More Than An Internship
- Amira Mitchell
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
It’s hard to believe I am already at the halfway point of my internship with Stone Soup PDX. This past month has been one of the most meaningful and formative experiences I’ve had, and I don’t say that lightly. I came into this internship hoping to grow, connect, and really deepen my understanding of communications and nonprofit work, and I’ve already walked away with so much more than I expected.
Stone Soup is one of those rare places where the mission is felt every single day in the way the team greets each other, the care that goes into every meal prepared, and the unspoken trust that’s built through this work. From day one, I felt incredibly welcome not just as “the intern”, but as a true part of the team. That kind of culture is difficult to describe but when you feel it, you know. Professionally, I have had the opportunity to wear a lot of different hats, which has been both exciting and motivating. I have helped brainstorm and create social media campaigns, conducted interviews for participant spotlights, supported the outreach and promotions for our cafe, sat in on collaboration meetings, and best of all got to know this amazing team.
One of the things that I’ve appreciated the most is how much creative freedom I have been given in this role. My ideas are heard, trusted, and I’ve been encouraged to take ownership over projects and experiment, while still being supported whenever I have questions. My team's sense of empowerment has really allowed me to grow in both skill and confidence. More than anything though, it’s been the people who have made this experience so memorable. The kindness and passion I’ve witnessed from both staff and participants is inspiring, I have had the privilege of getting to hear firsthand why people come to Stone Soup- whether that be to reconnect or reimagine a new future, which has only reminded me of how powerful a community can be.
As I look ahead to the final weeks of my internship, I am beyond excited to keep digging deeper, taking in as much as I can, and contributing however I can. This experience has only strengthened my interest in the nonprofit world, and I feel more committed than ever to continuing this kind of work when I return to school in the fall. Thank you to Stone Soup PDX for being an amazing example of what a mission-driven workplace can look like. And thank you to the University of Oregon PIE program for helping make this opportunity possible. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of something that’s making a real difference and I am proudly holding onto every lesson I’ve learned so far!
Stone Soup PDX is a workforce culinary training program for folks with barriers to employment. At our core we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported in their growth. Amira’s reflection highlights something we hear again and again from our interns, staff, participants, and our broader community. Let’s keep building that together!
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