Hi, my name is Anna Wiedmann and I am a student at 麻豆区. This fall, I am entering my third and final year of undergraduate study, where I am majoring in Sociology, and minoring in Political Science and Hispanic studies. I am broadly interested in understanding how society affects individual behavior and I therefore quickly became passionate about my studies. In the future, I hope to complete a master鈥檚 degree in Public Policy, to later pursue a career in social policy analysis.
When I came across the job posting by WartimeCovid in early June, I immediately applied knowing I would love the position. I was very excited to be accepted as this internship offered both the possibility to make direct and immediate impact during a worldwide crisis while giving me the opportunity to gain more experience in policy work and analysis. WartimeCovid is a citizen action group fighting for universal access to essential personal protective equipment (鈥淧PE鈥�). As a non-profit, the organization relies on its world-class supply chain network to bring supplies of PPE to hospitals, nursing homes, organizations, and businesses across the United States at the lowest prices possible, so that they can operate safely. Additionally, in its commitment to ensuring universal access to PPE, WartimeCovid鈥檚 policy team continues to actively explore ways in which this non-profit can reach and protect vulnerable populations in need of PPE supplies.
Therefore, as a Policy Advocacy Associate at WartimeCovid, I have been researching the various ways in which existing social issues intersect with the COVID-19 pandemic, and on coordinating action plans and outreach strategies with the other members of WartimeCovid鈥檚 policy team to address these issues. For example, I analyzed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Black lives and livelihoods and used this information to craft an infographic on the issue, and to co-author a one-page statement of commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement on behalf of WartimeCovid. Additionally, I use an 鈥楢irtable鈥� to keep track of all my outreach communications to various social justice organizations, Chambers of Commerce, and Black-owned businesses. As a result of these outreach efforts, WartimeCovid is already establishing new partnerships to bring PPE to populations and individuals in need. As I enter the last two weeks of my internship, I am excited to change focus and explore the intersection of COVID-19 with business, the importance of workplace safety in the context of a pandemic, and how WartimeCovid can assist small-business owners to access much-needed PPE.
The remote nature of the internship did not come without its difficulties, however. I realized early on just how complicated it can be to communicate with others in the cyberspace, especially when working across time zones. As the internship went on, my coworkers and I developed a strategy for this, using video calls for discussions and important topics, and making sure to use messaging through Slack for smaller updates, as opposed to using the app as a replacement for discussion. This new method was definitely more effective. On my side, I made sure to keep a regular schedule during the internship period, starting and ending work around the same time each day, to avoid falling behind. These strategies really helped me to realize all my plans for the internship!
I did not have the chance to apply to receive credit for this internship as the position only emerged in early summer, but just the experience I gained working in policy and in the non-profit sector are invaluable to me. Firstly, this internship solidified my plan to work in social policy and motivated me to keep studying towards this goal. Additionally, this internship was an amazing opportunity for me to network, as I had the chance to work alongside established professionals from a variety of fields including a CTO of an important start-up.
Therefore, I wanted to extend my thanks and gratitude to the late Mr. Allan Hodgson for his important contribution to my future! Thanks to his support, I was able to fully commit myself to my work at WartimeCovid, and work towards making the biggest impact I possibly could during this deadly global pandemic. The funding I received from the Allan A. Hodgson Award allowed me to accept an unpaid position at WartimeCovid, where I used the funds awarded to cover my food and housing costs for the duration of the internship. Thanks again!
