Interning with HOTT, Helping Ourselves to Transform, while working on a project focused on women affected by domestic violence has been both powerful and personal. I learned that healing from trauma isn’t just about survival, it’s about reclaiming your voice, your strength, and your future. This experience taught me how important it is to create spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported. I gained insight into the deep emotional and psychological impact of abuse, and how cycles of trauma can affect every part of someone’s life, from mental health to housing to relationships. I also learned how to approach these topics with empathy, sensitivity, and cultural awareness. Through my work with survivors, I saw the resilience and courage it takes to start over. And through HOTT’s mission, I realized that transformation is not just for the people we serve, it’s for us too. This internship helped me grow professionally, but it also transformed me personally. I now carry a deeper passion for advocacy, mental health, and supporting women in their journey toward healing.

At Helping Ourselves to Transform, I gained valuable insight into the multifaceted nature of advancing legislation and judicial reform. As Co-Lead of the Communications Team, I not only deepened my understanding of the policy-making process, but also discovered more about my own strengths and areas for growth. This experience broadened my perspective on the diverse career opportunities that exist in policy and advocacy beyond traditional government roles.

Through this experience at HOTT, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges incarcerated women face within the justice system. I also learned that meaningful change requires a multifaceted approach, one that involves extensive behind-the-scenes work, from engaging with judges and legislators to conducting research and preparing reports that support legislative advocacy.

As a member of the Research and Survey Team at Helping Ourselves to Transform, I gained firsthand insight into the inner workings of policy development and legislative research. Through this internship, I came to understand the extensive effort, coordination, and strategic planning, often involving numerous meetings and stakeholder engagement, that go into crafting and advancing a single piece of legislation.

I learned with Helping Ourselves to Transform as the lead intern for assessment and interviewing on this project, Time management, Preparation, Goal-setting & Execution. To go a little deeper, this project is pertinent to women in my community because it is a legal stepping stone for women’s liberation. Growing up, I have encountered countless women in my life who experienced physical, mental and emotional torment at the hands of a significant other, and endured the abuse in fear of legal and social repercussions and the lack of support. Our initiative expands the dimensions of abuse in legal doctrine and employs the insights of those with lived experiences to create new approaches to investigations and sentencing. It redefines the criminal justice system as a process guided by empathy, equity and reformation, morality that’s been historically disregarded against Women of Color in the United States.

Throughout this experience with HOTT, I gained valuable skills in legislative drafting, effective teamwork, and professional conduct in meetings. I also learned the importance of pursuing your goals with passion and dedication. Additionally, I developed a deeper understanding of the power of collaboration, how to cast a wide net to engage diverse partners and bring people and organizations together in pursuit of a shared mission.

As the Intern Lead for the Research Team at Helping Ourselves to Transform (HOTT), I gained valuable insight into the legislative process and the behind-the-scenes work involved in introducing a bill into the legislative branch. This experience deepened my understanding of how policy is shaped and advanced, and highlighted the critical importance of networking and building strong relationships within your field of work.

Interning at Helping Ourselves to Transform has taught me how important consistency and confidence are when working in the legislative space. As the lead of the Survey Committee, I created all the tools used to collect the necessary data to support the release of women who are survivors of domestic violence. Maintaining consistent communication and holding regular meetings played a key role in helping us present the project to a wide range of stakeholders and build the support needed to keep it moving forward. Being on the ground and actively advancing this work has been an invaluable experience.

My time with the research team at HOTT has been incredibly insightful. I gained a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding reentry programs, particularly the challenges returning citizens face in accessing effective support. Beyond the valuable data analysis, I was particularly struck by the stark realities of gender inequality in domestic violence and how the justice system can inadvertently penalize victims. Observing my colleagues' unwavering work ethic and dedication to this crucial research has been truly inspiring, reinforcing my commitment to advocating for more equitable and effective solutions.