As a staff writer for the Mayor’s Office in New York City, Vivian Goldstein has an array of responsibilities requiring many different types of writing, all from the perspective of the mayor. Emulating someone so different from you can be a challenge but rewarding, because Vivian gets to be “deeply connected to what's happening and what people are thinking.” She might be assigned to write proclamations, announcements recognizing a day, week, or month that’s important for the city; certificates; letters of thanks to a person or an organization; responses to constituent mail; or other messages acknowledging an organization’s fundraiser or event important to the city. These wide-ranging tasks allow Vivian to learn more about New York every day: “I’m constantly exposed to wonderful things to do or these wonderful organizations to support.”
Working in the city is quite different from Vivian’s original plan to be a fiction writer. Taking an argument course opened her up to the world of professional writing, inspiring her with its potential impact. So Vivian gravitated towards grant writing, working for several nonprofits during her time at Ithaca. She interned at the Ultimate Re-Entry Opportunity, an organization that helps those affected by incarceration, and the Village at Ithaca, which assists underrepresented students in the community. A particular grant she’s proud of writing funded bi-weekly lunches for kids in need.
Vivian credits the Writing Center for teaching her how to analyze and observe the writing of others, which is crucial for her job. She thinks fondly of the relationships she made with professors in the Writing Department and how they both challenged and supported her, even after she graduated.