What I learned from Spotlight on City Workers and Philly at Work—looking out for each other:
My name is Anfisa Blyumina, and I am a recent graduate of Temple University, where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a minor in Sociology. I joined the City of Philadelphia in June 2025 as part of the Mayor’s Internship Program, and from my very first interaction with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) Communications Team, I knew I was stepping into an experience that would challenge and inspire me.
Everything about the role aligned with my professional goals—uplifting the stories of the public service workers who keep our city running while building my own skills in communication, content creation, and professional development. What I didn’t expect was just how meaningful and impactful that experience would become.
During my first summer, I worked closely with the OHR team and a fellow mayoral intern to expand the Spotlight on City Workers series. This gave me the opportunity to connect with employees across departments, from the Capital Program Office to Creative Philadelphia and beyond. Each conversation offered a new perspective on public service and the dedication it takes to support our city every day.
In a world where many internships can feel passive, I felt incredibly fortunate to contribute to work that had real impact. I came into the office each day knowing that the stories I helped tell mattered.
An internship so nice, I did it twice:
As I approached my final semester at Temple in Fall 2025, I found myself reflecting on what came next. One thing was certain: my time with the City of Philadelphia had been filled with growth, purpose, and opportunity. I reached back out to the OHR Communications Team to explore the possibility of returning, and I was thrilled when they welcomed me back for Spring 2026.
From January to June 2026, I stepped into a second full-time internship experience, this time with even greater responsibility. I contributed to blog posts, weekly employee newsletters, event coverage, photography, and digital content creation. More importantly, I was encouraged to take initiative and bring new ideas to the table.
With the support and trust of my supervisor, Olivia Gillison, and the entire team, I developed and produced a new video series: Philly at Work—Looking out for each other. From concept to completion, I was involved in outlining, filming, producing, and editing each installment.
What began as a simple idea, to share a resource guide supporting employees observing Ramadan, quickly evolved into something much larger. With guidance from my team, the series expanded to highlight a broader range of experiences across the municipal workforce, including employees of different faiths, employees with disabilities, conversations around inclusion in the workplace, and supporting colleagues through grief.
Through this process, I had the privilege of amplifying voices on deeply important topics while continuing to learn every step of the way. Each interview, each edit, and each story reinforced the importance of empathy, inclusion, and connection in the workplace.
Looking back, my time with the Office of Human Resources Communications Team was more than just an internship, but a truly transformative experience. It showed me the power of storytelling in public service and the impact of creating space for employees to feel seen, heard, and supported.
Interested in joining the City of Philadelphia?
If you’re a student or early-career professional looking to gain meaningful, hands-on experience, I strongly encourage you to explore internship and career opportunities with the City of Philadelphia. My time here has been incredibly rewarding, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to contribute, learn, and grow alongside such dedicated public servants. You never know where one opportunity might lead.
