Empowering Futures: How an Exclusive Madison Wells Internship Is Transforming City Year LA AmeriCorps Members’ Careers

At City Year Los Angeles (CYLA), we are deeply committed to helping Los Angeles students achieve their goals, and we are equally dedicated to the professional development of our AmeriCorps members (aged 18-25), striving to open as many doors for them as possible! This year, our partners at Madison Wells offered a unique internship exclusively for our CYLA AmeriCorps members. One exceptional student success coach, Caitlyn Johnson, had the opportunity to join the Madison Wells team for a month, gaining experience across every department in the company. This immersive experience allowed her to see how the company operates, build valuable connections, and gain insights into her future career aspirations.

As described by Elizabeth Goodstein, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy for Madison Wells, “Caitlyn joined our rotational program, which exposes interns to the various roles within the entertainment industry. Beyond its creative aspects, this program reveals the crucial functions of finance, legal, marketing, and more—the essential components that collaborate to produce the films and television shows we all love. Participants gain firsthand experience in each department, fostering a comprehensive understanding of their integral roles within the industry”.

Read on to discover how this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has impacted Caitlyn, who spent this past year serving at Pio Pico Middle School, post-City Year.

Q: What did your internship with Madison Wells look like on a day-to-day?
As a Rotational Intern, I was assigned to a new department each week – Business Development, Studio, Creative Marketing, and then Legal – and so my job really depended on what each team needed a hand with that week. I’d do research, help the other interns (the ones dedicated to each department) with their projects, sit in on meetings, and try to get to know everyone in the office. Everyone was also kind enough to keep in mind what I was interested in (namely Development/Studio) and so part of my internship was just studying scripts, writer deals, pitch decks and gaining exposure.

Q: What is the greatest lesson/skill you’ve learned from the internship?
I think the skill I used and developed most in this internship was adaptability. In switching to a new department each week and having such a short time in the role, I really had to be open to just jumping onto things. I had to roll with whatever assignments each department had for me, quickly switching gears from whatever I was doing last – from reading scripts, to learning how to edit TikTok videos, to summarizing contracts. While everyone was very open to questions, I also had to trust in myself enough to try anything and everything. One time I was tasked with preparing notes on what projects another studio might be looking to make before a meeting one of our execs had with them; it was a bit daunting thinking an executive would be relying on my notes, and not something I had technically done before, but I just put in my best and afterwards she thanked me for a job well done.

Q: Did any lessons/skills you learned during your time with City Year support you during your internship?
That adaptability and self-trust were definitely skills I learned from my time with City Year. Being in charge of kids and having to roll with whatever unpredictable problems they throw your way – on the spot, without a teacher or manager to guide you – will test you. I learned to trust my gut and simply try my best in those situations, and to roll with all the different needs, personalities, and comebacks from students that nothing could’ve prepared me for.

Q: Aside from the internship, how has City Year supported your professional development? Can you walk us through some of the opportunities that have elevated your career this past year?
The many networking opportunities I’ve had through City Year have been invaluable. From service days to office tours, I’ve had the chance to meet and learn about the experiences of people from some of my dream companies: NBCUniversal, Sony, Riot, CAA, and more. Even just having the support system of City Year – a chance to meet other corps members looking to get into entertainment, having people to check my resume, encouragement to go for these opportunities – has helped me feel more prepared for working my way forward.

Q: What’s next for you in your journey after City Year?
I’m actually going to be heading back for a second City Year, this time with the Civic Engagement Team, though I’ll definitely keep making connections in entertainment and applying for entry level roles. I’m looking mostly at agency or development roles, but after City Year and the Madison Wells Rotational Internship, I’m ready and willing to try anything.

Congratulations on a successful internship this summer, Caitlyn! We’re so glad this experience allowed you to try new things and develop skills you might not have otherwise. We’re so proud of you and are thrilled you have joined us for a 2nd year of service this year.

Post-internship, Shannon Graves, the Senior Vice President of Accounting for Madison Wells, had this to say about the experience and our partnership: “We were delighted to welcome Caitlyn as our inaugural CYLA AmeriCorps member intern. As a Los Angeles-based company, we are passionate about giving back to and nurturing our community through our philanthropic organization Madison Wells Forward. We’ve been lucky enough to work with City Year for the past year and we’ve been so impressed with their unwavering commitment to student education and growth.”

Huge appreciation to our partners at Madison Wells for believing in the power of young people and offering this internship opportunity to our AmeriCorps members. We’re honored to have you as a partner!

About Madison Wells
Founded by producer Gigi Pritzker, Madison Wells is an award-winning, independent entertainment company that empowers badass women and boundary pushing storytellers.
From award-winning films (“Hell or High Water,” “Eyes of Tammy Faye”) and Broadway musicals (“Hadestown” and “Swept Away”) to National Geographic’s anthology series “Genius” and the immersive theater experience “Seven Deadly Sins,” Madison Wells creates projects with partners who are aligned in the belief that good storytelling can provoke, inspire, and move audiences around the world.