Last week, I had the privilege of accompanying my students from Edison Tech on their first day as Paid Interns at Flynn, where they will receive hands-on, real-world experience developing a marketing campaign on behalf of Flynn client, 540 W Main.
Each intern will have the opportunity to network, share knowledge, and collaborate with the various departments at Flynn on taking this campaign from Ideation to Production, Strategy, and Implementation.
Not only are the interns paid for their time, but transportation is provided from school to the offices at Flynn and back home.
What we're doing is groundbreaking, truly.
I don't think it hit me, until I saw a couple of the interns at their desks, each rocking YEEZY's, dap each other up and smile.
It's not about merely bringing Black people into an office - it's about encouraging and validating Blackness.
The goal for employers today should be no less than to create an environment where all cultures feel empowered to express themselves authentically.
Flynn is about it and has been as eager to act as they have been to listen. I have been awestruck by their capacity to do both meaningfully and I am BEYOND grateful to them for inviting me in, hearing me out, moving mountains, and believing in this.
It's funny, but the last couple of months have been the first in my professional life where I no longer feel easy to dismiss.
Despite sometimes feeling like no one wanted me here, or like no one believed in me, thought I was talented or smart enough, or worth investing in - despite all of that, KESA | Content Design & Strategy has become a platform where meaningful differences are being made.
No difference has ever been made without someone taking different actions.
I told ya'll since day-1, I'm "here to do it differently."
Thank you again to Flynn, Adobe, LinkedIn, my students, and to everyone who gets it.
The days of waiting for change our behind us.
Always Forward,
Toren R
Each intern will have the opportunity to network, share knowledge, and collaborate with the various departments at Flynn on taking this campaign from Ideation to Production, Strategy, and Implementation.
Not only are the interns paid for their time, but transportation is provided from school to the offices at Flynn and back home.
What we're doing is groundbreaking, truly.
I don't think it hit me, until I saw a couple of the interns at their desks, each rocking YEEZY's, dap each other up and smile.
It's not about merely bringing Black people into an office - it's about encouraging and validating Blackness.
The goal for employers today should be no less than to create an environment where all cultures feel empowered to express themselves authentically.
Flynn is about it and has been as eager to act as they have been to listen. I have been awestruck by their capacity to do both meaningfully and I am BEYOND grateful to them for inviting me in, hearing me out, moving mountains, and believing in this.
It's funny, but the last couple of months have been the first in my professional life where I no longer feel easy to dismiss.
Despite sometimes feeling like no one wanted me here, or like no one believed in me, thought I was talented or smart enough, or worth investing in - despite all of that, KESA | Content Design & Strategy has become a platform where meaningful differences are being made.
No difference has ever been made without someone taking different actions.
I told ya'll since day-1, I'm "here to do it differently."
Thank you again to Flynn, Adobe, LinkedIn, my students, and to everyone who gets it.
The days of waiting for change our behind us.
Always Forward,
Toren R
I'm not sure I'll ever be able to express how much of an impact this photo has already had on me
