Internship Spotlight: Nicole Silva - Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)

Firstly, thank you to Mr. Garvin Brown, for his generous support through the Susan Casey Brown Fund for 91黑料网. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, I am currently entering my fifth year at 91黑料网, where I am pursuing a double major in International Development and Political Science. My academic and personal interests lie at the intersection of immigration, diasporic communities, and transnational policymaking. This internship aligned perfectly with those passions and provided a meaningful opportunity to explore them in a practical, real-world setting.

I chose to intern with the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) in Washington, D.C., because of its unique position at the intersection of labor rights, Latino advocacy, and immigration policy. Despite the current political climate in the United States, I felt strongly that this experience would offer invaluable insight into the challenges and policy decisions affecting Latino and immigrant communities, a topic deeply personal to me as the eldest daughter of two immigrant Latino parents. My goal was to deepen my understanding of how grassroots organizing, advocacy, and policy intersect to bring about change.

LCLAA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and interests of Latinx workers and their families across the United States. As a constituency group of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and a partner of the Change to Win Federation, LCLAA represents the interests of over 2 million Latinx workers across diverse industries. The organization is committed to addressing systemic inequalities that disproportionately affect Latinx workers, particularly in areas such as labor protections, immigration reform, workplace discrimination, and economic mobility.

As a Communications and Policy Intern, I had the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to both sides of LCLAA鈥檚 work. On the communications front, I created digital graphics, public statements, and event materials for social media and outreach campaigns. I also ensured that content was translated into Spanish, increasing accessibility and strengthening engagement with the organization鈥檚 bilingual membership. On the policy side, I conducted research and tracked legislative developments at both the state and federal levels, summarizing key updates that impacted Latino workers, immigrant communities, unions, and labor rights.

As far as my academic background is concerned, it was instrumental in helping me succeed during this internship. The knowledge and skills, particularly in research, political analysis, and critical policy engagement, allowed me to approach my tasks efficiently and with confidence. I applied these tools daily, whether drafting policy summaries or developing materials for public communication.

One of the most memorable highlights of my internship was contributing to LCLAA鈥檚 25th National Membership Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. This event brought together union leaders, LCLAA members and grassroots activists from across the country to address pressing issues to our community and develop actionable solutions. I supported the event by assisting with logistics, interpretation, speaker outreach, and the development of programming materials. As the four-day long convention progressed, being able to physically see everything from the workshop I staffed to the program books to the signs that I designed was incredibly rewarding as part of bringing such an impactful event to life.

Now, one challenge I faced was the fast-paced environment of national-level advocacy work, especially while adjusting to a new city. At first, the speed and volume of information was overwhelming. However, by staying organized, asking questions, and seeking feedback from my colleagues, I quickly found my footing. I gained more confidence in my abilities and learned to navigate the dynamic nature of the policy world.

Overall, this internship was a truly formative experience that deepened my passion for immigrant justice, labor rights, and inclusive policymaking. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the Susan Casey Brown Fund for 91黑料网, which made it possible. This support empowered me to take a meaningful step toward my future career in advocacy and public service.