Students strengthened the Steel City and their futures through City Semester

PITTSBURGH — Penn State senior OIivia Woods gained firsthand experience addressing food insecurity and supporting community needs through a summer internship with Pittsburgh nonprofit 412 Food Rescue, lessons she said will stay with her long after graduation.

“You know, moving to Pittsburgh and working a job I never worked before was definitely a mental battle,” said Woods, who is from State College. “But I knew that since it scared me, I needed to do it. I am glad I did because it was a very rewarding experience. That is what I keep telling everyone, it just felt so good to help people.”

Woods was one of six Penn State students who gained hands-on experience with organizations working to strengthen communities across the Pittsburgh region through the City Semester Internship Program, hosted by Penn State Outreach’s Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State.

The program connects students with internships at impact-driven organizations while providing opportunities for professional development, networking and reflection throughout the summer. Through her internship, Woods supported 412 Food Rescue’s mission of reducing food waste and increasing food access throughout the region.

“It was kind of eye opening because there were so many people who needed food, and it wasn’t just that they needed milk and eggs. They needed everything. They were not eating,” Woods said. “So, experiencing that and working to help make an impact is something that I am going to take with me for the rest of my life and try to make an impact wherever I go.”

A public relations major in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Woods used the skills she learned in the classroom to support the organization’s volunteer recruitment and engagement efforts and assist with community events.

By assisting with social media, creating graphic designs and collecting important feedback from volunteers, her internship gave her a real-world learning experience that she said she might not have gotten without the support of Penn State and the Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center.

“I am so grateful for Penn State that I had this opportunity because I wouldn't have been able to find this or be able to have the support in a program like this otherwise,” Woods said. “I gained valuable communication skills, and it was a very rewarding experience that will help me in my future. I wouldn't have gotten that without Penn State.”

Along with 412 Food Rescue, this summer, City Semester interns supported Tree Pittsburgh, the Allegheny Conservation District, Green Building Alliance, the City of Pittsburgh Planning Department and Riverlife, a nonprofit where junior Kaitlyn Loomis gained experience as a project and planning intern.

As a landscape architecture major in the College of Arts and Architecture, Loomis was drawn to Riverlife’s work, which enhances the Steel City’s vast riverfront areas to provide an asset for the community.

“My favorite thing about Riverlife was learning how they connect people to outdoor spaces and target a lot of social issues,” Loomis said. “That is something that we are always taught in school, to involve people in the design process, but not many firms actually do it because it is a lot of work. But it is so important. It was awesome to see in action.”

As part of her program, she pedaled her way around the city on her bike, mapping the locations of benches, water fountains and bike stands, using the tools she had learned about at Penn State.

“You know, learning all the technical skills in class can sometimes feel a little impersonal, but using those things from class and then seeing how they could actually be applied to a project is very motivating,” Loomis said.

Loomis said her City Semester experience gave her the connections and inspiration to continue working on her dream of becoming a landscape architect.

“It made me feel so much more comfortable in my major, and it was inspiring, too. It gave me a really good feeling. The people I worked with were willing to help you succeed, and I made some good connections in Pittsburgh,” Loomis said. “It made me feel so much better about next year and entering the workforce. It definitely furthered my education in a way that wouldn’t be possible in the classroom.”

Learn more on the City Semester Internship Program website.