By Calvin Chrisfield
This summer, I had the pleasure of interning with the Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund through the University of Maryland’s Do Good Impact Interns program. This was a fantastic experience that taught me so much about working in the environmental policy space and gave me valuable skills that I will bring with me as I complete my education and begin my career.
Going into this internship, I was thrilled at the opportunity to work with the Maryland LCV Education Fund. Through my public policy background and previous experience in the Maryland environmental policy space, I was familiar with Maryland LCV Education Fund’s work, and their reputation preceded them. I was honored to be given this opportunity to work with such a well-respected team and apply my public policy education to make a real-world difference.
Upon joining the team, I quickly learned that Maryland LCV Education Fund lived up to their reputation. I was able to work with some of the most passionate and politically savvy people I have ever met, learning every day to be a better environmental advocate.
The highlight of this experience was the opportunity to work on the Environmental Justice Storytelling Project. This project allowed me to tell the stories of several environmental justice leaders from across the state who have worked to make their communities a safer, cleaner, more sustainable place. Learning from these advocates has been incredibly inspiring, and it has been an honor to uplift their voices and tell their stories. You can read all of these stories here.
To any future Maryland LCV Education Fund interns, I’d love to leave a few pieces of advice. First, try to come into the office whenever you can. One of the best parts of this internship is the opportunity to meet and learn from the Maryland LCV Education Fund team, so make sure you take advantage of that opportunity whenever possible. Second, if you have something valuable to add to a conversation, add it. You are going to come into this internship with your own unique knowledge and experiences, so don’t be afraid to share that with the rest of the team when it applies. Finally, you will get out of this program what you put into it, so dive in headfirst. If you engage fully and allow the mission to inspire you, you will have a fantastic summer full of learning.
Calvin is studying public policy at the University of Maryland and expects to graduate in 2027. You can find his LinkedIn here.