Caitlin Chow-Ise

What organization did you work with?

The UPRISE collective in Portland Oregon, USA

What did you do at your internship?

This summer, I interned at The UPRISE Collective here in Portland. While working with UPRISE, I aided in direct outreach via social media regarding events, built community partnerships with other organizations, and developed relationships with local grassroots organizers. Most significantly, I had the opportunity to conceive, create, organize, budget for, manage, and realize a self-driven advocacy project with my fellow IRJ intern, Lucinda. For this, we carried out an in-person event in partnership with Flying Dogheart Farms and Unity Farm PDX centered around food sovereignty, where we provided education on food sovereignty and supplied materials for container gardens to attendees.

How did Lewis & Clark’s Career Center support you in finding, securing, and/or funding your internship?

Lewis & Clark’s Interns for Racial Justice program was integral in connecting me with UPRISE and aiding me in my capacity to pursue an internship there. Without the stipend provided to me, I would not have been able to prioritize my internship with UPRISE this summer.

What is your biggest takeaway from your internship?

UPRISE has given me a tangible example of an organization that is truly committed to justice and equity. In my interview, I asked about how UPRISE avoids the nonprofit industrial complex, and based on the co-founders’ responses, I knew UPRISE was different. I saw their self-critical, liberation-oriented values demonstrated everyday in my time with them. I especially appreciated having the opportunity to attend one of their board meetings as well as the annual staff retreat. These spaces were full of actual liberatory thinking, rather than self-serving pats on the back, with a commitment to continually learning and growing as an equitable organization. The biggest thing UPRISE taught me is that we can and should always dream of more, and use the resources available to us to go as far as we can.

How is this internship connected to your career goals and/or future aspirations?

Working for UPRISE gave me hands-on experience of working within social justice in the resourced, “professional” sphere. I gleaned insight into what doing this work might look like for me down the line, and gained the skills necessary to operate in the nonprofit world.

Last thoughts:

Working for The UPRISE Collective has been a dream come true. I want to extend my thanks to everyone there for taking me under their wing. Please go support UPRISE and get involved in all the amazing work that they do. I truly love this organization and am so glad to have found them and worked for them through IRJ.