Fall 2009 - Grassroots Outreach Internship: Empowering Change Agents!
This summer, NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts challenged seven college-aged women to defy their own personal boundaries and engage with the public around reproductive choice. It was the third year of our successful Grassroots Outreach Internship Program.This enthusiastic team of canvassers went out in the blistering heat (and overcast skies) four days a week, determined to approach as many passersby as possible – all across the city of Boston – asking them to sign petitions in support of Justice Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court and our priority legislation. When the summer came to an end, they had collected around 2,600 signatures! Not only did these seven women learn how to communicate successfully with the public, but they also learned many lessons in teambuilding and teamwork. The learning, however, did not stop on the streets of Boston or in the office. Along with four other progressive organizations, the NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts canvassers participated in a summer speakers' series – where they heard from community and government leaders on topics ranging from transgender rights to health care reform. Now, these women are returning to their campuses as change agents, ready and empowered to promote social justice.
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