Internship with Purpose: A Conversation with Olivia Howerton
Not all internships come with a calling. But for Olivia Howerton, stepping into her summer role at Safe Places for Women wasn’t just about gaining experience; it was about uncovering purpose. Olivia arrived in Colorado with a heart stirred by her mother’s passion for nonprofit work and left with something even deeper: a personal conviction to serve, lead, and carry the mission forward. What began as a behind-the-scenes internship quickly became a transformational journey - one filled with prayer, purpose, and people who poured into her along the way.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Olivia to hear more about what her summer with Safe Places has meant to her - what she’s learning, what God is stirring in her heart, and how she hopes to carry it with her as she steps into her future.
Tell me about who you are and how you found Safe Places.
I’m 20 years old and a student at the University of Cincinnati, going into my junior year. I got connected to Safe Places through my mom, who is the Chief Operations Officer. She had been volunteering alongside Michelle Frank, the wife of Safe Places’ founder, with another nonprofit doing similar ministry work. When Safe Places began, my mom joined the team through that connection, and I had the chance to witness the organization grow from the very beginning.
At first, I didn’t fully understand the work she was doing. But over time, watching her passion develop and seeing the community she was building really stirred something in me. I admired how deeply she cared, how much she grew, and how her heart was being transformed through her work, even with so much distance between her and the staff. Seeing what was being cultivated through a screen had a big impact on me and planted the seed for my own interest in nonprofit work.
For a while, I felt lost in college and hadn’t quite found my direction. But watching my mom’s fire for this mission, and the seeds she unknowingly planted in my heart, helped guide me. That led me to pursue a certificate in Nonprofit and Community Leadership at UC alongside my Operations Management degree. I realized I didn’t want to chase a corporate title but that I wanted to use the business skills I was learning to serve people and help build something meaningful behind the scenes, just like my mom does.
What has your internship experience with Safe Places looked like so far?
My internship with Safe Places has been both meaningful and eye-opening. I started working virtually in May, spent June in person in Colorado, and then returned to the online format for July. Each phase has offered something different, but all of it has helped me grow both personally and professionally. Being in person during June allowed me to truly experience the heart of Safe Places. I saw firsthand how faith, community, and collaboration are woven into everything... every staff meeting, every decision, every conversation. Stepping in and out each day felt more like joining a family than walking into a room of coworkers. Throughout both the remote and in-person parts of my internship, I’ve focused on the operations side of the organization to align with what I’m studying in school. I’ve learned how systems are built, how fundraising platforms function, and how the behind-the-scenes work supports the broader mission. Through this, I’ve come to understand how essential strong organizational systems are to making a long-term impact. I’ve also had the opportunity to take initiative and create projects around areas I’ve been passionate about throughout my time here!
What was it like being at Safe Places in person?
Being at Safe Places in person was more than I ever expected. It was incredibly impactful. From the time I arrived in Colorado to the moment I left, I felt welcomed, supported, and surrounded by a team that truly lived out the mission in everything they did. There was a rawness and genuineness that was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have stepped into absolutely everything.
It never felt like a workplace; it felt like family. Every conversation, meeting, and moment was intentional and rooted in compassion and faith. Being physically present gave me a deeper, more personal connection to the heart behind the work and the people behind the mission.
Leaving such an incredible team truly broke my heart in ways I couldn’t even put into words. I remember telling Michelle Frank, “I feel unfinished.” But a wise woman, my grandma, shared something I’ll never forget. She reminded me that it was never my job to come and solve everything or complete the work in just one month. My role is temporary, but what I’m gaining and what I’m leaving behind will last forever.
I’m so grateful for the time I spent there in person and for every opportunity. It breaks my heart to leave such an incredible team, family, and group of women just as relationships were being built and established. But I’m beyond thankful to be leaving with a deeper sense of how to pray for the ones who are carrying out this mission each and every day.
What is your “why?” Why this mission?
If it weren’t for my mom’s radical encounter with this mission, I don’t think I would understand the work being done the way I do now, or continue to understand more deeply along the way. Those four weeks in Colorado were transformational in ways I never expected. During that time, the Lord opened my eyes and broke my heart for the women and for the mission. I came into this internship ready to offer something, but the Lord opened so many doors for me to take things away too. It was a time of true growth, listening, learning, and becoming the person He is calling me to be.
Stepping into that space allowed me to see the heart of the people behind the work being done, especially the heart of Ked and Michelle Frank. Just witnessing that was incredibly powerful. Although I believe the Lord is still revealing pieces of my “why,” I know that a big part of it comes from the deep care I have for the people who care so deeply for this mission. Because of that, I want to carry what I have learned with me as I step out of this internship and into the role I will play at school.
My prayer is that the Lord will use everything I have taken back with me to shape the way I serve and make a difference wherever I am. There are so many ways to be a part of this mission, and I am excited to continue supporting it in whatever way I can.
What’s your vision for Safe Places?
My vision is for Safe Places to continue growing and expanding its impact. I know the heart of this organization is to reach more women and serve more communities, and I truly hope to see that happen. I may not know what the timeline will look like, but I believe God is fully capable of opening doors, providing resources, and placing the right people in the right places.
There are so many hopes and dreams within this team, and my prayer is that each one would come to life. I know there is so much in store for Safe Places for Women, and I am so excited to see not only what God can do, but what He will do.
Talking with Olivia was a beautiful reminder that God is always at work planting seeds, shaping hearts, and calling people into purpose in His perfect timing. Her willingness to learn, to serve, and to carry the mission of Safe Places with her beyond this summer is deeply inspiring. It was a joy to hear her heart and to witness the way her story is already unfolding. We can’t wait to see where God leads her next. For initial inquiries about interning with Safe Places for Women, please feel free to email Michelle Frank at michellefrank717@gmail.com.
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