Hi everyone! My name is Addie, and I’ve been working with Kids In Danger (KID) since September. I’m a Political Science major at Loyola University Chicago, and I’m super passionate about advocacy and helping others. My time at KID has been such a rewarding and eye-opening experience—it’s really changed how I think about the connection between safety, policy, and public service.
Before starting at KID, I didn’t realize how much consumer product safety impacts families, especially when it comes to kids. Since joining, I’ve gotten to work on a bunch of amazing projects, like writing blogs and putting together a research report to help parents shop safely during the holidays. It has made me see how powerful advocacy can be in raising awareness and amplifying the voices of families who’ve experienced tragic losses. Every day at KID feels like a chance to make a real difference, and that has been extremely motivating.
One of my favorite parts of this internship has been seeing how my political science background connects to the work we do here. Whether it’s researching safety policies or helping with updates on legislation KID is pushing forward, I’ve realized how much what I’m studying in school can lead to real-world change. Beyond the skills I’ve picked up, KID has taught me a lot about collaboration, compassion, and the importance of staying persistent when working toward something important.
Honestly, I never thought much about children’s product safety before starting here, but KID has shown me just how serious it is. Learning about the impact unsafe products can have on families has been heartbreaking, but it’s also inspired me to keep working toward a safer future for kids.
I have been so grateful to be part of an organization that doesn’t just inform families but also empowers them to take action. I’m very sad KID is closing down this month, but also extremely thankful I had the opportunity to intern and learn so much before they closed.
A note from Nancy Cowles: Addie and all our interns have added so much to KID’s ability to keep children safe. They keep our social media active with important information, help create the monthly newsletter, research and write reports on a wide variety of safety topics and participate in outreach in the communities. These young college students have made a difference – I’d urge any nonprofit to work to create a welcoming and rewarding experience for interns and volunteers.
