By Anita Eyong
My name is Anita Eyong, and I am a nursing student and passionate community resource advocate. I recently participated in West LA College's internship program “Every Career is Climate Career,” which matched me with South Los Angeles Transit Empowerment Zone (SLATE-Z).
My internship with SLATE-Z was a truly transformative experience which significantly deepened my understanding of sustainability and community engagement. I had the opportunity to work alongside a dedicated and passionate team and immerse myself in projects focused on promoting environmental awareness and fostering a greener future for South LA.
My key responsibilities as an intern included social media strategy and content creation for the South LA Eco-Lab, one of SLATE-Z's five initiatives. In addition to creating an editorial calendar to highlight South LA Eco-Lab's mission and accomplishments, I collaborated with SLATE-Z VISTAs, staff, and other partners to identify related events and outreach initiatives to promote. In addition to strategy, I also created videos, images, and captions for social media posts that highlighted South LA Eco-Lab's ongoing events and initiatives. For instance, I helped educate residents on sustainable practices like recycling and urban gardening, which not only taught practical skills but also strengthened community bonds. Through this content creation, I refined my ability to communicate complex environmental concepts in a way that was both accessible and engaging.
Collaborating with local partners enriched my experience along the way, giving me insight into the power of community collaboration in driving positive change. Throughout my internship, I also felt supported and valued by my SLATE-Z team, especially by my site mentor, Vanesa, who made me feel welcomed and respected from the very beginning. I’m also grateful to Joni, my interim supervisor, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, who was incredibly helpful, especially with my final projects. The entire team was always ready to assist, truly making them a dream team to work with.
My time at the SLATE-Z was incredibly rewarding, inspiring me with the team’s dedication and the impact we were able to achieve together. This experience has equipped me with essential skills in project management, communications, and social media strategy, and has deepened my passion for advocating for environmental justice and sustainable development within our communities.