Summer Intern – Aviya Melrose

Hi everyone! My name is Aviya Melrose, and I am a second-year student at Indiana University Bloomington studying psychology, law, and public policy. I also have strong interests in marketing, communications, and public outreach, which is one of the reasons I was so excited to intern with the Indiana Bar Foundation this summer.

A year ago, I would not have expected myself to be pursuing interests in law and nonprofit work, but over time, I’ve started realizing how important community involvement, civic engagement, and education really are. I think a lot of people my age can feel disconnected from topics like civic education or local government because it can seem overwhelming or easy to ignore. Recently, I’ve realized how important it actually is to stay informed and involved, especially at the local level where communities feel the impact first.

That is one of the things I admire most about the Indiana Bar Foundation. I really appreciate the Foundation’s focus on civic education and providing legal aid to communities across Indiana. Helping people has always been a passion of mine, and this internship gives me the opportunity to learn more about work that truly makes a difference while also exploring my own interests in communications, outreach, and marketing.

So far, one of my favorite parts of the internship has been the creative side of the work. I’ve been helping create social media content, write captions, and press materials, and prepare for the Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon. I’ve always been a creative person, so getting hands-on experience with content creation, storytelling, design, and marketing has been really rewarding for me. I also enjoy that every project has a purpose behind it and connects back to the Foundation’s mission.

I’ve also enjoyed working closely with the team and learning how much collaboration goes into nonprofit communications and event planning. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from so many talented and passionate people.

Throughout the summer, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my communication and writing skills while learning more about nonprofit outreach, civic education, and the impact organizations like the Indiana Bar Foundation can have within their communities.

Outside of school and work, I enjoy roller skating, drawing, music, pottery, fashion, and anything that allows me to be creative. I love opportunities that let me connect creativity with helping others and learn from people with different experiences and perspectives, which is one of the reasons this internship has already been such a rewarding experience for me. I’m also excited to continue meeting inspiring people throughout the summer and learning from their experiences.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to intern with the Indiana Bar Foundation this summer, and I can’t wait to continue learning and growing throughout this experience.