This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with Reimagine Reentry through the Bridging The Gaps program in Pittsburgh. I worked alongside my intern partner Graham Emery to develop and present our project: MC4 Community Emergency Response Team. A Curriculum for Building Community Leaders.
Our proposal was designed to address the lack of emergency response infrastructure in predominantly Black neighborhoods while promoting community health and resilience. Over 8 weeks, I collaborated with local organizations and Reimagine Reentry staff to co-create a curriculum centered on empowerment, community, and preparedness. These partnerships not only enriched the curriculum but also created pathways for site visits, educational sessions, and future employment opportunities for returning citizens.
What made this experience so meaningful was learning from Reimagine Reentry’s dedicated staff, whose commitment to a holistic social service model showed me how healing, empowerment, and leadership truly come together.
Beyond the proposal, this internship gave me a deeper understanding of structural inequities and how culturally relevant, community-driven programming can challenge them. I’m deeply grateful to BTG-Pittsburgh and Reimagine Reentry for the opportunity to contribute to this work, and to the people I met along the way who are building a more resilient future!
