Authored By Gabby Rivera, Marketing and Content Specialist

Over 2,000 individuals in Mecklenburg County are actively experiencing homelessness, according to Charlotte Family Housing (CFH). Half of the county's renters have difficulty affording their homes, as prices have climbed 30% while minimum wage has remained stagnant. D’ascia Muir sees the impact of that gap firsthand: the vast majority of families in CFH’s program are single mothers, some working two or three jobs just to make ends meet. 

This summer, Muir is interning with Charlotte Family Housing, a local nonprofit built around three pillars: house, equip and empower. Families are placed into stable housing with social workers by their side to help build financial literacy and long-term stability within a two-year program.

As the marketing and community engagement intern, Muir manages social media, coordinates volunteers and helps run workshops tied to the organization's summer camp programming. This summer, she's also researching and writing a blog post specifically on ALICE families—Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed—in North Carolina.

"I like being able to see the actual outcomes of what I do and how other people can benefit from it," Muir said. "I have the privilege to do that, and I want to be able to give all that I can to my community."

A goal she set was to network with everyone on her team. Since then, she’s met one-on-one with the executive director, the shelter director, the housing director and the social work team—connections her mentor helped make possible.

"I've gotten to work in so many different sections," Muir said. "I thought I'd just have to stick to marketing and community engagement, but I've gotten to volunteer, do outreach and reach out to council members and Charlotte influencers. I didn't know I'd like that part, but it was so exciting."

Although Muir’s passion for non-profit organizations is contagious, landing an internship wasn’t easy. She applied to more than 40 positions and heard back from only about 10, describing the search as genuinely stressful. What kept her going, she said, was following up after every interview—a habit that once turned a rejection into a meaningful conversation with an organization's founder.

"[She said] that really stood out to her," Muir said. "I was just so shocked that it actually does do something."

Now, Muir is confident about where she's headed next: a career in the non-profit sector. We are excited to announce that D'Ascia will be joining the Career Center. She’s excited to gain more hands-on experience with an internship in public relations this academic year. 

"This is exactly what I want to be doing," she said. "I want to be there for my community and give back."

The SECU Public Fellows Intern Program connects UNC Charlotte undergraduate students with paid, community-focused summer internships across the Charlotte region. Supported by the SECU Foundation and administered by the Career Center team, the program offers meaningful, hands-on internships while strengthening community impact.