My internship experience... By Lucas Chapin

Starting day one at The Idea Village, I had little idea of what to expect. At that point the extent of my knowledge about this organization came from a 30-minute phone conversation with Daryn Dodson and a little internet research. What I've experienced in the past two months has surpassed my expectations for a lively and meaningful internship.

Contributions I've made include research and a bit of writing for the IDEAcorps business plan, various tasks such as website design and even some modeling for the launch of our "Trust Your Crazy Ideas" merchandise line, and now the writing of this newsletter. Though I can't claim complete ownership over any single project, I'm proud to be part of a team that's accomplished quite a bit this summer.

What really distinguishes The Idea Village from other businesses is the supportive yet challenging environment here. "The Village People," as they are sometimes affectionately called, love collaboration and are all incredibly talented, fueling an atmosphere in which mediocrity is viewed as complicity. It was impossible for me to quickly jot out a S.W.O.T. analysis without fully thinking it through knowing that Daryn would be critically reviewing it and challenging me to refine and improve it. On the other hand, true to our mantra, seemingly crazy ideas are never discouraged here – when we suggested a launch party with guest speakers, hors d'oeuvres, and a rum bar as a way to market our new merchandise, Lauren ran with the idea and even suggested bringing in a famous painter.

Most of all, my experience has been meaningful because my co-workers at The Idea Village value my input and trust me with great responsibility. The interns were given full control over our own merchandise "business," managing everything from t-shirt designs to distribution channels. The Village People also care about our personal development as much as our contributions: Daryn frequently teaches us business school material for enrichment and Miji has even driven us around the 9th ward simply for better cultural understanding.

I came to New Orleans to make an impact on the post-Katrina revitalization movement, but I thought my contribution might involve little more than data entry in excel worksheets. Working at The Idea Village has allowed me to make the contribution I envisioned and at the same time develop on a professional and personal level.