I'm in a group about ending unpaid internships in theatre (which is long overdue), but am so frustrated to see MULTIPLE people I have worked with OR BEEN SUPERVISED BY posting in support of the mission without any accountability for having worked for these orgs.

One of my worst internships in college was one that did everything Right: paid, multiple learning opportunities, etc. But within my specific department, I was given menial work, never felt respected by my supervisors (who didn't even show up to the intern final day celebration).

This was not everyone's experience at the org but was mine as a white, cis woman! Theatre has to go beyond just paying interns and looking at how the lowest levels of employees (especially assistants and interns) are being treated and most importantly, protected!

We have to end unpaid internship AND raise assistant level pay. This means EDI training AND also basic management training. I have worked for many theatre organizations and only half of them have had an HR department (and even then HR was only sometimes there to protect).

I had to supervise at my last job. I was bad at it! I was expected to know how to do it. I didn't! There weren't resources in place for me to even ask! I was asked to do it without an increase in salary! I was bad at it. It didn't benefit me, anyone I supervised, or the company.