When I posted a call for summer interns last week, I had no idea what was coming.

Within days, it reached over 101,000 people, sparked 1,100+ reactions, 253 reposts, and 83+ comments. I got DMs from students, educators, career transitioners, brothers and sisters echoing the praise of their siblings, wives, husbands, cousins — and even international creatives — all reaching out with excitement, curiosity, and a desire to connect.

The DMs started rolling in — from students, educators, and people all over the world.

Everyone wanted to know how to get involved, how to partner, and how to plug their students into something that could actually make a difference.

Here’s just a snapshot of what filled my inbox:

And then came the resumes.

Over 400 of them.

From every corner of the world.

(👀 I see y’all! Also… my HR director might hate me just a little right now.)

The response was overwhelming — but in the best way. And it made me pause.

I’ve been having conversations in silos with friends and peers about how so many students are entering the job market without strong portfolios, without confidence in how they deliver during interviews, and without the real-world experience that helps them stand out.

I’ve actively seen HR departments toss resumes aside because, in this economy, employers want the perfect, polished, plug-and-play professional — someone with 3–5 years of experience, even for entry-level roles. It’s disheartening, because those expectations are blocking students from gaining the very experience that would qualify them. It’s a cycle that punishes potential and shuts out brilliance before it even has a chance to grow.

That’s when I realized:

What if I didn’t just offer an internship?

What if I built something more intentional — and more impactful?

So in about a day (because when purpose calls, I move), I created a pilot incubator program under my agency, Creative & Creator.

🧪 So here’s how I think it’ll work:

• Students will be paired with real nonprofit clients who need brand, marketing, or web support.
• They’ll work side-by-side with senior creatives on our team — shadowing, contributing, and learning through actual project delivery.
• We’ll build in creative mentorship, process training, and feedback loops, so students walk away with tangible skills and portfolio pieces.
• Each round will run for 4–8 weeks, depending on the scope — and yes, we’ll build workflows and structure around it to keep things smooth.

This is more than exposure — this is real work, with real impact, in a safe space that fosters growth.

💥 Here’s what I need now:

• Nonprofit organizations who need design, branding, or marketing support — let us serve you while you help us develop the next generation of creatives.
• Schools like Towson University , University of Baltimore , Stevenson University , Morgan State University , Bowie State University , University of Maryland , The Johns Hopkins University, and beyond — if you’ve got students who could benefit from this, let’s integrate it into your programs or offer it as a supplemental track.
• Workforce development orgs, incubators, and creative collectives who want to help new designers, engineers, marketers, and storytellers gain real experience — I need you.
• Funding partners. Because in the wise words of Dawn:

And I want to compensate mentors, support students, and pilot this the right way.

I’m still taking on two interns from the original post, but the traditional internship idea is evolving into something much bigger — a pilot incubator model that will serve more students, offer greater flexibility, and reflect the kind of long-term impact I’m truly aiming to make.

The conversations I’ve had over the past week — with students, with leaders and with others doing this work in the trenches — reminded me of something I already knew:

We don’t have to wait for someone else to build the spaces we wish we had.

We can build them now.

For those coming behind us. For the culture. For legacy.

So if you’re a student, a career changer, an educator, a nonprofit, or someone just trying to open doors — I want to hear from you. We’re still in pilot mode, but the vision is clear and the mission is aligned.

Let’s create something real, together.

The next generation is already watching — and they’re ready.

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