community intervention to promote mental wellness and support a community of artists, poets, and musicians, but also getting other members of the community involved in different artistic mediums or mindfulness exercises.
Congrats on completing your first internship!