This summer, I had the opportunity to work for enFocus, a non-profit organization based in South Bend IN. enFocus is dedicated to developing and retaining talent within the area and driving economic development. The main goal of the internship was to incorporate interns’ skills into the projects and provide them with firsthand project experience.
During this internship, I had the privilege of working on two impactful projects that significantly enhanced my professional skills and knowledge. My primary project involved working with the City of Elkhart to facilitate
public engagement for the adoption of a Unified Development Ordinance. This included researching common engagement practices and analyzing South Bend’s downtown development plan for useful techniques. I summarized my findings in a comprehensive report and presented them to our project team. Additionally, I identified local events to attend to distribute educational materials and feedback surveys. I led weekly meetings with the project team and stakeholders to
provide updates and ensure smooth progression through the public engagement plan. I also managed website maintenance and educational material design throughout the engagement process. At the end of the internship, I compiled a detailed 20-page report summarizing my research, public engagement activities, and feedback gathered. In my secondary project, I conducted research for a startup job search platform, focusing on market demographics and user tendencies. My tasks included conducting user research and developing customer personas based on the collected data. I organized all research and information into Google Documents and Sheets, presented weekly updates to the project team, and discussed our next steps. Additionally, I and a fellow intern developed a comprehensive Business Development plan, which included customer personas, a competitor matrix, market research, demographic insights, and proposed solutions for identified pain points.
This internship has been an invaluable experience, as I developed key skills in research, public engagement, project management, and strategic planning. I am incredibly grateful for my mentors’ continued guidance and support throughout
the internship!
