More than halfway through the fellowship! Early in the week, HSC submitted a comment to the federal Office of Management and Budget signed by more than 80 members. I helped our Executive Director compile the names and titles of CEOs, executive directors, presidents, and other organizational leaders as they would appear on the letter. It was exciting to see the strength of HSC’s membership reflected in one collective message and to better understand how advocacy can elevate the voices of so many organizations at once.

One of the biggest highlights of my week was helping distribute Bath & Body Works in-kind donations from IMPACT Community Action’s warehouse. Member organizations came to pick up items that they will, in turn, share with the communities they serve. I got to meet so many of our member organizations, help coordinate arrivals, check off pickups, assist with loading donations, and take photos for social media. It was an especially hot week to be working in the warehouse, but the experience felt incredibly rewarding.

This week also included two One Voice interviews that gave me the chance to hear directly from leaders doing meaningful work across Central Ohio. The first was with Dwayne Steward from Equality Ohio at the Ohio Statehouse. We talked about his work to disrupt and recreate systems so that all individuals are represented in policy, laws, and programs. We also discussed how he stays motivated during turbulent times and what allies can do to help create change, whether that means donating their time, sharing resources, or showing up at protests and rallies.

Later in the week, we met with Sangeeta Lakhani of Service! at The Line, a new restaurant in Columbus that is expected to open this September. Surrounded by construction ladders and overhead wires, we talked about the instability that hospitality workers experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the human labor behind every meal. Sangeeta shared how, while food is important, her true product is the people she staffs, educates, and employs. Her perspective made me think more deeply about how often guests see only the finished product, without recognizing the care, skill, and labor that make the experience possible.