Help us raise Intern stipends!

Why now?

We need your support to ensure aspiring youth can participate in our SPEL internship program. Internships are a first step into professional life, but for many young people in our communities, an unpaid internship is a door they can’t afford to walk through. Our $20 weekly stipend isn’t a wage, but it helps with the small costs that add up, and it tells our interns every week that Hola Cultura is behind them. Through Nov. 20, we’re raising $4,000 so every 2027 SPEL intern has that support.

How your gift helps

Every dollar you give to support our SPEL interns goes directly to a young person who is ready to do meaningful community work but shouldn’t have to choose between an opportunity and a paycheck. 

SPEL places high school and college students in internships where they build real skills in writing, editing, and storytelling. For many students, an unpaid position is simply out of reach, and when that happens, talented writers are left out of the room and important stories go untold. Stipends change that. 

“It [SPEL] taught me important skills of how to write stories, how to edit stories, how to learn about other people and other cultures… It was just a really great experience for me.” — Maya, a SPEL Intern on the Arts and Humanities team

Where it goes

Every $20 covers one intern for one week: help with gas, bus fare, books or a meal, and the steady support that keeps them going

Please join us in making SPEL accessible to every student who wants to take part. Thank you for being part of this community!

Hola Cultura is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your gift is tax-deductible.

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