ERASE Racism, an activist organization led by founder and president emerita Elaine Gross, has awarded paid summer internships to nine Long Island high school students, including three from Freeport High School.
The Freeport students — Caitlin Daubon, Class of 2027, Kimberly Melendez Melgar, Class of 2029 and Joseph Gargano, Class of 2028 — are spending part of their summer developing leadership and digital media skills while learning about racial equity through the five-week internship program, which runs through July 30.
“Through these internships, ERASE Racism is helping create a new generation of leaders in pursuit of racial equity,” Gross said. “With the skills they are gaining, they are enhancing their own roles as advocates, while promoting our mission and preparing to define their own place in advancing racial justice,” she added.
The internship focuses on a combination of advocacy and digital media, giving students hands-on experience in organizational communications while exploring issues of racism on Long Island. Participants also help strengthen ERASE Racism’s online presence by creating content and social media campaigns.
Interns work together four days each week, two days in person and two remotely. Their in-person sessions include workshops, guest speakers and field trips covering topics such as social media strategy, environmental justice and structural racism.
Recent presenters have included marketing professor Margaret Echelbarger of Stony Brook University, art department chair Linda O’Keeffe and environmental justice advocate Monique Fitzgerald.
On their remote work days, students create social media calendars highlighting upcoming holidays and ERASE Racism events. They are also producing content for the organization’s “25 Years of Erase Racism” campaign and helping promote a GoFundMe fundraiser supporting ERASE Racism's Youth Initiatives, including the summer internship program.
