Hi Seda! Along with being a volunteer at PPL, you're a college student. Where do you go to school and what are you majoring in?
I go to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN and I am a Political Scientific major along with two minors in International Relations and Race and Ethnic Studies.
How long have you been working with PPL?
I started in July 2020.
What made you choose PPL?
One of my friends who used to be the Equity and Engagement Intern for PPL introduced me. She would often praise the organization and its work. I looked into the role as well as the organization and was drawn in by the mission statement. When I joined the Social Impact Scholars program at St. Olaf, I saw PPL on the list. I knew that I wanted to spend my time wisely and for my internship experience to be meaningful. I felt as though coming to PPL would help accomplish that.
What is your role at PPL and what are your responsibilities?
I am the Equity and Engagement Intern and I help assist the NDP (Neighborhood Engagement, DEI- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Public Policy) committees with administrative skills like updating spreadsheets and creating communication tools like posters. Another responsibility is assembling care packages for people. I also helped with the volunteer engagement program last year for the US elections. Working with racial affinity spaces and navigating that space has been something that I've never experienced before and I'm glad to be a part of that journey.
What are you looking to accomplish during your time at PPL?
I'm looking forward to integrating what I've learned from the classroom into the work that I'm doing here at PPL. Having the opportunity to support my arguments from debates in classes and strengthening PPL's integral work in antiracism program has allowed me to grow on a professional scale.
What motivates you each day to come into work?
I'd have to say my supervisor, Nichole. She is not just someone that I look up to and learn from, but she's also a caring and compassionate person. Knowing that she doesn't just see me as an employee but rather a person is fulfilling. Nichole helps build me up by asking what my aspirations are and what I'm looking for in the future. Building the correlation between professional and personal has made me excited to come into work.
What has been a highlight for you while working at PPL?
For me, my highlight has been making connections with staff and Nichole. The staff's motivation to work here is genuine and has allowed me to learn a lot.