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Oct. 28, 2024

Undergraduate Spotlight: Aaron's Flint Study Away Internship

Aaron Shapo stands with a large group of community members.
Aaron Shapo (middle, back, right) with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson and other members of the Flint community at an event.

Over the summer, Aaron Shapo, economics major, worked with Communities First, Inc. as part of the MSU Flint Study Away Internship. Communities First, Inc. (CFI) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build healthy, vibrant communities through economic development, affordable housing and innovative programming. 

One of the ways they serve the community is by hosting educational or networking meetings for residents and small business owners. As an intern for CFI, many of his tasks involved attending these community meetings, either to help host them or to take notes. 

“The most memorable meeting for me was with Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson, where I got to learn from her about the housing issues affecting Flint and Detroit,” he said. “I even told her about my own concerns for the prospect of my generation being able to own homes.” 

Along with the meetings, Shapo and the other intern compiled Flint data to inform city leaders about the 10-year progress of 20-year Flint city masterplan. 

“Sonya and I worked tirelessly to compile data on Flint’s demographics, housing situations, educational attainment, and many other aspects of the city,” he said. “Along with compiling the data, Sonya and I were tasked with creating a presentation for the city. September 14, we showed the city our presentation, and I look forward to seeing what they can do with the information!”

Shapo chose the Flint Study Away Program because he wanted the opportunity to understand how cities operate and to have a chance to live in a place different from where he grew up.

“I was excited about seeing Flint for the first time, as I had never visited that part of Michigan before, and it has such an interesting past for a history nerd like me,” he said.

Shapo felt fulfilled by his work's meaning and what he learned had a lasting impact on his education.

“I learned a lot about what it means to have responsibility with this job,” Shapo said. “It was the first time I truly felt like the work I was doing was going to have an impact on the real world, instead of just in a classroom. I also learned just how compilated urban planning really is and the difficulties of working with a complicated bureaucracy.”

Two men and one woman interns smile for the camera.
Aaron Shapo (left) with the other interns helping to host a CFI meeting.

Shapo chose economics as a major because he has a passion for studying how societies operate.

“Ever since my eight grade civics class, I have been keenly interested in politics and business, and the implications that decisions in both areas have for society,” he said. 

With his degree, he hopes to work for a political think tank or as a political analyst. He felt his Flint Internship was a meaningful part of gaining skills and has some advice for other students considering it. 

“The advice I would give other students thinking about this opportunity is to really treat it like it is a job, and not just a 2–3-month stint for your resume,” he said. “There is so much to be offered from this kind of job experience and the perspective you will be exposed to will help shape your own.” 

To learn more about the Flint Study Away Summer Internship Program, visit https://socialscience.msu.edu/undergraduate/experiential-learning/flint-community.html