Summer Spotlight: Five Days That Set the Tone for LCA's 2026 Intern Cohort
- Leading Change
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
A look into the 2026 LCA Internship Cohort
Recap - Interns Orientation Week in San Francisco, CA at Leading Change Officies. The energetic duo — Carlen Arevalo and Britney Khan — share rigorous academic and global experiences shaped by their journeys as first-generation students in the U.S. They are both recipients of the renowned Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer and New Century Transfer Pathway scholarships
Meet the Interns
Carlen Arevalo
Growing up in El Salvador, Carlen witnessed first-hand how violence, instability, and limited educational access shaped the futures of young people around her. That experience became her fuel. Today, as a 10-time scholarship recipient and advocate for equitable education, she holds an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Miami Dade Honors College and a Bachelor's in Marketing Communications from Emerson College in Boston. Her sights are set on the nonprofit and social enterprise sectors — spaces where creativity meets community impact.
Britney Khan
Britney grew up in the Caribbean, where her values around equity, community, and service took root early. She holds two Associate's degrees from Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana — in Informatics and General Studies — and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in International Studies at the University of Michigan. Her work is driven by a belief in resource mobilization, collaboration, and expanding access for young changemakers worldwide.
Orientation Week in San Francisco
The executive team, Ousmane Kabre and Awa Maiga, welcomed the scholars in San Francisco, CA for an in-person orientation and onboarding experience. From day one, Britney and Carlen were excited at the opportunity to spend five days learning alongside two international non-profit leaders.
Between team meetings and one-on-one intern check-ins, the conference rooms were filled with curiosity, conversation, and plenty of questions. Their unique perspectives were also present during group brainstorming moments focused on strengthening educational access and youth development programs. The cohort dived into their roles learning about the history, vision, impact, and global team at Leading Change Africa. Throughout the week they assisted workshops on leadership development and SMART goals setting.
"As a leader, you want to be an example to others. You want to be able to inspire others through your vision. You want to be an example of the work that you set out to do and the impact that you are trying to make."
— Britney Khan, LCA 2026 Intern
Other sessions helped them gain clarity on the work structure, schedules, role expectations, and weekly deliverables. And a personality assessment session in particular, ignited team discussions, where interns discovered how understanding themselves can improve communication, collaboration, and work effectiveness.
"Learning about my strengths and blind spots gave me a new perspective on how I contribute to an international team and in which areas I can continue growing."
— Carlen Arevalo, LCA 2026 Intern
The experience reinforced that personal development is not separate from professional growth—it's an essential part of it.
Beyond the Office
Outside office-hours, the team organized a dinner, leveraging the true San Francisco experience, and embracing technology by riding the self-driving car—Waymo.
The informal evening created the space to foster new connections, becoming one of the most memorable moments of Orientation Week for the entire team. This reinforced the power of investing in meaningful relationships and cultivating authenticity in work culture.
Storytelling, Creativity, and the Road Ahead
To end the week, the team participated in a creative session led by Carlen Arevalo and supported by Britney Khan, where the focus was to leverage creativity, document the journey, build confidence, and practice storytelling. Together, they captured engaging moments through audio, video, and photos.
The content included internship reflection videos, professional headshots, conversations on leadership and identity, and the first stories to be used in anticipation of Leading Change Africa's 11th Annual Fundraising Gala.
Throughout the summer, their work will include contributing to storytelling and strategic outreach efforts, strengthening institutional and corporate partnerships, and supporting LCA programs that advance educational access and leadership development across Africa and beyond.
The LCA internship is designed to help them strengthen their leadership skills, expand their professional networks, deepen their understanding of non-profit work and international educational, and engage in ongoing professional development opportunities.
"As someone whose own journey has been shaped by people who believed in me, invested in my future, and helped open doors that once seemed out of reach, I am committed to paying that forward by supporting students who face barriers to opportunity."
— Britney Khan, LCA 2026 Intern
Leading Change Africa is proud to welcome Carlen and Britney to the team this summer. Their energy, lived experiences, and commitment to impact are already shaping the work ahead.
Follow our journey and stay connected as we build leaders and transform communities — one story at a time.
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