Matt Blinstrubas (IMJR in Social Justice & the American Experience through Literature) spent fall 2007 as a Conference Organizer at True Colors, Inc. Matt graduated in May 2008 with a double major in English and an IMJR in Social Justice and the American Experience through Literature. He is now working as a Community Organizer for the organization Love Makes a Family [www.lmfct.org].
“I interned at True Colors, Inc., a non-profit organization that provides services, advocacy, and support to LGBT youth and families in Connecticut. True Colors organizes the largest LGBT youth issues conference in the country, which hosts approximately 3,300 youth and professionals over a three-day period. I worked as part of the conference organizing team, securing sponsorship funding and assisting the Events Coordinator in conference planning.”
“The True Colors mission embodied similar objectives to several of the classes I was taking in my Individualized Major plan of study. I actually learned about the organization and its work through a classmate and a professor. Both had experience with the organization and thought it would be a good fit. My work at True Colors introduced me to people in the professional world who had similar interests and academic backgrounds to me. My colleagues at True Colors presented me with new options and ideas for continuing my education, some of which I may consider sometime in the future. The networking opportunities in my internship work led to my current job at a similar organization which I started immediately following graduation.”
Matt's advice to students considering getting an internship:
“I recommend taking as much internship credit as is allowable in your plan of study and as early possible in your college career. I would recommend an internship with True Colors for anyone with an interest in the common good or with an Individualized Major related to social justice, advocacy, activism, and/or social work of any kind. Good luck!”
Internship: Social Justice