Zepeda gets up close with Labor Department

Student values summer internship

AUGUSTA—This summer, Lydia Zepeda of Dover-Foxcroft participated in the Maine Government Summer Internship Program with the Maine Department of Labor. Zepeda spent 12 weeks working for the department as the communications assistant in the Office of the Commissioner.

Contributed photo

INTERNSHIP — Emily Rice, left, of Farmington and Lydia Zepeda of Dover-Foxcroft stand in front of the Department of Labor mural at the Maine State Museum. Rice and Zepeda interned at the department this summer as part of the Maine State Government intern program. 

Zepeda, an English communications and media studies major at Emmanuel College in Boston, worked on various projects for the department. She drafted and published press releases, wrote and edited monthly e-newsletters, managed the department’s social media pages, and collaborated with staff members on the development of marketing brochures for Maine CareerCenters and other marketing projects.

“I loved interning with the Department of Labor because it allowed me to combine my passion for marketing and communications while granting me a firsthand glimpse of the inner workings of local and state government,” said Zepeda.

“As an intern I was able to dive into the communications field, improve my writing skills and learn valuable graphic-design skills. I am certain that the experiences I gained at the Department of Labor will carry me far in my future endeavors,” she said.

“Lydia was an enthusiastic contributor to the department this summer, and we appreciate her efforts on behalf of the people and employers we serve,” stated Commissioner of Labor Jeanne Paquette. “Internships are a valuable tool in that they not only improve the skills of our young people but also help employers recruit and retain talent. These work experiences play an important role in addressing our workforce challenges and recruiting young people to stay in or move to Maine.”

The department administers Maine’s unemployment insurance system, helps ensure the safety of employees and provides workforce development leadership and vocational rehabilitation services throughout the state. The department has focused on connecting Mainers to jobs and helping businesses create jobs through strengthening our workforce development system, improving outreach to businesses and clarifying employment regulations.

The Maine State Government Internship Program combines paid work experience with education. Administered by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine, it is a collaboration involving the Office of the Governor, the Maine Bureau of Human Resources and Maine state government agencies.