Kanyinsola Adesoba

On Monday, June 3rd, I embarked on a transformative journey at Seeds of Caring, where our mission is to empower children to create a kinder community with their hearts, hands, and minds. From the moment I stepped into the office, I was welcomed by an incredible team of dedicated staff members. Sarah Jorgenson, the Operations Manager and my supervisor, provided an insightful overview of the organization, its mission, and the expectations for my fellowship.

Seeds of Caring is driven by a profound purpose: to inspire and equip children to make a positive impact in their communities. Through various programs and initiatives, we aim to foster empathy, compassion, and proactive kindness in young minds.

My fellowship schedule spans Monday to Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, with occasional weekend activities. On June 4th, I delved into an enlightening meeting on Asset Framing with Leigh Fullenkamp, one of the dedicated staff members. Leigh explained that Asset Framing emphasizes highlighting the positive qualities of individuals before addressing their challenges. This approach is particularly effective when communicating with privileged children, as Leigh demonstrated, by helping them understand that other kids are just like them. This method fosters a sense of empathy and connection, essential for building a kinder community.

Later that day, we outlined the week’s activities, focusing on the upcoming summer youth program. This initiative involves visiting various schools to encourage children to use their hearts, hands, and minds to create thoughtful kits for their peers. The sense of purpose and unity among the team was palpable.

Wednesday marked our monthly team meeting, where I was officially introduced to the entire team. Despite being a small non-profit organization, the warmth and unity among the staff made it feel like a second home. During the meeting, everyone discussed their roles in the organization, and I had the privilege of meeting the founder and the executive director; Brandy Jemczura. After the introductions, we dedicated ourselves to preparing for the summer programming event starting the following week. Although we are a small non-profit, we have taken a significant step forward with the addition of our new Indianapolis location, expanding our impact even further.

Thursday brought an early training session on co-leadership for event days, followed by more packing of kits for upcoming events. To wrap up the week, I received training on Virtuous Data Entry on Friday. This session covered data entry, creating contacts, adding tags, and other essential functions within the Virtuous platform.

My first week at Seeds of Caring has been a heartwarming and enriching experience. The team’s dedication and passion for fostering empathy and kindness in young minds have deeply inspired me. The supportive environment and comprehensive orientation have prepared me to contribute meaningfully. Witnessing how a small non-profit can make a significant impact, especially with our new Indianapolis location, has been enlightening. I am excited to work alongside this passionate team to create a kinder community for all.