Angelly Sorto Licona is a senior majoring in Spanish with a double minor in business and Latina/Latino studies. During summer 2025 she interned with Hope Chicago. Read her blog post below to learn more about her experience.
This summer, I interned with Hope Chicago, a nonprofit organization launched in 2021 that aims to reduce economic and social inequities in Chicago by providing debt-free higher education access to Chicago Public School students and their adult family members. Hope Chicago’s unique two-generation model supports both students and family members with scholarships and wraparound resources. I am also a Hope Scholar, which means I personally receive scholarship support from the organization. Being both a scholar and an intern gives me a unique perspective and deep connection to Hope Chicago’s mission.
During my internship at Hope Chicago, I contributed to the planning and execution of the 2025 GoalGetters Conference (GGC), a key event designed to support scholars and their families. My major responsibilities included:
- Drafting and sending personalized thank-you cards to 65 Illinois legislators to acknowledge their support for educational funding.
- Conducting over 48 bilingual phone calls to parents to confirm attendance and address questions for the GGC.
- Managing on-site registration for over 350 students and assisting more than 250 parents throughout the event.
- Reviewing and correcting parent-student data using Excel and Salesforce to improve accuracy and communication.
- Creating detailed volunteer schedules and supporting day-of logistics to ensure smooth event operations.
Being a Hope Scholar myself inspired me to give back by helping an organization that has positively impacted my life. It was rewarding to see how our efforts came together to support a large community of students and families during the conference. This experience has strengthened my commitment to educational equity and community support.
This internship has taught me valuable skills in event coordination, bilingual communication, data management, and professional writing. I enhanced my ability to organize complex logistics, communicate clearly with diverse audiences, and use tools like Excel and Salesforce for data accuracy.
A key takeaway was understanding how behind-the-scenes work—such as personalized communication and detailed planning—is essential for nonprofit success and community trust. This experience deepened my appreciation for the impact nonprofits have in creating educational opportunities and supporting families holistically.
I plan to continue my involvement with Hope Chicago beyond this summer. I hope to return as an intern or volunteer during the academic year to support student outreach, event planning, and data management efforts. Additionally, I am still part of the Hope Scholars so my work does not stop when the summer ends, I still need to attend the different events they created over the year.
For this upcoming year I will be still part of the second big event that Hope Chicago hosts. This event will be for the donor and partner companies that help support the organization. So, my work will be being part of that process that will end in October of 2025. I will also remain engaged with the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).
By Angelly Sorto Licona