Week four was definitely the busiest week of my internship so far. On June 17th, we held the Courageous Conversations event with Daryl Davis and Jeff Schoep. But before the event started, there was a lot of preparation that needed to be done.

Interview Preparation and Badge Printing

Monday started with finalizing the interview script. We planned to record an interview with Mr. Davis and Mr. Schoep, hosted by two interviewers who were also interns at the office. We wrote the script, and later shifted into preparation mode for the event. In addition to organizing the merch, which included shirts, pens, and cups, we needed to print name badges for all the guests. That part was more complicated than I expected. First, we had to get the right printing paper. Then use a web-based app to organize and print the badges directly from an Excel sheet. It took some time, but now I know how to do it, and that’s a skill I’ll use again.

Event Day

The event was a full-day experience, running from 9 AM to 7 PM. It started with a Community Leaders Brunch, where Daryl Davis played the piano and sang. He also shared stories about his transformative work, which really made the event’s message come alive.

After brunch, we went to Hi Hello Studio to record our first podcast interview. The studio provided its own equipment, but we faced some technical challenges. We had to manage four cameras, monitor audio quality, and work within a tight timeframe – Daryl and Jeff only had about 45 minutes. The limited timeframe made this experience more stressful, but we managed to finish everything in time. We pushed through, and completing that recording was a significant milestone.

Capturing the Event

Once we returned to the venue, the youth part of the event started. Our task was to take photos and videos throughout the evening. We aimed to create a photo gallery for the website and for future promotional materials. At the same time, we set up tables, organized the food, and kept the space running well as people arrived. It was a long day, but everything went smoothly. Seeing the final result made all the effort worthwhile. We still need to organize the photos, which is our aim for the next week, but from this moment it will go smoothly.

Reflection

This week showed me how much work goes into putting together a successful event. From writing the script and setting up the cameras with microphones for the interview in a short amount of time, to managing guest arrangements and taking photos and videos. It was stressful at times, but I’m proud of what we achieved. The event went well, and I’m happy I played an important role in making it happen.