Earlier this week, they had the opportunity to represent Mocha Club at the Nashville screening of the documentary, “Children of War”. Bryan Single’s award-winning film tells the story of former child soldiers of northern Uganda as they are rehabilitated and prepared to return home to their families. To learn more about this powerful documentary check out their website. And thanks to eXile (another Nash-based Africa nonprofit) for inviting us to the event!

The Mocha Club table

To read the article, click the image below and then go to page 34.

———-

introducing Whitney Pilzer…

Age: 20

School/Year/Major: Belmont / Junior / Music Business Major, International Business Minor

Favorite place you’ve traveled? I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Europe, and the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to is Lake Como, Italy. On the other hand, one of my closest friends lives in London, and I’ve had the time of my life there. Europe in general is overflowing with different culture and life, which I really appreciate.

Hidden talent? Not sure if it’s technically a talent, but sometimes I dream in French!

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Either Sylvia Plath or Chuck Palahniuk. Both are incredible writers… in very different ways!

Guilty pleasure? Properly made iced coffee! The best I’ve had is at Portland Brew and I just discovered it this summer!

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? I cannot express how excited I am to intern with Mocha Club! I was blessed to be able to intern with a non-profit in the Spring and had the most amazing time working on different projects that I knew were directly saving people’s lives. The feeling that I got from helping others was better than a paycheck – I know it sounds crazy, but believe me! I’m so impressed with all of the projects that Mocha Club is working on, and I cannot wait to get involved and brainstorm with the other interns and build ideas together. Also, I’m really looking forward to getting to know the other interns and the staff – I was lucky to work with Annie at my last internship, and I can’t wait to get to hear that infectious laughter again!

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

———-

introducing Sarah Minor…

Age: 20

School/Year/Major: Belmont University / Junior / Music Business

Favorite Place You’ve Traveled? I haven’t traveled outside of the US yet but my fave place I’ve been to in the states would probably have to be Virginia. I went to Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg. I love our colonial history and to me being there and spending my summer before senior year there was pretty much awesome

Hidden talent? Well….I do like to sing and I’m pretty sure I’m not tone deaf…haha I’m not sure if I have a bonifide (spell check) hidden talent that I know of, maybe I’ll discover it while at Mocha Club

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Totally would be Josh Groban, I am obsessed with that man. P.S his new album comes out this fall. Pretty much stoked.

Guilty pleasure? hmmm….90’s boy bands…love me some backstreet boys, n’sync, and 98 degrees

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? While being at Belmont I’ve discovered that I have a heart for helping others and that is what Mocha Club is all about. Having the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing organization that makes a difference in so many lives is once in a lifetime and I am humbled and so very grateful to have been offered this role as an intern to learn, grow, and maybe even offer a few ideas every now and then to such an organization as Mocha Club.

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

———-

introducing Chelsea Ruff…

Age: 20

School/Year/Major: Belmont University / Senior / Entrepreneurship, Music Business, & Dance

Favorite Place You’ve Traveled? Hands down..Spain.

Hidden talent? I’ve been told I’m fairly persuasive.  Also with a fairly slippery floor I can do a decent moon walk.

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? My grandpa… 50 years ago.

Guilty pleasure? Toooo many.  Frozen Yogurt, Peanut Butter, & Lil Wayneare the top contenders.

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? I’m excited about many things. I’m excited to be surrounded by a group of people who are passionate about helping others. I’m excited to be working for an organization that gives back. I am also excited to further explore my passions and abilities as I try to figure out what it is I want to do with my life.

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

———-

introducing Catherine Solomon…

Age: 22

School/Year/Major: Penn State / Graduated May 2010 / Advertising major, Sociology minor

Favorite place you’ve traveled? Fripp Island, South Carolina was so beautiful & relaxing, just the way a perfect vacation should be…also, everyone gets around by way of golf cart…need I say more?

Hidden Talent? Does cleaning count? Haha I LOVE to clean!  I can also remember the most random numbers really well, in addresses & phone numbers especially.

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? Definitely Ellen DeGeneres…I wish we were friends!  She’s hilarious and seems so down to earth.

Guilty pleasure? Reality TV… especially The Bachelor/The Bachelorette and Real Housewives.  I can’t get enough, it’s terrible!

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? I love the mission of Mocha Club and think it’s so awesome that musicians are using their talent to spread the word about an amazing organization.  Many people don’t realize how giving so little can go such a long way, and seeing the difference that Mocha Club makes is inspiring.  I can’t wait to be a part of MC and hopefully make a positive impact through the various projects they support!

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

———-

introducing Cassidy Myers…

Age: 22

School/Year/Major: University of Kentucky / 2010 / Journalism major, English minor

Favorite place you’ve traveled? Africa! Duhhhhh! I’ve had the incredible opportunity to go to Kenya twice, this summer and last summer, through an awesome church in Memphis (shout-out to Hope Church and all the amazing people I’ve gotten to meet these past two summers!). We spent most of our time working at Spring Valley school in a slum just outside of Nairobi, and both trips were the most amazing, life-changing experiences of my life. Africa is the reason I have found my way to Mocha Club

Hidden talent? Well, it’s not too hidden to my friends and family, but my love and (sometimes obnoxious) knowledge of basketball (GO CATS! GO KINGS!!) rivals pretty much any guy that I know. I will also guarantee a H-O-R-S-E victory over anyone out there reading this. You know where to find me for the next four months!

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? I have a lot of nominees, but probably singer/songwriter Jason Reeves because he has such a different/creative/inspiring way of looking at everything (just look at his Twitter feed if you need an example). Michael Jordan, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Paulo Coelho and the writers for Friends are all tied for second.

Guilty pleasure? I don’t know if I can call them guilty pleasures because I don’t reallyyy feel guilty, but…Sushi, Pinkberry yogurt, Friends (I own every season and have seen all episodes way too many times to count. Consequently, I relate an inappropriate amount of real life experiences to Friends) and basketball (watching it, playing it, talking about it, etc.)

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? In a word: Africa! In a long-winded paragraph: Ever since my first trip to Africa in the summer of ‘09, I haven’t stopped talking about it to anyone willing to listen (my friends and family can attest to this…as will you, the reader, at the end of this explanation). It is the most incredible place with the most endearing people and beautiful spirits that you will ever meet. I feel I have a duty to myself and every African I met to honor them by never losing that flame that they lit within me, and, in turn, doing everything I can to help them. Which is why I am SO EXCITED to be interning at Mocha Club instead of pursuing my previous dream job (in my pre-Africa days) as a sports reporter. I can’t imagine a better place to work than an organization that is as devoted to Africa as I am…the awesome Mocha Club artists and living in Nashville won’t hurt either

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

———-

introducing Jeff Jenkins…

Age: 21

School/Year/Major: Belmont / Junior / Music Business / Communications Studies

Favorite place you’ve traveled? My favorite place that I have traveled is Africa – Cape Town, South Africa & Gabarone, Botswana

Hidden talent? I guess my hidden talent would be that I show cattle.

If you could have a pen pal, who would it be? It would be someone from a completely different culture than I am…someone that I could learn a lot from.

Guilty pleasure? FOOD!!

Why are you excited about interning with Mocha Club? I am excited about interning with Mocha Club, because it incorporates my two passions. Music and serving have always been important to me, and Mocha Club has proven to work these things in together in a very successful way.

———-

Don’t forget that the Mochaterns have their own blog. Our fall team will be continuing to update you from their point of view all semester!

Here’s some beautiful parting words from intern Kourtney on their mochatern blog.

“As we sit in the same familiar office on our last day at Mocha Club we can’t help but feel a little sad that this summer is wrapping up. When an experience has been as beneficial as this one, it is hard to sum up everything I have learned. Each day, I am so impressed by the amount of passion and hard work that is poured into Mocha Club by each person that works here. The energy that circulates through the office day to day and during brainstorming is inspiring…” (continued on their blog)

photo by Mocha Club friend Jeremy Cowart

Stay tuned for an introduction of our new Fall interns later this week!

Last, but not least, Kourtney.

———-

Describe your internship so far.

My experience at Mocha Club so far has been so much more than I expected. The people here have been so accepting and the work is exciting. I have loved getting to know the other interns and working closely with them. It is so refreshing to work in an environment of loving people who have such a passion for Africa and the work Mocha Club is doing.

What projects are you working on?

A lot of the work we do is brainstorming for different campaigns. It is exciting because every day we are trying to come up with new ideas for a variety of different projects. We have been working on creating informative materials for African Leadership, developing a campaign for a new project, and working on ways to integrate Mocha Club into college campuses and student organizations.

What has been the biggest surprise?

I underestimated how much I would enjoy working so closely with other interns. We all come from different states and go to different schools and each person brings something unique to the group. We all get along so well and they have become good friends which is something I am so grateful for.

In one word, describe the other interns.

Passionate.

Who is your favorite Mocha Club artist?

I have been a fan of Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes for years. I have been going to their concerts since early high school and continue to love their music. Recently, I have really enjoyed following the progress of Cadillac Sky. This past spring, I interned at Cadillac Sky’s record label, Dualtone Music Group, so it has been fun to continue working for the band at Mocha Club.

What has been the coolest part of the internship so far?

A few weeks ago, all the interns got to work a Cadillac Sky show. We sold their merchandise and got several people to sign up for Mocha Club there which was exciting!

What do you hope to accomplish by the end of the summer?

I hope to develop relationships with everyone in the office and the other interns that will last beyond this summer. I want the work that we do to have an impact and to hopefully get Mocha Club one step closer to achieving the current goals and and bettering the ongoing projects.

———-

The Mochaterns have started their own blog. Crazy kids. So keep up with their daily experiences, plans, and hijinks there.