“I was able to learn an immense amount about affordable housing in Providence while working with a passionate and inspiring group of individuals who I have been lucky to call my teammates... I learned something new at each and every meeting, and the valuable information that I gained will surely remain with me for years to come.  At every turn, the RISGIP stimulated my intellectual and personal growth as well as furthered my development as a leader, and I am beyond grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this prestigious program.  Our team project was an amazing experience, and I learned quite a lot along the way as well!  Especially given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic causing the internship to be remote, the team project was the perfect way to drive collaboration and learning among internship participants.  I found the structure to be extremely effective, as it brought together individuals from different schools that would not have worked together otherwise and inspired connections as well as a diversity of perspective... In summation, the RISGIP has left an indelible mark upon me.  When I interviewed for the program the last week of August, I had no idea of the impact it would have upon me, and it truly changed my worldview and perspectives.  In fact, it inspired learning about the most pressing issues in the city and state, collaboration in creating change, and new connections with some marvelous individuals.  The program additionally furthered my passion for helping others and my interest in government service (specifically elected office) as a means of doing so.  I am endlessly thankful for being given the chance to participate in the RISGIP, and I would recommend it to any other student who is presented with the opportunity..."

"I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful internship program at RISGIP. I also want to thank you for your guidance and supervision throughout this internship that made this program at ease through this very difficult time... You cared about our work, gave us feedback so that we could improve on ourselves, and most importantly you believed in our work and pushed us to have faith in ourselves to do the very best...This internship taught me very valuable skills I could use in my future and for the workforce. For one, it provided me with the opportunity to work efficiently with others that I have never met before, not to mention it created friendships. Having this skill for the future is essential. You cannot pick and choose who to work with all the time. If you are asked to do something without knowing each other, you better learn quickly and that is exactly what I can value from this internship. The collaboration between my group was like none other... We bonded extremely well, creating friendships that will last. Our meetings together were efficient, yet full of laughs and conversations that would bring smiles to each other. The RISGIP allowed me to enhance my knowledge of researching, writing, collaboration and interviewing /presentation skills. As intern policy makers, we had to pick a topic of our groups choice and heavily research about that topic, hoping to create an efficient policy to create a solution for that issue... Once again, thank you for a terrific ten weeks, this is something I will always cherish in developing me into a more professional individual..."

"Even though this internship was remote, I felt that I got to know my group members and even my supervisor pretty well. Throughout the entire semester, we kept asking ourselves, “How can we help?” We wanted to create a proposal that was realistic and achievable. Not only did I build on my research skills, but I also got more comfortable with communicating online. No one is entirely sure how long the COVID-19 pandemic will last, so I’m thankful I know how to use certain platforms, like Zoom and WebEx, to help me in my future career. I learned a lot from each of my group members, who I now can call my friends, they taught me how to think outside the box, and think on my feet. We worked very hard as a team and personally, I’m quite proud of our proposal...Overall, I really enjoyed this experience and would hope that more people try this program. 10/10 would recommend to all students!"

"In March of 2020, my 25+ yr career in the restaurant industry came to an end due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A few months later, I found myself back in college, pursuing a brand-new career in IT. In the fall of 2020, I was accepted into the RI State Government Internship Program as part of the IT Team. I was nervous to be a part of an IT team because I had only had a few basic classes under my belt and feared I would not have much to offer. Nothing could have been farther from the truth. In our very first meeting with our supervisor quickly put to rest any hesitation I was feeling with his enthusiasm of how distinctly different each member of the team was... It was hard work! The amount of time we put into research and development, along with the hours we spent discussing our options and narrowing down our ideas, paid off tenfold. I could not have asked to be part of a better team. We worked so well together! We discussed, we debated, we disagreed, we listened, we compromised, and in the end, we designed an excellent product based on extensive research. While I feel every student would benefit from being part of this internship program, I want to direct my attention to the “older” students. This internship program is for you! I know that going to college after so many years away from the academic world can be daunting. I had no idea how much life has taught me and how truly relevant I still am, until I participated in this program. I found a confidence in myself that I had forgotten. I am forever grateful and for the first time in a long time, I am excited about my future..."

"The RISGIP was an incredibly educational experience, and I have received a significant amount of professional knowledge. I was provided with the opportunity to present on an important topic in not only RI, but across the country. This internship helped me spread my knowledge, experience and interest in the RI State Government.... My team honestly worked extremely well together, each of us did what was needed, and we always had a lot of fun working with each other. I am tremendously grateful for this possibility that I received and although this internship was remote, I still gained numerous amounts of confidence, knowledge and professionalism in the workplace..."

"When I applied to the RI State Government Internship Program, I was unsure what to expect in remote times. By the second or third week, I realized I could not have been happier with the internship structure. There was a sense of community among my teammates, which was not expected. Everyone was always enthusiastic during meetings and ready to set up extra times when needed. My team was composed of four other diligent members, who worked not just to complete the required load, but also to get to know one another. We cracked jokes at the beginning of Zoom calls, discussed our weeks, and made an effort to put ourselves out there. It was also wonderful to see other interns' faces during midway events, such as the State House Tour. Nearly everyone had their camera on at all times, which is rare in the remote world, and despite the uncertainly in technology, almost everything ran smoothly. While there is no replacement for in-person experiences, the past few months have been delightful. I learned much about RI policy process...but I have also become a better team player. As team leader, I listened to the thoughts of those around me to see how we could advance our project... The skills I learned are sure to apply to any work experience moving forward, and I am confident this internship has made me a more understanding person. Many thanks to the coordinators and supervisors of RISGIP for fostering such a great environment, even in these uncertain and remote times. I appreciate it and look forward to staying in contact with the people I have met during this time..."

"I learned a lot from this internship, mainly because this was the first internship that was remote, the adversities faced were different...the team I was placed in was incredible. From our communication, to making time in our busy schedules to meet virtually, to working together to putting the final touches together. Everyone had a specialty that was theirs and they each incorporated it in our project, from economics and data analysis, to graphic designing and coding. The teamwork was impeccable and if I was to ever do this again, I’d choose my team all over again..."

I was able to get a sense of what my supervisor does as a Communications Coordinator here, but also gain a sense of what this non-profit does in general for the community…. The placement also provided me with professional skills such as how to interact with a multitude of employees from different fields and interests and how to carry myself in meetings with supervisors….

This placement with the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office has helped me tremendously by exposing me to the process of becoming a lawyer, the character required in a lawyer, and the legal support system in the state.

I was initially interested in this internship because I wanted to explore government and policy as a potential career path. I think the thing I took away was that I am even more interested in government and policy. This internship did reaffirm my desire to go to law school and remain active in politics and policy.

I am a Political Science and Public Administration major with a minor in Economics who via this opportunity was able to track legislation. I was able to see the bill that bore the markings of my hard work and persistence be proposed and referred to committee…This program has allowed me to gain experience in my various fields of study through first hand encounters with decision makers, as I saw through numerous sessions of Senate and Committee hearings.

This is highly recommended! Thank you, the last two summers have been great. I really appreciate all of your help.

This experience gave me the opportunity to look at businesses from another perspective. In school, I was taught pure theory. I was taught to focus on shareholder's wants and customer's needs. However, the internship took me to another level of a business such as the compliance with laws and regulations. I was exposed to real business problems. This placement enhanced my business skills and I learned new areas in my field.