Summer at Sustainable Northwest

Summer Reflections from Mei and Simar

Mei

Simar

Hi everyone! We're Mei and Simar, and we’ve had the incredible opportunity to intern with Sustainable Northwest this summer.

Mei is a rising senior from Portland, Oregon, studying Psychology at the University of Portland. Simar, from Happy Valley, Oregon, is an incoming junior at the same university, pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a focus on Management Information Systems.

We both joined the Development and Communications team and wore many hats. Simar uploaded staff spotlights to the blog and helped procure items for the annual silent auction. Mei led donor interviews, and curated and created communications content.

We’re both passionate about environmental sustainability, and it was incredibly meaningful to contribute to the mission of Sustainable Northwest. Here are five things we learned along the way:

1. Professionalism Matters

From juggling multiple projects to meeting deadlines and communicating clearly with the team, we learned how to show up professionally—and how much that contributes to a smooth, collaborative workplace.

2. Organization is Everything

Time management and staying organized were crucial. Whether we were prepping donor materials or posting material to the website, we learned to manage our time wisely and keep track of details.

3. The Power of People

Meeting staff across different programs helped us understand how many people—and perspectives—it takes to make real change happen. Everyone we met was so passionate and supportive, and it made the experience even more meaningful.

4. Sustainability Is More Than the Environment

We came into our internships thinking sustainability was mostly about protecting nature. We left with a much deeper understanding: sustainability is also about building resilient economies and supporting local communities. Sustainable Northwest lives this out in everything they do.

5. There's No One Way to Make an Impact

The range of expertise at Sustainable Northwest—from forestry and clean energy to policy and storytelling—showed us that environmental change requires many different skills and approaches. It made us excited about the different paths we could take in our own careers.

A Big Thank You

This summer has been such a rewarding experience. We’re grateful to Natalie, Raina, and the whole Sustainable Northwest team for welcoming us, teaching us, and giving us the chance to grow.

Thank you for an unforgettable summer!