Cheyney University News September 16, 2016 Cheyney Social Relations Major Praises Importance of Internships Lariah Warner, currently a Cheyney University of Pennsylvania senior, learned a great deal from her hands-on summer internship at the Chester Housing Authority in Chester, PA. She encourages all students to get at least one internship before graduation. Chester, PA native, Lariah Warner, knows how important an internship is. The 23-year-old Cheyney University senior spent all summer doing what she'd set her sights on last spring---working for a community organization in her home community. The Social Relations major with a concentration in Sociology, interned for the Chester Housing Authority. "It was a rewarading, eye-opening, and very productive experience," she shares, explaining how she attended Authority board meetings and worked with community residents, program staff members, Human Resources workers, and case managers. In addition, she and another summer intern, Swarthmore College student Jacob Demree, edited the 2016 Chester Housing Authority Summer newsletter, Building Block. One assignment involved reaching out to community landlords to confirm their participation in the Section 8 housing voucher program. "I got to go out in the community--not just stay in the office. I especially liked working one-on-one with community members," she asserts. "I believe that every student should have an opportunity to have an internship, whether it's for credit or non-paying," maintains Lisa Blount, Cheyney's Internship Coordinator, who helped Warner get the job. "An internship offers a real life opportunity to broaden one's work skills, teaches you how to work with others and be a well-rounded team player." According to Warner, that's not all it teaches. "While I was interning this summer, I learned what employers expect from their employees. They want creative people who will bring in new ideas and know technology and social media. They expect employees to be on time, complete assignments and act as team players." Her work, Blount says, paid off. "Lariah got a great evaluation that showed that she was enthusiastic and did a great job." So well, in fact, Warner believes others may benefit in the future. "My boss said he'd like more Cheyney students to intern for him." Cheyney's internship program, under the University's Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD), prepares students for internships and future careers through workshops and helps students like Warner build a resume, brand oneself, locate internships, and network. Both CCPD & the Internship Offices also operate the Treasures of Success Clothing Boutique where students may make an appointment to shop for interview attire for free. As for Warner, she plans to focus on her studies and graduate in May, then attend graduate school so that she can be a mental health counselor one day. She suggests that Cheyney students make time for CCPD's career and internship fairs which will be held on campus every Wednesday from October 19 to November 16--exclusively for Cheyney students and alumni. She also urges her peers to take advantage of the wealth of information that Ms. Blount has at her disposal to help them find the perfect internship. SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org sphoenix@hbculibraries.org Honor the ancestors, honor the children. 7th Biennial Membership Meeting: Register here http://hbculibraries.org/2016meeting-form.html for the October 10,11 Membership Meeting in Atlanta. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter at https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/