Fostering Understanding and Engagement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives Through Effective Online and In-Person Communication
“One thing that surprised me was how much behind-the-scenes work it takes to run a nonprofit and plan a single event. Everyone on the FI team juggles full-time jobs alongside their nonprofit work. Their dedication taught me the value of mission-driven action and time management.”
BY GRACE ALBERTSON
Hi, my name is Grace Albertson (she/her). I’m going into my senior year at North Carolina State University, where I am majoring in Applied Zoology with minors in Wildlife Science and Environmental Education. I’m especially passionate about communicating science in ways that are accessible to everyone, and I’m excited to continue to grow in this work.
Since March of 2025, I have been interning for Field Inclusive (FI) as a social media and communications intern. FI is a nonprofit focused on accessibility, inclusion, and equity in environmental science. They also have a huge focus on social field safety. Social field safety is the prevention, protocols, and resources concerned with protecting fieldworkers from discrimination, prejudice, and mentally or physically unsafe encounters with other people while performing fieldwork. Field Inclusive offers workshops and resources to help individuals and institutions recognize and reduce these risks, with the goal of making field environments safer and more welcoming for everyone. The initiative emphasizes practical tools, awareness, and community accountability as key steps toward building truly impactful field experiences.
I have had various responsibilities, such as helping make social media posts using Canva. I have also helped with blog posts and newsletter contributions. One of my big projects recently has been learning how to use WordPress. Within WordPress, I have been adding Alt Text for accessibility. I have also participated in DEI-centered workshops and planning, with the goal of being an independent facilitator. I have shadowed and as well as gained a lot of insight into the kinds of discrimination different people have faced while doing fieldwork. I have also assisted with a public event at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, where FI showcased the work that they do to the general public. I also had the privilege to represent Field Inclusive in a graduate-level class at North Carolina State University titled Children & Nature led by Dr. Kathryn Stevenson.
I chose this internship because it aligned with my passion for science communication, accessibility, and environmental education. It was an amazing opportunity to gain real-world communication experiences in a DEI-focused space.
One thing that surprised me was how much behind-the-scenes work it takes to run a nonprofit and plan a single event. Everyone on the FI team juggles full-time jobs alongside their nonprofit work. Their dedication taught me the value of mission-driven action and time management. I have also learned that DEI work can be hard. Sometimes their progress is not visible day-to-day. You are trying to help the whole world at once, but you feel so small. But when you step back, you realize just how much progress you have made as a team.
I am very excited to continue to work alongside the FI team and to continue to grow not only as a communicator but as a person.
“We are deeply thankful for our intern, Grace, whose hard work and creativity have been essential to Field Inclusive this season,” said co-founder and CFO Lauren D. Pharr, who also serves as Grace’s supervisor. “Balancing the many moving parts of a nonprofit takes dedication, and Grace consistently rose to the challenge with thoughtfulness and initiative. Her contributions have strengthened our team and advanced our mission in ways we’re truly grateful for.”
Field Inclusive would like to thank the funders of this internship, Conservation Nation, whose generous and continued support has been invaluable to our nonprofit. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission and the opportunities they help make possible.