*What it means to intern for N.O.M.W.*
Over the course of my junior year of college, I had the privilege to intern for NOT ON MY WATCH, A movement that seeks to engage faith-based leaders of all denominations to take action against human trafficking and other crimes against women and children, and to create a citywide presence and call to action against human trafficking and domestic violence against women and children. From this opportunity I gained a depth of insight that has informed my career decisions in the Social Services field. No matter how different my tasks have been at my internship I’ve held, I have gained a meaningful perspective on the work and the impact it can has on our communities. Given my young age, in this internship I was given a considerable amount of responsibility and mobility within the organization. Thanks to Dr. Que English I enjoyed getting behind the scenes because it gave me a great insight of all the details that event planning involves.Most importantly working for this organization as interns we gain real world experience and exposure to a professional environment and have the opportunity to learn about the various departments, attend meetings, and meet important people such as Chirlane Irene McCray who is the First Lady Of NYC, NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill, Pastor A.R. Bernard, Homeland Security Staff, and other influential people and leaders that convinced me to continue my career in the Social Work Field. Every moment I was in I felt valued, not just as an intern, but as a part of their wonderful hard working team and movement. One of the main reasons why I felt constantly empowered as an intern was because the Dr. Que English and her staff understands that each person’s contribution and effort matters because Together, we have the power to make a real difference within the organization, our community, and society at large. The connections that I am making, the things that I am learning, the opportunities that are coming my way none of this would be possible without my internship at Not On My Watch. As Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” I urge every young person to believe in their dreams and apply for an internship.
Cesiah Lopez
As an intern for NOMW, I had the privilege to experience the macro aspect of social work. NOMW provides interns with the opportunity to explore the political world through trips to Albany, Harlem State Building and working in partnerships with state senators and council members of New York State. Not only did I experience being involved in politics but also working together with city agencies and non-profit agencies in NYC. Interning for NOMW was a unique experience where learning never stopped.
Jane Kim
As a psychology major, I had never considered working in the social work field. For my field experience, I planned on shadowing a psychologist and preparing for the work required in my future workplace. My plans of shadowing a doctor did not work out and I found the opportunity to work at NOMW. This agency is an organization that trains and educates citizens to learn and spread awareness about Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence in New York.
Interning here has opened my eyes to a crime that I had never heard about before coming to New York. I have learned so much information in a short amount of time here and I believe that God brought me here to help with the advocacy against human trafficking. This experience has sparked an interest of making the fight against human trafficking and domestic violence apart of my life in the future. I am so grateful for the opportunities for interviews and close mentoring I have received from Rev Que English. She has a passion for God and his kingdom and she truly strives to make him proud in everything she does. She is such a blessing to work under and a great inspiration for future leaders that want to become Chief executive officers, whether they are female, persons of color or any other marginalized group of individuals.
Cymphony Lockhart
I cannot thank you enough for all you did for me! I have learned so much from you and will take that knowledge and passion, wanting to alleviate human trafficking and domestic violence in our world with me.
Amanda Rachel Cianci, MSW Student, New York University
