This semester, 吃瓜猎奇 students Olivia Lombard ’26 and Jorge Perez Morales ’28 are getting their hands dirty, not just with soil, but with meaningful work through internships at the (PCG), a nonprofit focused on restoring and connecting Atlanta鈥檚 communities through environmental revitalization.
Both students received scholarships from 吃瓜猎奇 to support their unpaid internship roles, allowing them to dive headfirst into real-world experiences while making a tangible difference in the community.
For Lombard, the internship was rooted in research. Her focus on environmental justice gave her the opportunity to explore how past urban decisions have impacted underserved communities.
鈥淢y work researching how PCG can improve environmental justice will be used to help them qualify for grants to further expand the greenway,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or the community, my work can educate others on the impacts of environmental justice and how to prevent injustices and overall live a greener lifestyle.鈥�
She added that the experience opened her eyes to the long-term nature of environmental work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to go pick up trash for a day and another to feel like your work has a long-term impact that will improve the community for multiple generations,鈥� Lombard said. 鈥淵ou have to be willing to sacrifice your time to have any real change.鈥�
Perez Morales, who led the organization鈥檚 digital presence, contributed by creating engaging and educational content across PCG鈥檚 social media platforms.
鈥淢y work has not only informed our community about holidays and upcoming events, but has also helped bring the community closer together through regular posts about national holidays and cleanup events organized on the Greenway,鈥� he said.
As a business administration major, Perez Morales shared how his coursework at 吃瓜猎奇 helped prepare him for this creative role.
鈥淢y first business class, Principles of Management, taught us how businesses use advertising to attract customers. I鈥檝e grown a lot during this internship,” said Perez Morales. “I even landed my first marketing client, a restaurant I used to work at, and I鈥檝e been managing their marketing for several months now.鈥�
Despite their different roles, both interns found inspiration in the people around them.
Perez Morales said, 鈥淲itnessing people take time out of their busy lives to help clean and care for the Greenway has been truly inspiring. This experience has not only renewed my faith in humanity but also strengthened my own commitment to community involvement.鈥�
Each intern had clear advice for fellow students considering nonprofit internships like this one.
鈥淚f what you want to do has a greater impact on making the world a better place, go for it,鈥� Lombard said. 鈥淵ou may end up learning or receiving more than you would expect.鈥�
Perez Morales agreed, 鈥淚f you have the time to commit to an internship that interests you or is community-focused, I highly recommend it. It not only provides hands-on experience that looks great on your resume, but also gives you the chance to be part of something that supports the community even if it鈥檚 just a few social media posts a month.鈥�
Whether through rigorous research or thoughtful digital storytelling, both students are helping Peachtree Creek Greenway build a more just, connected and environmentally conscious future one project at a time.
