I am beyond grateful to have been given the opportunity to intern at Regent Park Film Festival (RPFF) over the summer. In a few weeks, I will begin my second year at McGill, and I can say with certitude that my time at RPFF has been instrumental in improving my personal and academic development. As a Psychology and African Studies student passionate about the intersection of mental health and stigma within BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) communities, this internship provided a remarkable occasion to delve into my passions. It allowed me to actively engage with my interests, including enhancing the accessibility of resources for minority groups and witnessing the tangible effects of these endeavours within communities.
I was looking for an opportunity to develop my professional skills while serving a company that shared my values of advocating for BIPOC communities; Regent Park Film Festival was the ideal fit. RPFF is a non-profit cultural and media arts organisation based in Regent Park, Toronto. It is Toronto’s longest-running, free community film festival. Thanks to an incredible team of dedicated individuals, RPFF is a staple in the Regent Park neighbourhood. For over twenty years, this organisation has had the power to unite members from all walks of life in the Big Park for free movies and complimentary activities, allowing them to enjoy and understand movies as a way of expressing art and making positive changes. The films they show challenge stereotypes and aim to highlight creators and stories from BIPOC and working-class backgrounds. This year, I got the chance to help organise the 10th anniversary of Under the Stars (UTS), RPFF’s free film summer series that occurred every Wednesday this past July.
As the Marketing and Outreach intern, my role involved managing social media content, such as the conception of captivating social media material to enhance our brand's recognition and reach. Additionally, I devised strategies to promote our programming effectively, including exploring TikTok and advising on prevailing social media tactics. My responsibilities extended to content creation, editing, and scheduling across platforms while contributing to outreach efforts through personalised mail merges and newsletters, ensuring targeted and impactful promotion. I got to work with a team while still operating independently on multiple social media projects, which enabled me to improve my time management skills.
Our team socials, whether it was a planned team-building exercise or a casual coffee break, contributed to fostering a strong bond with the team and emerged as an undeniable highlight of my internship at the Regent Park Film Festival. These moments created an environment where collaboration and mutual support thrived, making us a close-knit team. This, along with a survey that allowed employees to share information about themselves to help improve coworking harmony, made it a joy to come to work, knowing that I was part of a team that genuinely cared about one another's well-being and success. The team socials and the harmonious team dynamic were not only highlights but the very essence that made my time at the RPFF memorable and impactful. My other highlight was my progress in enhancing my public speaking skills. This improvement became evident as I shared substantial insights during discussions concerning our social media platforms and company. Particularly rewarding was when I took the lead in a meeting and received positive acknowledgement for my marketing concepts. The newfound confidence I gained from this achievement significantly boosted my capacity to articulate my ideas effectively while remaining open and responsive to constructive input.
My biggest challenge was commuting from my house to the workplace, especially during the UTS period. This required me to manage my time well and be adaptable, ensuring that I could focus on my tasks with energy and effectiveness rather than arriving at work with low energy. Another UTS-related challenge was the size of our team. While a smaller team allowed for closer collaboration, it also meant that each team member had to wear multiple hats and take on diverse responsibilities. Navigating these varied roles required flexibility, clear communication, and a strong sense of teamwork.
Though I am not receiving academic credit for this internship, my experience with RPFF has been nothing but joyful. I am extremely grateful to all those who generously contributed to the Faculty of Arts Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism Fund as this funding helped cover my living expenses during the summer.
