Hi! My name is Anna Gimilaro. This is my first blog post…ever! To introduce myself a little, I’m heading into my junior year, and I study political economy with minors in urban studies and Spanish. I’m spending the summer as an intern at Lift Louisiana through the Reproductive Rights and Reproductive Health Program. I don’t know exactly how a blog works, but I guess I’ll just broadcast the thoughts and experiences I’ve had during the first few weeks at my internship site.
I didn’t have many expectations as I started this internship, but I can certainly say it has been a great experience so far! Lift Louisiana is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate community members, advocate for all women, and influence public policy decisions to increase reproductive rights and improve health outcomes for women. Since it’s a new organization, I work directly under the executive director, Michelle Erenberg. This initially intimidated me, but after getting to know Michelle, I’ve realized it’s a lucky position to be in. Michelle is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in all things women’s rights, so she’s a great resource for me–someone who is passionate but new to the field. In addition to answering all my questions and explaining new Supreme Court decisions, she gives me a lot of independence with the projects I do. And since it’s a small organization, what I do counts!
As for the work itself, the main project I’ve been handling so far is updating the Louisiana Judicial Bypass Project Website–a program run by Lift, Tulane law students, and volunteer attorneys. For those who don’t know (I barely did a few weeks ago), judicial bypass is the option for getting a judge to approve a minor’s abortion request in states, like Louisiana, where written parental consent is required. The LA Judicial Bypass Project, parented by Lift, matches teens with free attorneys to represent them in court and help them navigate the process. Many teens seeking abortions don’t know this is an option, so I’ve been trying to make the website more friendly to young people by changing the legal jargon and adding graphics. This type of writing allows me to be creative–something I haven’t had the chance to do much of in college courses so far. It’s not just about sharing information but doing so in a way that targets young people and makes them feel supported.
Lift Louisiana’s base in Propeller has also added to my experience. It’s an incubator-style office full of innovative people working for social justice oriented organizations. The high energy environment that pushes me to hard–quite the contrast from the stale air of a Howie-T cubicle where I do school work.
Looking back on my time so far, I can say this is the exact type of internship I’ve always wanted to have. I’m excited to see how the rest of the summer goes!