At Resolve, we believe that developing a strong, intentional, and multi-layered internship program provides great benefits to the individuals who choose to intern with us, to us as an organization, and to our industry at large. We greatly appreciate the value and expertise that all Resolve interns and fellows bring to the table, and our staff works hard to create a valuable, meaningful experience that will support them in their future endeavors.

Recently, we caught up with Dashiell Allen, Resolve’s former Engagement Reporting Intern, to learn more about his experience. Check out what he had to say below.

How would you describe this internship experience to others?

My internship experience was great! I worked primarily with Rasheed Ajamu, Editor of Germantown Info Hub, and Danielle Smith, Editorial Director of Community News. I had the opportunity to contribute stories about life in Germantown to the Info Hub, two of my highlights being coverage of the Germantown Arts District’s first annual festival, and an in-depth profile of Victoria Best, an education advocate and nonprofit leader.

I also contributed a story about Philadelphia’s block captains to the biannual Resolve Philly newsletter, and took a tour of the murals in Mantua (West Philly).

The experience was very rewarding, and reinforced for me the value of in-person interactions with sources and on-the-ground knowledge of a community. I am forever impressed by Rasheed’s knowledge and care for Germantown, the neighborhood they grew up in, and understand now why community news plays such a vital role in keeping neighbors connected and informed.

I had the freedom to choose what stories I wanted to cover, and also be guided by Rasheed to what was most pressing for the community, which I at first was not familiar with. Rasheed and Danielle both provided excellent edits on my writing, along with advice and mentorship.

How would you describe the culture at Resolve Philly?

There is a lot going on! Everyone is working on a different project with the shared goal of keeping Philadelphians informed about their city.

Thursday editorial meetings were a highlight for me, because they gave me the chance to learn about everyone’s amazing work, whether it be holding Sound OFFs, training residents to take notes at government meetings, running the Equally Informed Philly text line, or teaching a class on civic engagement and journalism.

Looking back, what do you wish you would have known before starting this internship?

I don’t think I had the fullest understanding of all the different work that Resolve does. I definitely had a little bit of catching up to do during my first few days. I did not know there was so much going on!

What has been most rewarding about your work?

Definitely hearing positive feedback from sources about stories I had written. It’s a great feeling when you know your work is having an impact on people’s lives!

What’s next for you?

I am sticking to local journalism in my next role as a reporter at W42ST, a hyper-local paper in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. There, I intend to continue listening closely to neighbors, and documenting their stories. I may be leaving Resolve, but I am staying an engagement reporter.