Community Fellows Blog Posts

It’s been an incredible start to my senior year at Santa Clara University, as I’ve had the privilege of working as a Marketing and Communications intern at the San José Office of Economic Development (OEDCA). My role focuses on consulting San José’s business associations and small businesses on their media presence and marketing strategies. Growing up in the Bay Area, I was surrounded by small businesses that shaped my community. Small businesses are truly the heart of any neighborhood as they are built on talent, creativity, passion, and pride. I’m deeply honored to be part of the work that brings people together and helps keep the spirit of San José alive.

 Every day at OEDCA feels far from work. Each day is different, challenging me to learn new skills and allowing me to grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. My first project involved reaching out to the recipients of the Creative Economy Fund Grant to write a blog post announcing and celebrating their accomplishments. From there, I continued my journey on supporting San Jose business associations and their small businesses through their marketing strategies, brainstorming, curating their marketing campaigns, strengthening their media presence, and analyzing data from their ongoing efforts. Approaching the holiday season, I assisted with the final campaign materials for Shop Local Saturday and took on the responsibility of maintaining and updating the Shop Local page. Working closely with San José’s business associations has been incredibly rewarding as I guide them through the holiday season and seeing ideas come to life. What started as nervous first emails has grown into confidently contributing to meetings with business associations and providing strategic guidance on marketing campaigns and social media presence. This growth has been possible thanks to the trust and guidance of my advisor, Carlos Velasquez, and his endless support. 

From my very first day, I could feel the passion and energy radiating from the OEDCA team. Walking into an office full of cubicles, I didn’t expect to be met with so much energy, laughter, and collaboration. Everyone is eager to contribute, share ideas, and put their best foot forward for the community. It has been incredible to be a part of such an inspiring team that continues to push me to pursue every opportunity.  

My goal through this experience is to become well rounded across sectors of marketing. Even in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve made significant progress toward that goal. I’ve been astonished by the complexity behind each campaign, witnessing the collaboration, effort, and creativity required to bring even a single project to life. As I continue this journey with OEDCA, I look forward to learning even more about the beautiful city of San José, supporting small businesses, and seeing campaigns come to life online and in-person. Gaining this real-world experience in marketing and communications has been deeply rewarding, and I’m excited for what the rest of my senior year will bring!

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