Braylen Hill’s Internship Reflection
Braylen Hill is one of the summer interns for The SOL Project (Saving Our Legacy: African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places). An Afro-Latino student from Bakersfield, California, he is entering his third year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is pursuing a double major in History and Global Studies on a pre-law track. His long-term goal is to attend law school and work for the California Department of Justice, helping create a better future for the next generation while advancing opportunities for both of his cultures.
Braylen describes his internship with The SOL Project as a wealth of opportunities that challenged him to grow, become part of meaningful change, and give back to his community. Growing up in Bakersfield, he did not have many opportunities to connect with other Black youth. Working with The SOL Project not only allowed him to build stronger connections with his community but also gave him the opportunity to work alongside a team that reflected his lived experiences.
During his internship, Braylen developed presentations, created educational materials, delivered speeches, and helped educate youth about the dangers of commercial tobacco and other harmful products that have disproportionately impacted communities. He also had the opportunity to speak before city councils, helping educate local leaders about how policy decisions can affect the health and well-being of the communities they serve.
In addition, Braylen engaged directly with community members and helped collect data that supports The SOL Project’s efforts to educate the public and encourage community advocacy for meaningful policy change. He also laughs about improving what he calls his “atrocious marketing skills” to something much better. Overall, he believes The SOL Project helped him become a more well-rounded leader by strengthening both his professional and personal skills.
What Braylen appreciated most about The SOL Project was the way the staff treated everyone with dignity and respect. He describes the team as individuals of impeccable character who balance multiple responsibilities while remaining deeply committed to serving the community. He admired how they continually looked for opportunities to build meaningful relationships and connect with people wherever they went.
He was especially impressed by the care the staff took when speaking with individuals who smoke, never judging or criminalizing them, but instead treating everyone with respect while making sure people who wanted to quit had access to available resources. Most importantly, Braylen appreciated the organization’s commitment to supporting children and protecting those who are often the most vulnerable.
His experience with The SOL Project also opened his eyes to the significant gaps that still exist in education, income, and opportunities for success. He became more aware of the ways minority communities continue to experience the lasting effects of systemic inequities, including undereducation, redlining, and health disparities that have limited opportunities for generations.
Despite these challenges, Braylen believes minority communities in America continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. His internship with The SOL Project has significantly influenced his career aspirations, shifting his interest from business law toward pursuing a career focused on civil justice. He hopes to dedicate his future career to creating meaningful change and advocating for communities that too often go unheard.
If you are interested in serving as an intern with The SOL Project, email us at info@thesolproject.com.
