Hello! My name is Brandon Bishop and I am a recent graduate of The Ohio State University and incoming J.D. Candidate at Duke University School of Law. This week, I began my 10 week fellowship placement at Local Matters. Local Matters is a non-profit organization serving the Central Ohio region. The organization seeks to educate the community on healthy food options and expand access to fresh foods. This summer, I will be assisting the Programs team in developing a program operations manual to help standardized procedures and simplify team operations. My previous work experiences focused on public policy and other public sector functions, meaning my responsibilities this summer force me to work outside of my comfort zone. However, my background provides a useful perspective as the organization seeks to develop itself further.

The primary objective of my first week was to learn. Attending the Columbus Foundation Fellowship Orientation allowed me to learn about the work of the Foundation in supporting the local non-profit environment. I also learned about the diverse backgrounds of my cohort members. At Local Matters, I spent my week gaining knowledge on the organization’s mission and how it carries this out. I witnessed how the organization currently operates at various meetings throughout the week. Though non-profit and food access work is new to me, I have already broadened my view on my own lived experiences. Growing up, I always had access to fresh foods at a network of grocery stores in my area. Lower-income neighborhoods in Columbus and around the country do not have this same access. Programs offered by Local Matters like the Veggie Van and food education classes seek to bridge this gap. 

Upon starting at Local Matters, each team member was incredibly welcoming towards me. I am inspired by the passion for their work that each person exudes. I look forward to getting to know each team member and working with them to improve the organization throughout the summer.