Public relations students create community magic

By Ashley Bradley

Chico State public relations interns donate eight to 10 hours of work per week to the community organization they are assigned, such as the Community Collaborative for Youth. 

The CCY is a nonprofit organization that helps support ethnically diverse youth through the transition into adulthood, and has been the training ground for three public relations interns at Chico State. The student interns have helped CCY develop media kits, pitch stories, plan events and design promotional materials.

The spring 2008 intern, Kate Lehman, helped CCY plan the organization’s annual fundraiser May Magic, which was held in the Chico City Plaza. The fundraiser is a children’s carnival that features magicians, raffle prizes, a ropes course, animals from the Barry R. Kirshner Wildlife Foundation and the local band Jet Fuel Only. Lehman produced the event’s media kit, flier and brochure, and helped arrange entertainment and donations.

Lehman’s planning and working with the CCY has made a positive impact on the organization. Karen Abel, the supervisor for the CCY interns, said the May Magic 2008 event would be bigger and better than it has in the past.

For some students like Lehman, this experience changes their outlook on the possibilities and pleasures of working for a nonprofit organization.

“The more I work the more I see the good they do for the community,” Lehman said.

Abel said that having Chico State public relations interns work in the community “helps students get to know our community better and feel at home here.”

Organizations such as CCY learn publicity techniques and communication skills from public relations students, and students are able to get an experience that they can apply to their professional lives after college.

To view samples of work intern Kate Lehman has created for CCY, click on the links below:

May Magic Handout

Brochure

Flier

PR in the Community Home Page