Being a senior Justice Studies and Sociology major at the University of New Hampshire, I was able to fulfill a graduation requirement through my internship at HAVEN, and it was an unforgettable experience that went far beyond earning credit. HAVEN’s mission to support survivors and prevent violence gave me the chance to merge my academic interests in sociology and justice studies with real-world advocacy, and that intersection has left a lasting impact on me.
During these past few months, my wonderful supervisors allowed me to not just to be an observer of the compassionate non-profit work that HAVEN does, but to also gain hands-on experience that truly made me feel like I had an impact on the mission and work of HAVEN. Over the course of the semester, I had the opportunity to attend four outreach events where I was able to assist in tabling for HAVEN. I went to two schools, the Greater Seacoast Pop-Up Care Village, and the Festival in the Field. Since these were four very different settings, I got to engage with many different individuals of all ages and backgrounds. I quickly realized that advocacy isn’t one-size-fits-all. The conversations, questions, and energy varied widely, and I had to adapt my approach each time. These experiences taught me how to meet people where they are, listen deeply, and adjust messaging to resonate with diverse audiences. In preparation for these outreach events, I was able to assist my supervisors in drafting materials that would be most beneficial to our specific audience in spreading HAVEN’s mission and resources. We oftentimes brought an interactive activity to every outreach event to allow attendees to feel engaged in HAVEN’s work and allow them to actively partake in our mission. A huge part of what HAVEN does is getting involved by spreading awareness as much as possible to prevent and educate different communities on the dangers of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. I will be forever grateful for HAVEN and that I was able to be a part of an organization whose mission is to end violence.
The highlight of my internship with HAVEN was without a doubt the Changing Lives Gala. The Changing Lives Gala is HAVEN’s largest annual fundraising event that took place in October, and I had the opportunity to attend the event and help out with some of the activities. The staff at HAVEN spent months planning and preparing for the event, alongside the wonderful Purple Finch Events team. The time and effort Purple Finch put into HAVEN’s vision was utterly amazing, and they executed everything flawlessly and compassionately. From the earliest planning stages to the seamless execution on the day of the event, Purple Finch Events was fully invested in the success of the Changing Lives Gala and the spread of HAVEN’s mission. It was incredible to see all the hard work and dedication of HAVEN’s staff, volunteers, and donors come together for a night of celebration. Being part of an event that brought together so many voices was both humbling and inspiring. The Changing Lives Gala wasn’t just a fundraiser, but it was a celebration of resilience and a reminder of why this work matters. Standing in that room, I felt the collective energy of people committed to change. As our brilliant keynote speaker Tito Jackson said, “Your condition is not your conclusion”.
One of the things that made my time at HAVEN so meaningful was the way my supervisors encouraged me to lean into my creativity, which shaped much of the joy I found in the work this semester. As a sociology and justice studies major, my academic course load involves a considerable amount of research, and I have had the ability to use those analytical skills during my time at HAVEN through my blog posts. My supervisors allowed me to come up with relevant and valuable topics to research and write about that can be meaningfully tied into HAVEN’s mission. As someone who loves to write and who spends ample time doing it in college, the blog has been an exciting new way for me to do so in a way that explores important issues. Besides the blog, I’ve also been able to help out with crafting merch designs and slogans for future HAVEN projects as well as assist in their social media posts, which have both been extremely interesting and rewarding.
Overall, there’s no one word or phrase to describe my time interning at HAVEN this semester. HAVEN showed me that meaningful change requires both evidence and trauma-based strategy and human-centered creativity. I leave with sharper skills in communication, outreach, and design, but more importantly, with a deeper understanding of how nonprofits can drive equity and social impact. This reflection isn’t just about closing my chapter at HAVEN, it’s about carrying forward the lessons of empathy, adaptability, and strategic thinking into my future aspirations in public policy, advocacy, and beyond.