Intern Testimonials
Interns Summer 2018
During my phone interview with Nora for this internship, she asked me what I was interested in and saw myself doing as a career in the future. I told her about my interest in Public Health and how I envisioned myself working in that field but I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. Nora told me that I would have the opportunity to explore my interests this summer and work on a project that I would ultimately create for myself. The thought of being in charge of my own project worried me at first because I had no experience in public policy or advocacy but I was comforted by the fact that Nora was there to guide me through all the chaos and confusion I was about to create for myself.
After listening to my interests, Nora immediately suggested that I look into the intersection of mental health and incarceration and develop a project from those topics. She recommeded at least three documentaries to watch and a few article to read so I could get a brief introduction to these topics. I started doing my research by reading literature on mental health policies in California and trying to understand the institution as a whole. I came across a law that addressed mental health, incarceration and homelessness— Laura’s Law. When I told Nora about this law, she started asking me questions that I didn’t have the answers to and that’s when I realized that I needed to become an expert on this topic so I could confidently answer all the questions Nora was throwing my way. While I initially didn’t know where all this research on Laura’s Law was leading to, the process taught me that research and learning a topic doesn’t end and it keeps going until there are no more questions left. In my case, the questions didn’t stop because laws and bills relating to mental health were complicated to fully understand. While I didn’t get the “satisfaction" of reaching an end to the research, the discussion of Laura’s Law with other nonprofits, legislators, and doctors sparked intriguing conversations about the mental health of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Nora’s guidance during my journey here at UTAC is what ultimately made my summer so educational. She constantly encouraged all of the interns to be resilient and find creative ways to overcome any roadblocks we came across. I’m sure that the skills I have developed over the last three months will help me in both professional and personal settings and I’m eager to see them at play as my Public Health journey continues.
I am so thankful to Nora for giving me the opportunity to intern at Until There’s A Cure this summer. UTAC does an amazing job of working to eradicate HIV/AIDS and address social issues surrounding those affected by the disease and I feel honored to be a part of this incredible organization.
-Nandita, Intern (2018)
After listening to my interests, Nora immediately suggested that I look into the intersection of mental health and incarceration and develop a project from those topics. She recommeded at least three documentaries to watch and a few article to read so I could get a brief introduction to these topics. I started doing my research by reading literature on mental health policies in California and trying to understand the institution as a whole. I came across a law that addressed mental health, incarceration and homelessness— Laura’s Law. When I told Nora about this law, she started asking me questions that I didn’t have the answers to and that’s when I realized that I needed to become an expert on this topic so I could confidently answer all the questions Nora was throwing my way. While I initially didn’t know where all this research on Laura’s Law was leading to, the process taught me that research and learning a topic doesn’t end and it keeps going until there are no more questions left. In my case, the questions didn’t stop because laws and bills relating to mental health were complicated to fully understand. While I didn’t get the “satisfaction" of reaching an end to the research, the discussion of Laura’s Law with other nonprofits, legislators, and doctors sparked intriguing conversations about the mental health of individuals experiencing homelessness.
Nora’s guidance during my journey here at UTAC is what ultimately made my summer so educational. She constantly encouraged all of the interns to be resilient and find creative ways to overcome any roadblocks we came across. I’m sure that the skills I have developed over the last three months will help me in both professional and personal settings and I’m eager to see them at play as my Public Health journey continues.
I am so thankful to Nora for giving me the opportunity to intern at Until There’s A Cure this summer. UTAC does an amazing job of working to eradicate HIV/AIDS and address social issues surrounding those affected by the disease and I feel honored to be a part of this incredible organization.
-Nandita, Intern (2018)
When I interviewed with Nora, the Executive Director, one of the first things she said to me was that she tries her hardest to never assign her interns busy work, and tailors the projects to each intern based on their personal goals and interests. That, coupled with her promise of a network of connections in every industry imaginable, was definitely enough to convince me to want to spend my summer at Until. Since then, Nora has stayed true to her word. She assigned me to work on homelessness in Oakland on my first day, but said little else beyond that. I first educated myself on the state of homelessness in Oakland and on the organizations currently addressing the issue. Once having done that, I reached a point where I had to pick a direction to take this project in. It felt weird to have the freedom to do so and at this point of the process, Nora took on the role of someone I bounced ideas off of. She gave me one-on-one attention, without making it feel like she was holding my hand and forcing me to do things a certain way. After we kind of found our bearings, we were able to pinpoint a more specific focus for us. I essentially spent my summer doing behind the scenes work for multiple Oakland nonprofits we had partnered with. For example, one wanted a mobile health clinic, one was interested in securing grants, and another wanted help with product donations. Throughout the summer, we were also given the opportunity to do multiple on-site visits to places like Lava Mae’s shower bus and Pop-Up Care Village, Gilead’s labs where they are literally working to find a cure for AIDS, and the Bill Wilson Center that keeps youth off the streets every single day. Overall, all the work we did was an invaluable, well-rounded introduction into the world of nonprofit work. What made my experience at Until especially unique was the amount of trust Nora placed in her interns. Whenever we met with other nonprofit leaders or spoke with them on the phone, Nora would let us lead the conversation. When we decided to host a summit meeting at the end of the summer bringing together all the nonprofits we had open in touch with, she let us take complete charge. From sending out the invitation to preparing folders to present at the meeting, the interns took care of everything. In terms of my personal relationship with her, she believed in me more than I believed in myself. She pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to be the best that I could possibly be. Nora took the time to get to know me as a person and my goals for the future, and that’s definitely not something you expect from a relationship between an Executive Director and an intern. I’m so grateful for my experience at Until, and I feel ready to use the skills and resources I’ve gained here to tackle whatever the future holds for me next!
-Sanjana, Intern (2018)
-Sanjana, Intern (2018)
My name is Henry French, and I’m a rising senior at the University of Chicago, studying Public Policy & Human Rights on a pre-law track. This summer, I worked with Nandita Somayaji and Sanajana Murthy as Public Policy & Advocacy Interns at the Until There’s A Cure Foundation.
In my previous 3 years at the University of Chicago, I’ve gotten to work with a range of nonprofits, focusing on education and college readiness, primarily partnering with high schools on the South Side, but occasionally working with pre-K through middle school as well. I’ve worked with a variety of stakeholders in the educational process, and gained appreciation for the complex challenge of properly educating hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of students with limited resources. After spending enough time on this issue, in this city, I knew I was ready for a change- this wasn’t my final calling.
I knew that coming to work for Until There’s A Cure would be a paradigm shift, and I was excited to cut my teeth in a new nonprofit sector in a new part of the country. Though still operating in the world of nonprofits and CBO’s, my experience at Until There’s A Cure has unsurprisingly been totally different than my experience at nonprofits in Chicago. The populations we are serving are not students, but rather people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk for HIV/AIDS. The history of the struggle against HIV/AIDS is rife, recent, and inextricably connected to the Bay Area, but the fight today is reshaping, highlighting areas and peoples who have been left behind by the advances of the past 25 years. The story of HIV/AIDS is still happening right now, and this immediacy has been a strong motivator to, despite my lack of experience, roll up my sleeves, get to work, and learn on the way.
This summer, the other interns and I focused primarily on promoting and facilitating harm reduction for communities who are at risk for HIV/AIDS- actively working to help people reach safer, healthier, and happier lives. To this end, we spent a lot of our time in the office, soliciting donations of basic health and hygiene supplies for Oakland nonprofits, and coordinating services provided by these organizations. This has been challenging, but ultimately fruitful work. We might only receive 1 or 2 responses for every 15 emails sent, but throughout the summer, we were able to secure significant donations of products like socks, toothbrushes, towels- items that can make a big difference in the basic health, happiness, and dignity of someone experiencing homelessness.
We also worked to connect similar nonprofits operating in Oakland. By coordinating services, sharing resources, and working together rather than competing, we believed that organizations with similar missions could more effectively achieve their goals than they could alone. We brought together 6 nonprofits and CBOs working in the Oakland area for a summit, and were able to help facilitate a productive dialogue about service schedules, and ways that each organization could help others. Going into the future, we’re hopeful that this cooperation will continue and that these nonprofits can work as a coalition to bring resources and progress to the Oakland community.
I’m satisfied and proud of the work that we were able to do this summer. I know that we helped people, and made a difference in people’s lives, and that feels good. But, there’s a lingering feeling that we didn’t change anything. The community problems that existed at the beginning of the summer are still very much present. The work of harm reduction is never finished.
I spoke with my friend who is a community organizer in Chicago about this earlier in the summer, and she told me a story. You’re standing in a river, when suddenly you see a baby floating downstream, crying and struggling. And then there’s another, and another, and another- you gather your friends, and you pull them out as fast as you can, but they just keep coming. It feels wrong to divert any resources away from pulling out as many babies as you can, but eventually, you have to ask yourself- where are these babies coming from, and how do we stop the flow?
I’ve enjoyed my work at nonprofits, in Chicago, and here in the Bay Area. It’s been immensely educational and fulfilling. These experiences, however, have affirmed my desire to attend law school, and work to change the system on behalf of people who are struggling and drowning. I am glad and grateful for every person I’ve been able to help, but I can and want to do more. There’s no shortage of unjust laws and practices in this country, and I hope that I can scale my impact by working to change the laws that affect countless people’s lives. I’m grateful for my coworkers and everyone at Until There’s a Cure, for the work that they do and for making it an unforgettable summer. Thank you.
It’s time to head upstream.
-Henry, Intern (2018)
In my previous 3 years at the University of Chicago, I’ve gotten to work with a range of nonprofits, focusing on education and college readiness, primarily partnering with high schools on the South Side, but occasionally working with pre-K through middle school as well. I’ve worked with a variety of stakeholders in the educational process, and gained appreciation for the complex challenge of properly educating hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of students with limited resources. After spending enough time on this issue, in this city, I knew I was ready for a change- this wasn’t my final calling.
I knew that coming to work for Until There’s A Cure would be a paradigm shift, and I was excited to cut my teeth in a new nonprofit sector in a new part of the country. Though still operating in the world of nonprofits and CBO’s, my experience at Until There’s A Cure has unsurprisingly been totally different than my experience at nonprofits in Chicago. The populations we are serving are not students, but rather people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk for HIV/AIDS. The history of the struggle against HIV/AIDS is rife, recent, and inextricably connected to the Bay Area, but the fight today is reshaping, highlighting areas and peoples who have been left behind by the advances of the past 25 years. The story of HIV/AIDS is still happening right now, and this immediacy has been a strong motivator to, despite my lack of experience, roll up my sleeves, get to work, and learn on the way.
This summer, the other interns and I focused primarily on promoting and facilitating harm reduction for communities who are at risk for HIV/AIDS- actively working to help people reach safer, healthier, and happier lives. To this end, we spent a lot of our time in the office, soliciting donations of basic health and hygiene supplies for Oakland nonprofits, and coordinating services provided by these organizations. This has been challenging, but ultimately fruitful work. We might only receive 1 or 2 responses for every 15 emails sent, but throughout the summer, we were able to secure significant donations of products like socks, toothbrushes, towels- items that can make a big difference in the basic health, happiness, and dignity of someone experiencing homelessness.
We also worked to connect similar nonprofits operating in Oakland. By coordinating services, sharing resources, and working together rather than competing, we believed that organizations with similar missions could more effectively achieve their goals than they could alone. We brought together 6 nonprofits and CBOs working in the Oakland area for a summit, and were able to help facilitate a productive dialogue about service schedules, and ways that each organization could help others. Going into the future, we’re hopeful that this cooperation will continue and that these nonprofits can work as a coalition to bring resources and progress to the Oakland community.
I’m satisfied and proud of the work that we were able to do this summer. I know that we helped people, and made a difference in people’s lives, and that feels good. But, there’s a lingering feeling that we didn’t change anything. The community problems that existed at the beginning of the summer are still very much present. The work of harm reduction is never finished.
I spoke with my friend who is a community organizer in Chicago about this earlier in the summer, and she told me a story. You’re standing in a river, when suddenly you see a baby floating downstream, crying and struggling. And then there’s another, and another, and another- you gather your friends, and you pull them out as fast as you can, but they just keep coming. It feels wrong to divert any resources away from pulling out as many babies as you can, but eventually, you have to ask yourself- where are these babies coming from, and how do we stop the flow?
I’ve enjoyed my work at nonprofits, in Chicago, and here in the Bay Area. It’s been immensely educational and fulfilling. These experiences, however, have affirmed my desire to attend law school, and work to change the system on behalf of people who are struggling and drowning. I am glad and grateful for every person I’ve been able to help, but I can and want to do more. There’s no shortage of unjust laws and practices in this country, and I hope that I can scale my impact by working to change the laws that affect countless people’s lives. I’m grateful for my coworkers and everyone at Until There’s a Cure, for the work that they do and for making it an unforgettable summer. Thank you.
It’s time to head upstream.
-Henry, Intern (2018)
"After my year at Until There’s A Cure, I believe I have grown tremendously as an individual, professionally and personally. When I started at Until There’s A Cure, I was unsure of what my role would be at the organization. I was nervous that I would not be able to meet the standards of the organization nor would I be able to provide any new insight. I slowly began to realize that Until There’s A Cure, while focusing on its mission and continuing to spread awareness of HIV and AIDS, tailors the internship experience toward the individual. The interns at UTAC are appreciated and valuable members of the staff at UTAC. We weren’t just delegated the busywork. We were placed in charge of campaigns, social media, designing content for the website, and more.
Nora, the executive director of UTAC, worked with me directly to see what I wanted to get out of the internship and how my work here would help beyond UTAC. At first I was unsure what UTAC could provide me at the time, but with Nora’s help I was able to use my passion for art and design in my work at Until There’s A Cure. It gave me hope that I will be able to eventually make a career using the design work I’ve been doing. My work became something that I was happy and excited to do. Until There’s A Cure was a place where I wanted to come to work and be a part of such an amazing group of people.
I learned a lot about non-profit organization work and useful skills along the way. With the small group of interns I was working with, I was able to have a voice and opinion in conversations, while also receiving great in-depth feedback. We were able to collaborate on campaigns and ideas that we were all passionate about from building a new website to creating new social media content. All these things were very new to me, especially in a professional setting for social media. However, by collaborating and talking out ideas with others, it helped to see what worked and what made sense to other people and what could be changed to help better fit the image of the organization.
Until There’s A Cure has given me the opportunity to work in a professional setting as a high school student and grow to understand how to conduct myself in a work place. It helped me develop skills that will continuously be useful, such as problem solving, team work and collaboration, communication, and much more. The work I have done at Until There’s A Cure has prepared me and given me experience for the future.
Personally, Until There’s A Cure was an amazing place to build connections with all different, unique individuals. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it built confidence in my work and in my ability to work with others. It also helped me understand my own work ethic and limits. There was never a day where I wasn’t excited to come to the office.
It’s one thing when you love what you do at work, but it’s another thing to enjoy being around the people you work with. I think that Until There’s A Cure builds a community within the organization that makes the workplace personable and comfortable. The people who work at Until There’s A Cure are outstanding people that I’ve been able to come to work closely with and learn more about.
UTAC was my home away from home. It was a great place to work and build a foundation for my future. I found support and care in every direction that I looked. It was environment where growth was expected, passions were nurtured and pushed to be looked at in a different way, and new ideas were turned into finished works. It was a great place to grow to understand myself better, even if at times it was hard.
I struggled to find balance between my passion for what I was doing at UTAC and my school work and social life. Trying to do all when time only allows for one or two pushed me to a limit where I had to stop everything and settle back into a healthier lifestyle. I was spread too thin between my intensive course load at school, college applications, and my work for Until There’s A Cure. When I had to take a step back from my work at UTAC I found that I had become disconnected when I was spread so thin. I was doing work that I wasn’t putting my whole heart or being into. It was a hard choice, but I decided that I had to cut back at my work in order to produce work that I was proud to produce and put time and effort into.
Often times it was frustrating that I was not doing more than I could have been doing, but at the time there were other things that needed my attention as well. Throughout this difficult time during the year, UTAC and Nora were a great support in my life. I appreciate everything that Nora did for me, from listening to my struggles with college and providing insight in how to approach the college process to accommodating my unusual schedule throughout the year.
I cannot thank UTAC enough for the opportunities it gave me to build a strong foundation for my future. UTAC put me into contact with many people who could help me with careers and internships in the future. Not only that, but I would want to thank everyone who I’ve met throughout my time at UTAC for the open mindedness and kindness they provided me. My time at UTAC taught me much and gave me many memories that I will hold dearly. UTAC was not only a workplace, but a home and community, and for that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of their journey and mission."
-Madison, Intern (2016)
Nora, the executive director of UTAC, worked with me directly to see what I wanted to get out of the internship and how my work here would help beyond UTAC. At first I was unsure what UTAC could provide me at the time, but with Nora’s help I was able to use my passion for art and design in my work at Until There’s A Cure. It gave me hope that I will be able to eventually make a career using the design work I’ve been doing. My work became something that I was happy and excited to do. Until There’s A Cure was a place where I wanted to come to work and be a part of such an amazing group of people.
I learned a lot about non-profit organization work and useful skills along the way. With the small group of interns I was working with, I was able to have a voice and opinion in conversations, while also receiving great in-depth feedback. We were able to collaborate on campaigns and ideas that we were all passionate about from building a new website to creating new social media content. All these things were very new to me, especially in a professional setting for social media. However, by collaborating and talking out ideas with others, it helped to see what worked and what made sense to other people and what could be changed to help better fit the image of the organization.
Until There’s A Cure has given me the opportunity to work in a professional setting as a high school student and grow to understand how to conduct myself in a work place. It helped me develop skills that will continuously be useful, such as problem solving, team work and collaboration, communication, and much more. The work I have done at Until There’s A Cure has prepared me and given me experience for the future.
Personally, Until There’s A Cure was an amazing place to build connections with all different, unique individuals. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, and it built confidence in my work and in my ability to work with others. It also helped me understand my own work ethic and limits. There was never a day where I wasn’t excited to come to the office.
It’s one thing when you love what you do at work, but it’s another thing to enjoy being around the people you work with. I think that Until There’s A Cure builds a community within the organization that makes the workplace personable and comfortable. The people who work at Until There’s A Cure are outstanding people that I’ve been able to come to work closely with and learn more about.
UTAC was my home away from home. It was a great place to work and build a foundation for my future. I found support and care in every direction that I looked. It was environment where growth was expected, passions were nurtured and pushed to be looked at in a different way, and new ideas were turned into finished works. It was a great place to grow to understand myself better, even if at times it was hard.
I struggled to find balance between my passion for what I was doing at UTAC and my school work and social life. Trying to do all when time only allows for one or two pushed me to a limit where I had to stop everything and settle back into a healthier lifestyle. I was spread too thin between my intensive course load at school, college applications, and my work for Until There’s A Cure. When I had to take a step back from my work at UTAC I found that I had become disconnected when I was spread so thin. I was doing work that I wasn’t putting my whole heart or being into. It was a hard choice, but I decided that I had to cut back at my work in order to produce work that I was proud to produce and put time and effort into.
Often times it was frustrating that I was not doing more than I could have been doing, but at the time there were other things that needed my attention as well. Throughout this difficult time during the year, UTAC and Nora were a great support in my life. I appreciate everything that Nora did for me, from listening to my struggles with college and providing insight in how to approach the college process to accommodating my unusual schedule throughout the year.
I cannot thank UTAC enough for the opportunities it gave me to build a strong foundation for my future. UTAC put me into contact with many people who could help me with careers and internships in the future. Not only that, but I would want to thank everyone who I’ve met throughout my time at UTAC for the open mindedness and kindness they provided me. My time at UTAC taught me much and gave me many memories that I will hold dearly. UTAC was not only a workplace, but a home and community, and for that I’m extremely grateful to be a part of their journey and mission."
-Madison, Intern (2016)
"I have been an intern at Until There’s A Cure for over a year now. I started working here in January of 2015, and worked until September of the same year. I came back in January of this year (2016), and have continued working through current day (August).
My experience here overall has been mixed. Good, but mixed. When I first started out, the work I did was mostly minor. I was working here to fulfill a community service requirement that my high school had for graduation, and that was the only reason I was working here. Nora (the Executive Director), knew that, and was perfectly ok with it, but that meant I was mostly doing grunt work, so to speak.
By grunt work, I mean I was mostly either packaging bracelets or doing research and filling out spreadsheets. There was a spreadsheet that I was working on in my off time (by which I mean whenever I didn’t have a specific project at work) that was a list of contact information for every US senator and representative as well as every state senator and representative, state by state. It was intensely boring, but important, as we planned to upload it to a website for everyone to use so they could contact their local representatives about issues important to them.
However, when I came back again the following January, Nora started assigning me more responsibility and more projects. I took over shipping entirely, from handling orders to mailing out the actual products to handling customer issues, such as exchanges and returns and the like. I also started handling projects, such as working on the Giants game or handling SFGives 2016 for Until. I also helped do several conferences, although the work for that was mostly limited to figuring out the products Nora wanted to take, and then filling up the boxes with the products as well as any other materials required.
Since then, I’ve worked on several more projects. Nora had me working on OpenCart, which is our new store, adding products and making sure everything worked properly. Of course, once the site when live there were many bugs that needed to be dealt with, but that has just been another part of my responsibilities here. I also, as part of my work on that, helped out with Weebly, which replaced our website and is now our current site. It and OpenCart work together, with Weebly working as the main website and OpenCart working as the storefront. That process, ensuring they worked together, was yet another one of my responsibilities.
That has been the cornerstone of my time here at Until. Responsibility. As you work for Nora more and more, she assigns you more and more responsibility as she grows to trust you more. As I said, when I started out I was doing nothing more than just packaging bracelets, doing simple research and counting inventory. Now I swap between the various projects we have running. I worked on OpenCart, on Weebly, I handled shipping, I worked on How I Value Life and the Immunity Project, I helped Nora get ready for conferences, and more.
Working here at Until has given me so much experience in so many different fields that I never would’ve dreamed of when I started working here. I now could go to work in any retail outfit in the world, because I now know how it all works. I know how to ship out products, how to handle customer relations, how to manage various partner retailers, etc., etc. I also could work as a receptionist, not that I have any desire to, after continuously screening calls for Nora and taking down names and numbers when she was unavailable.
After that, I’ve got a lot of experience in website design and tech support. Having helped set up both OpenCart and Weebly, as well as the How I Value Life website, I’ve gained a great deal of problem solving experience. I had some technical knowledge before working on the websites, but I had no real web development experience. Now, while I certainly don’t have enough to get hired at a real firm, I have enough to be able to run tech support before needing a real IT department, which is a valuable skill. If I decide to go into the tech industry one day, which I well might, having these skills already will be an extremely valuable ace in my pocket.
Another incredible advantage of working here at Until There’s A Cure has been the networking ability. Nora is an extremely valuable networking asset. She knows at least someone in just about every industry, if not multiple people, and so no matter where you might want to end up in your future she can help find you a job or an internship or even just an interview. That’s something you can’t buy. And she will remember you and keep track of you and keep in touch, so that is a connection you can use and count on for the rest of your life after you’ve worked here.
I guess the really short version is that working here at Until There’s A Cure is an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. The real-world job experience and application is unlike anywhere else. The skills I’ve learned while I’ve been working here I could apply to any number of jobs out in the real world. Retail, business, technology, any company that uses a website or needs tech support, etc. Now, I understand that this sounds like a lot of bad clichés one after another, and I apologize for that, but it’s unavoidable when I put it all into writing. However, it’s all true. But, if you believe nothing else that I’ve written here, believe this: working for Nora here at Until There’s a Cure is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have in your life. Just apply, and you’ll see."
-Marcus, Intern (2015-2018)
My experience here overall has been mixed. Good, but mixed. When I first started out, the work I did was mostly minor. I was working here to fulfill a community service requirement that my high school had for graduation, and that was the only reason I was working here. Nora (the Executive Director), knew that, and was perfectly ok with it, but that meant I was mostly doing grunt work, so to speak.
By grunt work, I mean I was mostly either packaging bracelets or doing research and filling out spreadsheets. There was a spreadsheet that I was working on in my off time (by which I mean whenever I didn’t have a specific project at work) that was a list of contact information for every US senator and representative as well as every state senator and representative, state by state. It was intensely boring, but important, as we planned to upload it to a website for everyone to use so they could contact their local representatives about issues important to them.
However, when I came back again the following January, Nora started assigning me more responsibility and more projects. I took over shipping entirely, from handling orders to mailing out the actual products to handling customer issues, such as exchanges and returns and the like. I also started handling projects, such as working on the Giants game or handling SFGives 2016 for Until. I also helped do several conferences, although the work for that was mostly limited to figuring out the products Nora wanted to take, and then filling up the boxes with the products as well as any other materials required.
Since then, I’ve worked on several more projects. Nora had me working on OpenCart, which is our new store, adding products and making sure everything worked properly. Of course, once the site when live there were many bugs that needed to be dealt with, but that has just been another part of my responsibilities here. I also, as part of my work on that, helped out with Weebly, which replaced our website and is now our current site. It and OpenCart work together, with Weebly working as the main website and OpenCart working as the storefront. That process, ensuring they worked together, was yet another one of my responsibilities.
That has been the cornerstone of my time here at Until. Responsibility. As you work for Nora more and more, she assigns you more and more responsibility as she grows to trust you more. As I said, when I started out I was doing nothing more than just packaging bracelets, doing simple research and counting inventory. Now I swap between the various projects we have running. I worked on OpenCart, on Weebly, I handled shipping, I worked on How I Value Life and the Immunity Project, I helped Nora get ready for conferences, and more.
Working here at Until has given me so much experience in so many different fields that I never would’ve dreamed of when I started working here. I now could go to work in any retail outfit in the world, because I now know how it all works. I know how to ship out products, how to handle customer relations, how to manage various partner retailers, etc., etc. I also could work as a receptionist, not that I have any desire to, after continuously screening calls for Nora and taking down names and numbers when she was unavailable.
After that, I’ve got a lot of experience in website design and tech support. Having helped set up both OpenCart and Weebly, as well as the How I Value Life website, I’ve gained a great deal of problem solving experience. I had some technical knowledge before working on the websites, but I had no real web development experience. Now, while I certainly don’t have enough to get hired at a real firm, I have enough to be able to run tech support before needing a real IT department, which is a valuable skill. If I decide to go into the tech industry one day, which I well might, having these skills already will be an extremely valuable ace in my pocket.
Another incredible advantage of working here at Until There’s A Cure has been the networking ability. Nora is an extremely valuable networking asset. She knows at least someone in just about every industry, if not multiple people, and so no matter where you might want to end up in your future she can help find you a job or an internship or even just an interview. That’s something you can’t buy. And she will remember you and keep track of you and keep in touch, so that is a connection you can use and count on for the rest of your life after you’ve worked here.
I guess the really short version is that working here at Until There’s A Cure is an experience that you can’t get anywhere else. The real-world job experience and application is unlike anywhere else. The skills I’ve learned while I’ve been working here I could apply to any number of jobs out in the real world. Retail, business, technology, any company that uses a website or needs tech support, etc. Now, I understand that this sounds like a lot of bad clichés one after another, and I apologize for that, but it’s unavoidable when I put it all into writing. However, it’s all true. But, if you believe nothing else that I’ve written here, believe this: working for Nora here at Until There’s a Cure is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have in your life. Just apply, and you’ll see."
-Marcus, Intern (2015-2018)
"I started my internship at Until There’s A Cure a few short months ago. I was understandably nervous when Norra, the director of the foundation, called me into her office on my first day. I had no idea what I was going to be working on, or what she expected from me. I was assigned to be taking the lead of the Immunity Project, which involved writing an application for a Macarthur research worth one hundred million dollars. This was magnitudes more important work than what I was expecting. The Immunity project is dedicated to creating a vaccine for HIV that would be completely free to the users. Personally I was stunned that such an important task was being handed to me, and brand new intern with no experience in this sort of thing. I was then handed a thick stack of notes relating to the many parts of the Immunity Project and got started. There were other interns at the office as well, each with their own assignment. They were my age or young, but also in charge of designing websites and reaching new people about HIV. I realized you really never know what you sign up for, and its best to take it in stride and get to work.
I began by reading through the stack of information we had on our Immunity Project. We had plenty of scientific data on the experimental techniques Dr. Reid’s team developed. The first step of the project for me involved figuring out what supercomputer targeted epitopes on the HIV virus’s antigen and biodegradable micro spheres means. When I had done that, I went onto the Macarthur Foundation site and looked up what there application required. I needed to write many concise responses to questions about the organizations history, goals, technology, personnel, long term plans, and impact. To answer these questions I looked through our research notes, quarterly reports, and even Reddit Q&A sessions answered by Dr. Reid. Dr. Reid runs his own company Flow Pharma, while also doing research for the Immunity Project. He has created micro spheres that carry the epitope targets and will allow the bodies immune system to lern how to fight the HIV virus. I learned more than just the specific facts of the vaccine while reading what Dr. Reid had responded to. He saw many people die when he worked in a San Francisco hospital. He has devoted countless hours to a cause that many people write off as solved. When is team actually has the cure he will ensure that those who need it will get the vaccine free of charge. This made me happy, even proud to be helping them win the Macarthur grant. I realize I really want to work in a place that gives me that same feeling.
I did the best first drafts I could do with the information at hand, and while working by myself. After the second week, Marcus and Brian were assigned to work with me. They immediately gave me revision ideas on what I had written so far. The Macarthur grant requires a movie pitch that acts as a summary of your application. We all had different ideas on what we should do, and spit balled ideas for the rest of the day. I now have a greater appreciation for group work. Everything was accomplished faster, and what we did write had more depth now that we had three different views coming together. We were nearing our deadline and we still did not have all the formation we needed. It was then that Norra gave me Dr. Reids phone number so we get our information right from the source. My talk with Dr. Reid really shone a light on the whole process of not only how the vaccine was being created, but also how passionate he was about his work. After this interview we were able to add much more depth to our responses. What this taught me is that you must take the initiative to succeed. Do not be content with the information that is given to you, but seek more right from the source.
Working with Norra has been a very rewarding experience as well. She directs all the interns at the Until There’s A Cure foundation, works with other partners, oversees acquiring grants, and most of all ensuring that those who suffer from HIV are being cared for. She used to run her own fashion line and manage all of her own factories before joining UTAC. She still brings her creative style into her new job. During my project we would have meetings in her office and discuss what our plan was for the next week. She defiantly came up with the best ideas for our video pitch. Between phone conferences and running the foundation, she also finds time to make all the interns lunch. Everything that I have accomplished while working at UTAC is due to her leadership.
I originally took this internship at Until There’s A Cure to gain some job experience before going off to college. While there I saw how organizations are managed, how goals are planned, and how to go the extra mile to achieve them. However I became involved with work far more important than that. I was part of a group making people lives better, making a real difference. The Immunity Project is undoubtedly the most important thing I have ever worked on in my entire life. It promises to permanently cure HIV around the globe, and open new doors to developing medicine. When first starting, I never would have imagined I would be apart of something with so much impact on millions of lives. My time at UTAC showed me that you don’t need to be exceptional to be apart of exceptional things, all you have to do is be willing to give it a shot."
-Greg, Summer Intern ( 2016)
I began by reading through the stack of information we had on our Immunity Project. We had plenty of scientific data on the experimental techniques Dr. Reid’s team developed. The first step of the project for me involved figuring out what supercomputer targeted epitopes on the HIV virus’s antigen and biodegradable micro spheres means. When I had done that, I went onto the Macarthur Foundation site and looked up what there application required. I needed to write many concise responses to questions about the organizations history, goals, technology, personnel, long term plans, and impact. To answer these questions I looked through our research notes, quarterly reports, and even Reddit Q&A sessions answered by Dr. Reid. Dr. Reid runs his own company Flow Pharma, while also doing research for the Immunity Project. He has created micro spheres that carry the epitope targets and will allow the bodies immune system to lern how to fight the HIV virus. I learned more than just the specific facts of the vaccine while reading what Dr. Reid had responded to. He saw many people die when he worked in a San Francisco hospital. He has devoted countless hours to a cause that many people write off as solved. When is team actually has the cure he will ensure that those who need it will get the vaccine free of charge. This made me happy, even proud to be helping them win the Macarthur grant. I realize I really want to work in a place that gives me that same feeling.
I did the best first drafts I could do with the information at hand, and while working by myself. After the second week, Marcus and Brian were assigned to work with me. They immediately gave me revision ideas on what I had written so far. The Macarthur grant requires a movie pitch that acts as a summary of your application. We all had different ideas on what we should do, and spit balled ideas for the rest of the day. I now have a greater appreciation for group work. Everything was accomplished faster, and what we did write had more depth now that we had three different views coming together. We were nearing our deadline and we still did not have all the formation we needed. It was then that Norra gave me Dr. Reids phone number so we get our information right from the source. My talk with Dr. Reid really shone a light on the whole process of not only how the vaccine was being created, but also how passionate he was about his work. After this interview we were able to add much more depth to our responses. What this taught me is that you must take the initiative to succeed. Do not be content with the information that is given to you, but seek more right from the source.
Working with Norra has been a very rewarding experience as well. She directs all the interns at the Until There’s A Cure foundation, works with other partners, oversees acquiring grants, and most of all ensuring that those who suffer from HIV are being cared for. She used to run her own fashion line and manage all of her own factories before joining UTAC. She still brings her creative style into her new job. During my project we would have meetings in her office and discuss what our plan was for the next week. She defiantly came up with the best ideas for our video pitch. Between phone conferences and running the foundation, she also finds time to make all the interns lunch. Everything that I have accomplished while working at UTAC is due to her leadership.
I originally took this internship at Until There’s A Cure to gain some job experience before going off to college. While there I saw how organizations are managed, how goals are planned, and how to go the extra mile to achieve them. However I became involved with work far more important than that. I was part of a group making people lives better, making a real difference. The Immunity Project is undoubtedly the most important thing I have ever worked on in my entire life. It promises to permanently cure HIV around the globe, and open new doors to developing medicine. When first starting, I never would have imagined I would be apart of something with so much impact on millions of lives. My time at UTAC showed me that you don’t need to be exceptional to be apart of exceptional things, all you have to do is be willing to give it a shot."
-Greg, Summer Intern ( 2016)
"After spending the last year at Until There’s A Cure, I have gained enormous understanding about how a non-profit functions, operates, and coordinates. Throughout my internship, I have gained valuable insight on how to approach logistical problems and overcome them through problem-solving strategies and teamwork. Additionally, Until There’s A Cure gave me the chance to take on initiatives that I would never have gotten in a traditional internship environment. While working closely with the Executive Director, I learned so many skills and obtained a breadth of business knowledge that I will actively apply to my graduate studies this coming fall. I am very grateful and thankful for all the opportunities afforded to me during my time at Until There’s A Cure! I could not recommend Until There’s A Cure enough as a place to intern!"
-Evan Revak, Business Development Intern (2014 – 2015)
-Evan Revak, Business Development Intern (2014 – 2015)
"This summer, I had the privilege of working with Until There’s A Cure. Twice a week I traveled to our Woodside office where I was given various tasks and projects as we attempted to bring awareness to the Foundation and the cause we are fighting for. Interning with this non-profit provided me with the rewarding feeling of truly making a difference, and gave me the motivation to continue working hard for the cause. I could have had a standard office job crunching numbers and supporting the world economy but how does that really help me make the world a better place? Here at UTAC I had the opportunity to help raise money for a cause that is helping lives around the world, making me truly proud of the work we do here. All of us here at UTAC have been able to contribute as members of the organization, allowing us to make a difference, expand our skill sets, and network. One of the best experiences I had during my internship was visiting our partners at the Immunity Project lab where we were given the opportunity to tour the lab that is creating a potential HIV/AIDS vaccination. If the future human trials are successful I can say that I held the vaccination in my hands! Overall, it has been a very rewarding experience and I am glad I had the opportunity to spend time this summer to work for the greater good and help bring awareness to the ever-present HIV/AIDS pandemic. Hopefully, with all the work we have done and the work done by all the excellent organizations we have partnered with, there will one day be a cure."
- Francesca, Summer Intern (2014)
- Francesca, Summer Intern (2014)
"I entered this summer hoping to find something meaningful to do, and Until There’s A Cure has definitely delivered. When I first learned I would be the only high schooler, truthfully, I was afraid that I would be delegated to simple work, but I was completely wrong. In the past month, I have worked with some of our partners, done extensive research about specific topics relating to HIV/AIDS, fixed up partner websites, explored other partnerships, and helped around the office. I’m so grateful to have been given these responsibilities.
More than all the work I’ve done, however, I’ve learned that HIV/AIDS is a surprisingly bigger problem than it is perceived to be. I’ve learned that not only do we have to find a cure, but also we really need to educate people of all ages about the disease. All those whom I’ve spoken to about the prevention of HIV have said the same one thing: we need to raise awareness. The world needs to be informed about the facts, and I am so lucky that UNTIL has allowed me to be at the forefront of that charge.
Lastly, I’ve gained a wonderful family here at Until There’s A Cure. The people I work with are all genuine and wholesomely dedicated to the cause. Because of that, we have quickly formed close bonds. I know that I will be able to maintain some of these relationships for a long time, and I thank UNTIL for that."
- Anushka, Summer Intern (2014)
More than all the work I’ve done, however, I’ve learned that HIV/AIDS is a surprisingly bigger problem than it is perceived to be. I’ve learned that not only do we have to find a cure, but also we really need to educate people of all ages about the disease. All those whom I’ve spoken to about the prevention of HIV have said the same one thing: we need to raise awareness. The world needs to be informed about the facts, and I am so lucky that UNTIL has allowed me to be at the forefront of that charge.
Lastly, I’ve gained a wonderful family here at Until There’s A Cure. The people I work with are all genuine and wholesomely dedicated to the cause. Because of that, we have quickly formed close bonds. I know that I will be able to maintain some of these relationships for a long time, and I thank UNTIL for that."
- Anushka, Summer Intern (2014)
"My name is Alen, I just finished my senior year of high school and my internship with Until There's a Cure. I started my internship for UTAC in the winter of 2019 after Nora reached out to me with a fundraising project for World AIDS Day, which falls on December 1st every year. I was given the opportunity to create my own fundraiser for the organization by selling bracelets at my school. I was able to organize everything from the advertisement to the booth I set up on campus during lunch. My goal was to engage the students of my community in the HIV/AIDS conversation, and to provide the opportunity for young people to develop consciousness of, and to learn about, the pandemic. The experience was great and allowed me to interact with my community while also raising money for HIV/AIDS research and support. I was also tasked with creating a documentary/interview of my peers in order to spread awareness about HIV to students my age.
After completing a successful fundraiser and introducing my school to the facts of HIV through an educational video, Nora decided to give me an internship where I created videos for the UTAC. From 2020 to the summer of 2021 I have created many videos for the Until and How I Value Life websites including the interview video featuring my highschool class at Oakmont High. Most of my videos however, were stop motion animations that covered various topics and issues related to HIV. My main goal was to reach out to young people and students in an interesting and fun way in order to spread awareness and knowledge on various HIV/AIDS related issues.
Not only did my internship help to educate others but it was also very educational to myself. Coming into the internship I knew very little to nothing about HIV/AIDS and the way it affects people both physically and mentally. In order to create informative videos it was important that I first researched the topics such as homelessness and mental health surrounding HIV. For this reason, I was able to first teach myself about HIV before passing my knowledge to others in a fun and unique way. This allowed me to expand my knowledge of the pandemic and the way it affects peoples lives. Becoming an intern for Until has helped open my eyes to the world of HIV and what life is like living with HIV in order to better understand the stigma that those people face.
I was, however, quite familiar with the world of film and cinematography before the internship, which is why I was given the opportunity to showcase my talent on the UTAC and HIV life websites. Creativity can have various meanings from person to person. To me, creativity is being able to express my ideas through film and video. From middle school through present day I have always been fascinated with the world of cinematography and creating projects related to media. This internship gave me the chance to use my creativity and love for film while actively participating in the fight against HIV/AIDS. UTAC allowed me to spread awareness and provide support for those diagnosed with HIV through digital media. Being able to do what I love while also supporting a noble cause has greatly benefited my creative experiences and I hope that my time here has helped reach out to teenagers to get them involved with and educate them on the topic of HIV.
Now that my Internship has come to a conclusion I would like to thank Nora for the opportunity to not only learn about HIV and expand my skill with cinematography but also to reach out to people my age and spread awareness making a small, yet necessary step in finding a cure. I would also like to thank Melissa for helping me through my internship journey and guiding me every step of the way in order for me to produce the best content. Additionally thank you to all of my fellow interns who worked with me along the way. I'm so glad we were able to be a part of the team and help with the mission at Until There's a Cure."
-Alen, Intern (2019-2021)
After completing a successful fundraiser and introducing my school to the facts of HIV through an educational video, Nora decided to give me an internship where I created videos for the UTAC. From 2020 to the summer of 2021 I have created many videos for the Until and How I Value Life websites including the interview video featuring my highschool class at Oakmont High. Most of my videos however, were stop motion animations that covered various topics and issues related to HIV. My main goal was to reach out to young people and students in an interesting and fun way in order to spread awareness and knowledge on various HIV/AIDS related issues.
Not only did my internship help to educate others but it was also very educational to myself. Coming into the internship I knew very little to nothing about HIV/AIDS and the way it affects people both physically and mentally. In order to create informative videos it was important that I first researched the topics such as homelessness and mental health surrounding HIV. For this reason, I was able to first teach myself about HIV before passing my knowledge to others in a fun and unique way. This allowed me to expand my knowledge of the pandemic and the way it affects peoples lives. Becoming an intern for Until has helped open my eyes to the world of HIV and what life is like living with HIV in order to better understand the stigma that those people face.
I was, however, quite familiar with the world of film and cinematography before the internship, which is why I was given the opportunity to showcase my talent on the UTAC and HIV life websites. Creativity can have various meanings from person to person. To me, creativity is being able to express my ideas through film and video. From middle school through present day I have always been fascinated with the world of cinematography and creating projects related to media. This internship gave me the chance to use my creativity and love for film while actively participating in the fight against HIV/AIDS. UTAC allowed me to spread awareness and provide support for those diagnosed with HIV through digital media. Being able to do what I love while also supporting a noble cause has greatly benefited my creative experiences and I hope that my time here has helped reach out to teenagers to get them involved with and educate them on the topic of HIV.
Now that my Internship has come to a conclusion I would like to thank Nora for the opportunity to not only learn about HIV and expand my skill with cinematography but also to reach out to people my age and spread awareness making a small, yet necessary step in finding a cure. I would also like to thank Melissa for helping me through my internship journey and guiding me every step of the way in order for me to produce the best content. Additionally thank you to all of my fellow interns who worked with me along the way. I'm so glad we were able to be a part of the team and help with the mission at Until There's a Cure."
-Alen, Intern (2019-2021)
