DSC Summer Intern Seeks to Create More Opportunities for African Americans in Parks

Nakyshia Fralin

What is your name and job title? Nakyshia Fralin, DSC Planning Division summer intern.

How did you hear about the National Park Service (NPS) internship program? I heard about the NPS summer internship through the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Internship Program (HBCUI) program within the Green Youth Foundation (GYF).The GYF helps put African Americans in positions to work within the NPS.

What experience and education do you have? I am currently a rising junior in undergrad majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Political Science at Huston-Tillotson University. I have had a few internships before this one, for example, last summer I interned with Texas Conservation Corps which is part of Americorps.

What made you want to work for the NPS? I am interested in analyzing why African Americans disproportionately visit and work in NPS sites and parks.

What are projects are you working on?  I was able to hold and facilitate a discussion about inclusion and diversity with the managers within the Facility Planning team at the Denver Service Center. It was such a fulfilling conversation that enabled me to get a better understanding of differing viewpoints.

What is a typical day like for you working remotely? I typically work from 8/9 in the morning till about 6pm.  I usually have meetings from about 9am-4pm for the latter half of my workday I try to check my email, go over the discussion notes I took from each meeting and get some major takeaways.