Life as a Public Policy Associate for AFSP- Bailey Denzy

For anyone interested in working in the non-profit sector, I thought that I would talk a bit about my experience as a public policy associate (their fancy term for intern) at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

Now at first my job sounds like it would be a bit of a depressing undertaking. I think that many non-profits exist to fight for issues of injustice and advocate for change. That is what we do at my office and if you got the chance to hear more about this work, you would learn that what we do is actually making a difference in the lives of thousands of people. So in answer to that question, it is actually a very happy place to work and it gives us so much joy to know that we are helping those in need.  

Apart from the miscellaneous office work that any intern will encounter, I get to take part in lots of interesting assignments and events. In February, AFSP hosted their annual advocacy forum in Arlington, VA., which turned out to be my favorite event so far. 250 staff and volunteers from across all 50 states joined me in our single largest effort to inform our congressmen about the importance of ensuring access to mental health treatment for all Americans. Due to the negative stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, it is difficult to get people to talk about these issues. However, by taking our message confidently to the Hill, we are slowly changing the conversation around this topic and that’s how we know our work is making a difference. Patrick Kennedy spoke at our forum and it was great to be able to hear about a real person’s struggles with mental illness. I also got to meet and exchange contacts with so many amazing people that continued to inspire me throughout the 3-day conference.

Every non-profit will be different, but each will be rewarding in their own unique way. In summary, if you want to:

1. Meet passionate and hard-working people

2. Learn about something you’re interested in

3. Take part in the opportunity to change the world, 

then working with a non-profit is just for you!