Although it has only been two weeks at the center, I have been exposed to so many different roles. I have helped facilitate transportation for the youth, worked in administration, and assisted around the center to make sure that the summer program ran smoothly. Unfortunately, this week has been hard on many employees at the center because of the violence in the surrounding areas. There has been violence committed against young adults over the past couple of weeks, that has affected everyone in the center. My Project USA is a pillar in the community that creates a safe haven for young people who are looking for a place to be kids. We see these students throughout the week hoping we can make a difference in their life.

As previously stated, this week was tension-filled due to gun violence in the West side community. Since this happened, I had the opportunity to see community leaders, such as Mrs. Zerqa, the founder of My Project USA, and her partners swiftly act, make statements, and demand change in their community. The leaders knew they had to make a call to action against the crimes committed on the west side of Columbus, Ohio. They also took the opportunity to share their resources, invite the community, and create more partnerships with individuals in the community. After the press conference, I had a wonderful discussion with a colleague, stating that you can move to a different area but still have the same disparities because of a system that is built against certain communities.  As someone who is deeply rooted in their community, I understand the importance of speaking up and reaching out to make a change.

This experience has also helped me understand that a community must work together to make a change. They have to make sacrifices and take action so the next generation sees that their community is worth fighting for. I am inspired by leaders like Zerqa who are willing to be at the forefront to speak on the needs of their community. I know it is a hard task, but I believe the center has the capacity to curate more leaders that will make a difference.