This final week at The Human Service Chamber has been a mix of wrapping things up, reflecting on what I’ve learned, and celebrating the people who made this experience so meaningful. One of my biggest priorities this week was offboarding and making sure the work I’ve contributed to can continue after I leave. I organized and shared the documents and spreadsheets I worked on throughout the summer into our shared Google Drive so that my team will have easy access to them moving forward.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Nonprofit Sector Snapshot at the CML’s Main Branch Auditorium. We discussed proposed changes to Medicaid and SNAP in Ohio, and I found myself thinking back to a national webinar I attended earlier this summer. Another speaker that really stood out to me was Ryan Kovalaske, who broke down charitable giving across Ohio over the past year by ZIP code and cause—seeing which Columbus neighborhoods were giving and where those dollars were going offered a fascinating look at how philanthropy intersects with geography, community, and local priorities.

Our final professional development session featured Toni Cunningham and Elizabeth Martinez, who shared their work around “Two Generation Touch.” Their approach serves both children and parents, supporting young people through mentorship with Big Brothers Big Sisters while connecting parents with workforce development and educational opportunities.

Later in the week, I presented at the closing Summer Fellowship luncheon, where we ate, laughed, networked, and celebrated the experiences we’ve all had this summer. I was genuinely in awe as I listened to my fellow fellows share their journeys, and thankfully, this isn’t quite the last time we’ll all be together. I’m already looking forward to seeing the Columbus Crew game with the group next week!

Most importantly, to my HSC team: thank you for trusting me, challenging me, welcoming me, and allowing me to be part of the work. I was given opportunities to contribute, and better yet, a space to learn. On Friday, we went out to lunch to celebrate a summer of advocacy, storytelling, and community.

A huge thank you to Dr. Mark Lomax and Lee Pepper for their thoughtfulness and careful attention to organizing this fellowship experience. The structure truly allowed us to experience the nonprofit sector firsthand. I’m leaving this summer with new skills, new relationships, and a much clearer sense of the kind of impact I hope to make in the future.

Aaron signing out!