Thursday, October 1, 2026
As she prepares to enter her senior year at Wellington C. Mepham High School, Bellmore resident Arianna Szrajer spent part of her summer using the storytelling skills she developed in the classroom to promote racial equity across Long Island.
Szrajer was one of nine students selected for ERASE Racism's paid five-week Student Leaders for Equity Internship, where participants explored systemic inequality while learning organizational communications and digital media. The program culminates July 30 with a showcase highlighting each intern's work.
For Szrajer, the experience combined two passions: advocacy and journalism.
"I applied to the ERASE Racism internship this summer because I wanted an outlet to connect with other people under the united goal to better Long Island in general," she said. "I feel like using social media is a really great route for advocacy."
Instead of producing written content, Szrajer created a feature-style video showcasing ERASE Racism's mission. She interviewed staff members and a former intern before filming current participants and editing the project into a short documentary designed to raise awareness of the organization's work.
The project drew on skills she learned through Mepham's Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program.
"The broadcasting program really introduced me to the whole video-making world and the news and journalism aspect of it," she said.
Throughout the internship, students participated in discussions and workshops examining housing discrimination, educational disparities and other issues affecting communities across Long Island.
"I realized that racism is still very prevalent," Szrajer said. "One of my biggest takeaways is realizing that many of today's inequalities still persist based off old stereotypes."
Although she described the Bellmore-Merrick community as welcoming and supportive, Szrajer hopes to share what she learned with classmates by showcasing the video through the broadcasting program's YouTube channel.
"I just want to have as many people know about ERASE Racism as possible," she said.
The experience has also shaped her future plans. As she begins applying to colleges this fall, Szrajer said the internship strengthened her interest in pursuing international relations or pre-law.
"I realized how to be an advocate for people who don't have a voice," she said.
"Through these internships, ERASE Racism is helping create a new generation of leaders in pursuit of racial equity," Elaine Gross, the organization's founder and president emerita, 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."
