Georgia County Internship Spotlight

Kimberly White, the Executive Director of Keep Cobb Beautiful, did not initially plan to have three interns during the summer of 2023. However, as the scope of projects and work to address litter in Cobb County expanded, it provided an opportunity for three students – Holly Bratcher, Quadriyah Williams, and Keiko Huffman – to learn about local governance and contribute to sustainability efforts in the county. Each student brought unique skills to collaborative county projects and individual research assignments.

Holly Bratcher, a current junior at Berry College, found a way to apply her study of environmental science in the internship. For Quadriyah Williams, a sophomore studying pre-law and public health at Columbia University, the internship was an extension of her previous work with Georgia 4-H and her participation in Cobb County commission events. Keiko Huffman, a senior at Emory University, expanded on her studies in political science through experiential learning about county governance. Throughout the internship, interns participated in various hands-on activities, from litter data collection and cleanup assessments to community event planning.

The interns' major project over the summer involved conducting a litter index survey. Completed annually, the survey measures litter and other quality-of-life factors in the county. Volunteers survey road segments in residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and educational areas and give each segment a score. The interns were responsible for analyzing and mapping the data. Using tools such as ArcGIS and Excel, interns logged the data, cleaned it, and began reviewing the results for trends and patterns. Their continued analysis of the data turned into a presentation on the litter survey given to county commissioners and staff. During the presentation, the interns discussed litter and pedestrian safety findings and compared annual litter scores over time. “The most significant success during the internship was the successful completion of the litter survey,” Huffman said.

As a team, the interns also prepared for and hosted community events and programs about sustainability. The biggest of these was the annual household hazardous waste drop-off event. During the event, county residents brought hazardous materials to be recycled or disposed of responsibly. The event was a great success, garnering an “overwhelming response” from residents and prompting the county to plan more drop-off events. Williams noted that one of her favorite parts of the internship was working on the recycling events and other events focused on educating children about sustainability.

In addition to their collaborative projects, the interns produced independent research presentations on unique sustainability topics. Influenced by their personal interests and studies, the interns created presentations and gave them to county staff at the conclusion of the internship. Bratcher completed research on litter behavior and psychology and discussed ways to change individual litter habits. Huffman presented a deep dive into litter ordinances in the county, comparing Cobb with neighboring counties and making recommendations for revised ordinances. Finally, Williams researched distinct types of pollution – land, air, and water – and examined how litter contributes to these and overall public health.

Through research, data analysis, and collaborative planning efforts, each intern developed her professional and academic skills. Bratcher reflected that she "made advances in skills such as Excel, PowerPoint, communications, and leadership. All will apply to my career, and I will integrate these into classes." In addition to developing lifelong skills, the students also appreciated working in a local government setting and participating in county governance. "I really enjoyed the team I worked with, from fellow interns to staff," Bratcher said. Though they all brought different skills, backgrounds, and interests to their internship, each student said they would consider a future career in county government."

To learn more about the GCIP, please visit our website at https://www.accg.org/caf_index.php.

Back to CountyLine