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THE PESA POST
The latest news, views and announcements from
Parents, Educators/Teachers & Students in Action

September 30, 2021
HELPING INTERNS HELPS US ALL
Sure, education is critical—but the real learning begins in the real world
Our economy is evolving on a daily basis, and the abilities, skills and experience required to participate in that growth cycle are changing as well. The employment market is competitive, and young college graduates often face a steep learning curve when they enter the working world. This is why practical learning and internships have become such an important element of the college experience.
PESA is proud to be a part of that experience by offering students participation in several robust internship programs. This month we welcomed our third cohort of pre-law, bachelor of social work and master of social work interns. The pre-law internship program has 15 students, all with an interest in law and criminology, and the social work internship has 10 students seeking their BSW and 11 pursuing their MSW. The program draws students from numerous Southern California schools, including Azuza Pacific University, Cal State University Long Beach, Cal State University Northridge, Loyola Marymount University, UCLA and USC.

Amanda Flores, PESA’s assistant director of internships, says that the goal of the program broadly is to provide practical work experience, and for pre-law interns specifically, that means providing them with an early understanding of what it means to go into law and offering them a jump-start in the particular field in which they are interested. The 13-week intensive, hands-on program puts students deep into real-world experiences, such as:

  • Crafting social history narratives of incarcerated individuals
  • Reviewing police reports and drafting case summaries for the LASC Teen Court Program
  • Creating a presentation on a current societal issue that they feel is important to share with the younger generation
  • Identifying educational policy issues within a Southern California school district and offering possible solutions after extensive research
PESA’s director of internships, Dr. Michael Johnson, who administers the social work internship, explains that the program is designed to introduce participants to all aspects of social work so they can take that experience with them to whatever agency they ultimately pursue. On top of helping interns bolster their professional capabilities, the work they do empowers their clients to give back to their communities as well. “At PESA,” Johnson says, “we are trying to help teenagers and their families through education and newfound skills that will give them the opportunity to become more positive members of society.” It’s a 360-degree philosophy: Interns learn about their field of interest and in turn utilize what they learn as a force for good. 

Just as with the pre-law interns, social work interns gain practical experience through:

  • Providing counseling to youth who have been diverted from the traditional justice system 
  • Assisting with empowerment workshops for parents
  • Working in middle schools and high schools to support students who have behavioral problems or who need educational support
  • Conducting educational presentations to schools and agencies on topics such as substance abuse, mental health and coping with grief and loss

Ultimately, no matter what profession they choose to pursue, PESA interns are learning skills that are necessary in any field. It’s a rare opportunity in which students can learn in a real work environment and, upon completion, emerge with a toolbox full of useful skills they can take with them in their future careers. 

We like to think of it as helping our entire community—one intern at a time. ■
 
If you’d like to support PESA’s many social and educational initiatives, please contact us.