Today is our final day of DCCK’s summer internship program. My fellow interns and I will miss the organized chaos that is the Michael R. Klein Center for Jobs and Justice.
Eight weeks ago, nine interns met for the first day of our summer internship. Not one of us could have anticipated what the next two months would look like. As interns we were able to contribute to the impact of fighting hunger differently in ways we could have never expected.
Each intern works in a different department, but we start our day together at the hub of the desks upstairs near The Loft. This summer, the desks were occupied by:
Anika Lee, Nutrition Education and Engagement Intern (University of British Columbia): “Something I learned during my internship is how to teach kids cooking skills. That’s something I’ve never done before, and I thought it was really fun. “
Neha Kohli, Operations Intern (Rice University): “I learned a lot about the inner workings and growth of a grassroots organization. I learned a lot about what goes into pushing out 17,000 plates per day. Learning about fundraising, communication, and how important every single position is in making things run smoothly.”
Jasmine Moore, Human Resources Intern (Louisiana State University): “I really gained valuable experience about the different HR functions and something very valuable to me was being a project lead for the HR SOP and creating a tracking system so that everyone can contribute and I can see the status of their work.”
Adrian Gomez, Policy Intern (Cornell University): “I learned about the impact that an organization can have if it’s tapped into the community really working together with all the different service providers, private sector partners, public sector partners, all united under the same goal. I really saw that here at DC Central Kitchen of the way that they can bring all their resources together bring all their people together to make a real impact in the community that doesn’t often see the services in a way that is respectful and gives dignity to the communities they serve and I think that’s something really important that I am going to take away with me.”
Betty Ephrem, Knowledge Management Intern: “I got to know a lot of different people and learned what they do. Learning about the different job positions and the history behind how each department got started.”
Fisola Oyerokur, Workforce Development Intern (Willam and Mary): “I learned what a good community of people does to a workplace. It’s very important for a workplace to have a very positive environment. I also learned more about what it’s like to help a community through a non-profit.”
Sam Sloan, Accounting Intern (University of Miami): “One of the highest virtues I have taken away from this internship is learning how to be more patient. I have also learned how to be an Excel master and the tasks assigned to me really improved my critical thinking skills. Thank you, DCCK!”
Nathalie Tiadem, Community Partnerships & Growth Intern (Georgetown University): “I wanted to do something impactful. The CPG team was incredibly open and loving. They took my opinions seriously and really cared about my input.”
And then there’s me, Gracie Armstrong, Communications Intern (University of Maryland Global Campus). This internship gave me more than experience—it gave me perspective. I learned what it means to work across departments, how to tell stories that move people, and how to be confident in my creativity.
No day was ever quite the same for any of us. However, we always found time in our busy schedules to have lunch together and find time to be amongst each other even while working on different projects. I cannot recount the number of times a visitor, DCCK employee, or Culinary Job Training student stopped me commenting on the interns: always together, always laughing, always bringing great energy to the workplace, and having fun. We took that same energy beyond the walls of the Klein Center along the way, spending time out in the community with the Community Partnerships & Growth team visiting some of our partners or gleaning at the Franciscan Monastery.
Our only formal collaboration as a group of interns was the capstone project. We spent the summer visiting departments and learning how each team contributes to DCCK’s mission. The challenge? Finding a project idea. DCCK operates so efficiently that most problems we noticed were already being addressed. But we realized one recurring issue: recycling. With so many people moving through the building daily, it’s often difficult to use the right bins to keep trash and recyclables separated. We knew we could help by assessing the issue and presenting solutions. Earlier this week, we presented our findings and recommendations to leadership, hoping that some of our insight would make a lasting impact on the organization that gave us so much.
The interns learned new skills, developed strong relationships, and deep gratitude for the mentors and peers who made this summer so special.
Thank you, DCCK, for teaching me how to fight hunger differently and for letting me be a part of something meaningful. I’ll take this experience with me wherever I go next.