Dear Neighbor Handrolls
Fall Internship Program
Program Overview
The Dear Neighbor Handrolls Summer Internship Program is designed for students and early-career professionals interested in entrepreneurship, food & beverage operations, event production, marketing, content creation, and business development.
Interns will gain hands-on experience supporting the growth of a rapidly expanding Los Angeles-based sushi catering and events company while learning about small business operations, brand development, social media strategy, community engagement, and partnership development.
Program Length: 12 Weeks (3 Months)
Start Date: September 14, 2026 - December 9, 2026
Unpaid, College Credit Available.
Expected Time Commitment: 5–10 Hours Per Week
Please Note: This is a largely unpaid internship intended to provide hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, content creation, and business development. Compensation is only provided for separately scheduled operational shifts worked directly on the truck or at events.
Compensation Structure
This is a largely unpaid educational internship focused on professional development, business strategy, marketing, content creation, and project-based learning.
The majority of internship activities—including weekly meetings, outreach projects, research assignments, social media projects, content creation, strategic planning, and the capstone collaboration project—are unpaid and intended to provide educational and professional experience.
However, interns may have opportunities to work paid shifts directly on the Dear Neighbor truck, at catering events, or during active food service operations. These paid shifts are optional, scheduled separately from internship responsibilities, and compensated at Dear Neighbor's standard hourly rate.
Participation in paid operational shifts is not required to complete the internship program.
Weekly Structure
Friday Team Meeting (2 Hours)
Interns will participate in a weekly team meeting focused on:
Business strategy discussions
Event planning and operations
Marketing reviews
Partnership opportunities
Professional mentorship
Project feedback and guidance
Progress updates on individual assignments
Independent Work (Approximately 5 Hours Per Week)
Interns will complete independent assignments that contribute directly to Dear Neighbor's growth and operations.
Business Development & Outreach
Responsibilities may include:
Researching festivals, markets, and community events
Identifying catering opportunities
Building prospect and lead lists
Cold-calling venues, event organizers, and potential partners
Conducting outreach to planners, venues, and brands
Researching sponsorship and collaboration opportunities
Evaluating new vending and event opportunities
Identifying businesses and organizations that align with Dear Neighbor's brand
Marketing & Social Media
Interns will play an active role in helping grow Dear Neighbor's social media presence and visual identity.
Responsibilities may include:
Creating Instagram posts, stories, and reels
Brainstorming content ideas and campaign concepts
Developing social media calendars
Writing captions and engagement copy
Researching trends, sounds, and content formats
Photographing products, events, and behind-the-scenes moments
Attending select Dear Neighbor events to capture photo and video content
Editing short-form video content using CapCut
Creating event recap videos and highlight reels
Researching influencers and potential brand partners
Monitoring content performance and engagement metrics
Interns will be encouraged to pitch creative concepts that align with Dear Neighbor's playful, community-focused brand aesthetic.
Content Creation Expectations
Each intern will be expected to create approximately 1–2 pieces of original content per week, which may include:
Instagram reels
Photo carousels
Story series
Event recap videos
Behind-the-scenes content
Collaboration concepts
Strategic Research & Growth Projects
Responsibilities may include:
Identifying new revenue opportunities
Evaluating competitor brands
Researching consumer trends
Exploring partnership opportunities
Developing creative marketing concepts
Analyzing successful food and beverage brands
Identifying potential retail, catering, and event opportunities
Capstone Project:
Dear Neighbor Collaboration Proposal
Throughout the internship, each participant will develop and present a strategic partnership proposal for Dear Neighbor Handrolls.
The goal is to identify a brand, venue, organization, event, or business that aligns with Dear Neighbor's:
Aesthetic
Brand identity
Community values
Customer demographic
Food and beverage offerings
Growth strategy
Examples may include:
Lifestyle brands
Coffee shops
Creative organizations
Music venues
Festivals
Community events
Retail activations
Hospitality partners
Entertainment companies
Local businesses
Project Deliverables
1. Opportunity Overview
Description of the proposed partner
Why the collaboration is a strong fit
How it aligns with Dear Neighbor's mission and audience
2. Market Research
Audience overlap analysis
Brand alignment assessment
Potential benefits for both organizations
Competitive and industry context
3. Collaboration Concept
Develop a proposed activation, such as:
Pop-up event
Product collaboration
Catering partnership
Community event
Social media campaign
Retail activation
Brand partnership
4. Outreach Strategy
Key decision-makers or contacts
Proposed outreach plan
Timeline for execution
Potential next steps
5. Final Presentation
Interns will deliver a 10–15 minute presentation during the final week of the program outlining their proposal and recommendations.
Learning Outcomes
By completing the internship, participants will gain experience in:
Small business operations
Entrepreneurship
Event production
Food and beverage marketing
Sales and business development
Professional outreach
Partnership development
Social media strategy
Content creation
Short-form video production
Mobile photography and videography
CapCut editing and post-production
Brand development
Community engagement
Professional communication
Project management
Creative problem-solving
Program Goals
Dear Neighbor Handrolls aims to provide interns with meaningful, real-world experience while helping them build practical skills that can be applied across entrepreneurship, hospitality, marketing, entertainment, events, and creative industries.
Interns will have the opportunity to contribute directly to the growth of an emerging Los Angeles food brand, develop a professional portfolio of work, receive mentorship from company leadership, and gain experience working on projects with tangible business impact.
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.