蜜桃传媒

When it comes to handling tough situations, Paris Mercier is all in. Whether she鈥檚 working with a homeless child amidst a crisis or uncovering heart-wrenching African- American history, she鈥檚 a dedicated advocate for others. Combining a passion for sociology with an interest in justice, law, and politics, Paris鈥檚 蜜桃传媒 experience is just the start. After a drive-by shooting took the life of a young girl, Makiyah Wilson, in Northeast D.C., the entire staff at Sasha Bruce Youthwork was left shattered and confused. Paris Mercier 鈥�20, then a summer intern, immediately stepped in as a mental health liaison for at-risk and homeless youth in a time of crisis.  鈥淚n that moment, something in me switched,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 became the person I always wanted to be on the job.鈥� Thrown into one crazy situation after another, Paris was able to do hands-on work while growing as an individual and a professional鈥攁n opportunity not available to most college students. Thanks to her prior experience as a virtual volunteer counselor for the National Crisis Text Line, she was already equipped with the necessary crisis training required. In her new role, she met with families and kids throughout the day, recommending resources and connecting them to mental health professionals. Working alongside adults with double master鈥檚 degrees, Paris  felt underqualified, but that didn鈥檛 stop her from throwing her whole heart into it. She explained, 鈥淲hat I saw in those kids, they did not see in themselves.鈥� At that moment, she realized that this was exactly what she was meant to do with her future. Back across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Paris鈥檚  impact is equally profound. Spending almost three years with the Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, she worked tirelessly on the Chesapeake Heartland Project. As an intern, she helped to build bridges between the College and community, while making African-American history accessible to all. Meanwhile, Paris  stepped in as the President of the Black Student Union for almost two years and contributed to the College鈥檚 first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. More than 300 students, faculty, staff, and local residents participated in this groundbreaking day of compassion, learning, and reflection. 鈥淭his is why we come to 蜜桃传媒,鈥� she explains, reflecting on that overwhelmingly impactful day. 鈥淭his is exactly what I had envisioned.鈥�