From Intern to Full-Time: Celebrating Vivian’s Journey and Our Own

Written By: Nikki Robinson-Fondren

In April 2025, We Work the Waterways branched out on our own as an independent nonprofit. It was a real leap of faith! And if you ask the staff from that time, the kind that comes with big dreams, long days, and a whole lot of unknowns about what the road ahead would look like.

A few months later, in August 2025, Vivian joined us as our very first WWW intern.

We didn’t know it then, but her story and ours were about to grow up together.

Watching Someone Grow

Vivian started as a student still finding her footing. She was learning the ropes of the maritime industry, figuring out what marketing looks like in a mission-driven organization, and getting her first real taste of nonprofit work. Over the following months, we watched her ask better questions, take on more responsibility and take initiative. We watched her confidence build, her industry knowledge deepen, and her professionalism grow with every project she touched.

By May 2026, she graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a minor in Supply Chain Logistics. We were excited when she came right back to us! This time as our Marketing Fellow for the summer.

And now, we’re beyond proud to share that Vivian is joining We Work the Waterways full time as our Events & Communications Coordinator.

A Milestone for All of Us

Here’s the exciting thing about Vivian’s story… it’s not just about her. It’s about us, too.

Since becoming a standalone nonprofit in April 2025, we’ve now added two full-time staff members to our team. That kind of growth doesn’t happen without belief in the mission, without investment, and without people willing to bet on a young organization and grow alongside it.

Vivian did that. She bet on us before we had much to offer beyond a mission and a lot of hard work. And in turn, we got to watch someone start as an intern and grow into a genuine asset to our team. Someone who understands hard work, is willing to learn, and rolls with the punches when it really matters.

That’s what makes this moment feel like more than a hire. It’s proof of what We Work the Waterways is becoming.

Here’s to What’s Next

To Vivian: thank you for growing with us, for showing up ready to learn every single day, and for becoming someone this organization is lucky to have full time. We can’t wait to see what you build in this next chapter.

And to everyone who’s been part of this journey with us: thank you for helping We Work the Waterways become an organization people want to grow their careers with. This is only the beginning!

Welcome to the team (officially), Vivian. Here’s to how far we’ve come, and how far we’re going.