Confessions of a Stonewall Intern
Chico Pride was not without its challenges and obstacles, however. We all suffered through packed schedules, blistering heat, and logistical woes, such as last minute event location changes and technical difficulties. It was not an easy month for me, even as a new intern, but I know it was just as, if not even, harder for our dedicated and hardworking staff, board members, and fellow interns and volunteers who all helped make Chico Pride possible.
Post-Pride, things have slowed down quite a bit. Due to COVID, the center is still closed to the public, but is taking appointments for the services that we offer, so I have been helping with bra and chest binder appointments, as well as answering phone calls and general questions. I have also been able to contribute to our social media pages by creating various posts reflecting on Chico Pride and LGBTQ+-related awareness days that fall in the summer.
As the time I have left as a summer intern wanes, I look back on these experiences, both the good ones and the challenging ones, with immense gratitude and appreciation for the Stonewall Chico team and our community. Looking ahead, I hope to continue volunteering or working with Stonewall in any way I can. Thank you Stonewall Chico and thank you to our LGBTQ+ and ally community for the best summer internship experience I could have asked for!
Written by Willow Rigney
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Now that Chico Pride 2021 is over, it feels like a good time to reflect on it all. As an organization, we haven’t really had (at least in recent years) a post written from the perspective of an intern, so I thought I would share my experiences as a Stonewall summer intern.
When I started my internship at the beginning of June, Stonewall was in the middle of planning for a month’s worth of Pride events. It was a hectic time to get thrown into the mix of things, but it was exciting and worthwhile in the long run. Staff, interns, and event partners attended weekly Pride meetings, where for an hour or two we discussed upcoming events and the planning, logistics, and facilitation of those events. As a new intern, I mostly just listened and observed during the first couple meetings, but as time went on, I was able to take on more and more responsibilities and contribute to organizing our Pride events. For example, I created a playlist for the Pop-Up Fair & Festival, and signed up to volunteer at almost all of our events. It was a busy month, but it was a blast! I met and worked with a lot of amazing people, learned a lot of new skills, and had many rewarding experiences. I feel lucky to have been able to experience an in-person Pride among the ever changing world that we live in due to COVID.
Some of the most rewarding moments for me were seeing the impact of our events among community members. A few memorable scenes: a crowd of people gathered together at the Community Art Show as performers played music, read poetry, and sang; parents and children captivated and inspired by stories of self-love and identity during Drag Storybook Time; and people laughing, dancing, and connecting with each other at the Pop-Up Fair & Festival.
Photo description: Me standing behind the Stonewall rainbow & logo sign at the Pop-Up Fair & Festival.
