Young interns explore Danville

For the second summer in a row, the Danville Regional Foundation has brought a group of talented young people to further the mission of transforming and sustaining the Dan River Region through hands-on work and education in the field of philanthropy.

This summer, eight interns have been hired with several goals in mind, including bringing skills and energy to the region, doing service projects, demonstrating to other young people there is rewarding employment in the area and helping to recruit and retain young professionals.

One of several projects the interns have worked on is discovering the Dan River, according to Wendi Everson, DRF program officer.

“They have explored the river, learned about its history and how businesses use it, looked at it as a recreational asset and evaluated the way it connects people in the region,” Everson said.

Meet the interns

Douglas Lewis Jr. is a Danville native and graduated from the University of Virginia in 2009 with a degree in mathematics-finance concentration. He has decided to pursue a master’s of education in counseling and focusing on intervention methods and counseling within African-American communities.

“I am personally dedicated to improving the health care of this region as well as our nation, and I am a strong advocate of battling societal issues that plague our communities,” he said.

“This internship has allowed me to view the region from a different lens. I have gained significant knowledge and understanding of non-profit organizations and how community leaders work to promote change and improve their community.”

He said his work with the DRF is “cementing a mantra deep within him” that if a person wants something, he or she should pursue it, despite “doubts, fears or time constraints.”

YiZhen Liu, who was born in China, moved to Pittsylvania County six years ago at the age of 13. The youngest intern, she is a rising sophomore at UVa, majoring in engineering science with a nano-medicine concentration with plans to become a doctor.

“I have never done an internship before, so I thought it would be great for me to try something completely new and different,” she said.

“Since my major is engineering and everything I dealt with in the past year was math and science related, going into a non-profit organization as an intern really refreshed my view toward the idea of working with people.”

She said she loves how the work has broadened her perspective and horizons, plus showed her a lot of resources and opportunities she hadn’t been aware of.

“I enjoy exploring the city to see what it has to offer and to find out its hidden treasures,” she said.

Miranda Baines, also a native of Danville, is a graduate student at Radford University where she studies corporate and professional communication.

She also has a bachelor’s degree in English from James Madison University and has worked as a newspaper reporter in Reidsville and Eden, N.C.

She applied for the internship because she thought it would give her the opportunity to make a contribution to her hometown.

“As a result of this internship, I realize that there are people here who are dedicated to improving the quality of life in Danville and transforming Danville into a thriving, vibrant city once again,” she said.

“I realize that Danville can move past the closing of Dan River Mills and the decline of the tobacco industry and embrace the future with a creative, resourceful, entrepreneurial spirit.”

Matthew MacFarland is from Lynchburg and is a rising senior at Hampden-Sydney College in Farmville where he majors in English with a minor in classical studies. He plans a career in either journalism, creative writing or English.

He wanted to intern with the DRF because it was different than his usual interests.

“I’ve learned more from this internship about how communities and local governments work than from what anyone or any class could tell me. I had no idea that an institution like the foundation existed in Danville, and I never thought I’d be a part of all the good they’re accomplishing for this region,” he said.

He said that his perspective of the region has changed drastically and after 10 weeks, Danville is almost another home to him.

Elsabe Dixon is from Chatham and recently graduated from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md., where she studied philosophy, Greek and French, music and the history of math and science.

“My time at St. John’s sparked an interest in higher education and community development that I hope to develop in a future career,” Dixon said. “I was excited when I heard about the DRF internship opportunity. Not only would I be able to stay in the Danville area during the summer, which is good for me because I love going to Braves games, but I would be able to gain valuable experience in philanthropy.”

She said in the past 10 weeks, she has gained a new perspective of the Dan River region and its leaders.

“The Danville area has so much potential: a great river, charming downtowns and local gems like Bubba’s Ice Cream,” she said.

Samanthe Tiver, originally from New Jersey, is a senior at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg where she studies economics and mathematics. She plans on living in Southside Virginia after graduation.

“I’ve worked with other nonprofits in the past, and I wanted to get a new perspective on community change. The DRF was a great way for me to look at the bigger picture of the region,” she said. “During my research, I’ve met so many community residents and leaders filled with great ideas for bettering Danville and passion for their neighborhoods … I’ve learned that the history and personality of the region is much more alive and vibrant. There are a lot of great things happening here and I look forward to coming back.”

Loren Pritchett, a Danville native, is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s in mass communications. She is pursuing a master’s of public administration, focusing on non-profit management.

“I hope to one day be able to merge my writing skills and my desire for advocacy work to change the lives of others,” he said.

“Because the DRF works to transform the Dan River Region through their philanthropy work, I knew an internship there would be a wonderful segue into my graduate studies. I’m a people person who finds delight in both meeting and working with new people and would like nothing more than to spend my life’s work impacting the lives of people in my community.”

Reggie Singletary is from Burlington, N.C., and a senior at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., studying sociology with a concentration in legal studies with an eye towards law school.

“I had been to Danville many times with my parents to go shopping, so the extent to which I thought the region needed revitalization was lost on me when I applied,” he said.

“I live only five minutes away from Caswell County, so I thought that I would be able to have the opportunity to make a difference close to home, while at the same time getting work experience.”

He said the internship has taught him about office jobs and given him the chance to use the research and writing skills he uses in school.

“The ability to develop these and contribute some small part to the future of the region is a wonderful opportunity,” he said.