Sydney Smith joined Praxis as an intern while pursuing a degree in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice at Hampton University. Over the course of her time with the team, she contributed to a wide range of client work spanning business-to-business, business-to-government, and nonprofit sectors — from project coordination and marketing initiatives to event planning, media outreach, and social media strategy. Sydney also had a hand in organizing client outings and events, and regularly sat in on business and board meetings, as well as professional workshops, where she picked up firsthand knowledge of client relations, strategic communications, and the finer points of the industry. Her internship also included a research project on media landscaping and crisis communications, sharpening her eye for strategic messaging and reputation management. Community service was a particularly meaningful part of her experience, and along the way, she also grew her professional network.