Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear” -Jack Canfield

To the outsider looking in, it would seem impossible that less than two decades ago, Equitas Health was considering disbandment. Formerly known as AIDS Resource Center Ohio, the community health center was originally founded in 1984 to address an unfamiliar and increasingly prevalent health threat to the nation: HIV/AIDS.  With the mission to provide a welcoming healthcare experience that embodies the values of acceptance, dignity, and respect, the organization served Ohio’s public for several years, navigating the murky waters of the disease in the wake of widespread uncertainty and concern.

However, as society witnessed progressions in medicine and technology, so too did the center’s ability to suppress and treat HIV. Although the center was overjoyed in its ability to achieve what it initially sought to accomplish, it suddenly faced a greater question: now what? How could the center adapt to changing societal trends and remain relevant within its service provision? Was the health center even a resource still needed by the community?

It was in this moment that Equitas faced a choice: 1) let the fear of the unknown consume its operations, causing it to disband entirely or 2) innovate and respond to the needs of a changing community to sustain impact. Organizational leaders choose the latter, opting to rebrand the nonprofit (hence the name change) and drastically expand its services to include medical, social, and behavioral care for the LGBTQ community and beyond.

This week as I visited the center with OANO’s board chair and received a personal tour and history lesson from Michele Gregory, Equitas’ Chief Advancement Officer, I was able to gain insight to Jack Canfield’s incredible musing: the only way to overcome fear is to consciously embrace it. When Equitas was able to utilize its fear and uncertainty to stimulate creativity and expansion, it drastically increased its potential for long-term impact. Similarly, several years ago when OANO faced an abrupt change in leadership, the organization utilized the opportunity to reconsider its mission and completely revamp its services, contributing to its present-day status as an effective and well-respected champion for Ohio nonprofits.

Hearing stories such as these forced me to consider the ways in which I personally interact with fear, especially within work and school environments. Prior to my fellowship, I prided myself on my agreeable and easy-going nature. If a problem or conflict were to arise, I would do my best to avoid it, usually conceding to the more powerful and intimidating party whilst using the awkwardness of confrontation to justify my lackadaisical attitude. Well, let’s just say times have changed. Now, if I witness a problem or see an opportunity for change, I embrace it. Moreover, I fight for it.

Above all else, this summer has taught me you must be your biggest advocate and if you want to achieve greatness, you must be capable of embracing fear. In doing so, one is able to free themselves  of insecurities, approaching any situation with a fresh mind and capable attitude. In my life, I hope to utilize this lesson to face fearful situations with a confident smile, knowing that whatever lies before me is certainly less scary than the paralysis of the fear itself. I have already seen the short-term benefits of my slight change in perception and I cannot wait to see where this takes me years down the line. In fact, now that I am thinking about it, maybe I will look into those skydiving lessons…

In my 45-second elevator pitch about my Columbus Foundation fellowship position with Cristo Rey HS, I often finish by explaining that the school is housed in the old Ohio School for the Deaf building, located right next to the Topiary Park. People’s faces often light up in recognition and comment on its beautiful historic architecture. I can’t help but enthusiastically agree. It’s almost unfair that I was placed with a host site with such an awesome mission and I can feel as if I go to work at Hogwarts every day.

That being said, I’ve taken some time to look up a bit of history for the Ohio Deaf School and the time of its inhabitance of 400 E. Town Street (it has since moved to its 130-acre site on Columbus’ north side). I found a neat description of the buildings historical background on the Topiary Park website (http://www.topiarypark.org/old-deaf-school.html) and the first thing that caught my eye was the very first header: “How Ohio Made Education History.” Huh, that sounds familiar. But I’ll come back to that.

When the Ohio Institution for the Deaf and Dumb was established in 1829, it was one of only five such institutions in the United States and it was also the first to be entirely supported by state government as a public institution. As the school thrived, the neighborhood grew and thrived as well until 1943 when a commission recommended the relocation of the campus. After the school left, the neighborhood began its decline, and though it may not be directly correlated to the school’s relocation, it still took several decades for the area to see a renaissance. In the 1970s community groups were formed to preserve and restore the historic Town-Franklin neighborhood but by the early 1980s the buildings were vacant and in disrepair.

Fast-forward 30 years and $18 million in renovations, the old Ohio School for the Deaf building retains its ornate architecture and hardwood floors while being updated with the replacement of more than 300 windows and the addition of a chapel and state-of-the-art teaching tools and science and music labs. All set for the new Cristo Rey students to move in!

This information led to my reflection of Cristo Rey Columbus’ impact, not only on its students, but also within its community. The Ohio School for the Deaf tore down a significant barrier with its presence in Columbus as it redefined “education” by making it accessible for a wider population. Here we are, a century later, and Cristo Rey Columbus has ambitiously set out to do the exact same thing–serve the underprivileged in the Columbus community to increase their access to a valuable education experience. This almost seems too fitting of a symbolic connection between the two institutions, don’t you think?

How lucky am I to be a part of this revolutionary education model and to experience their first few years trying to navigate their place in the Columbus education environment. Further, the community is finally seeing a revitalization of the Olde Towne East area of Columbus. Similar to the heading for a historical background of the Ohio School for the Deaf, I can imagine Cristo Rey Columbus boasting the exact language in years to come with one small change: “How Columbus Made Education History.”

It was the second to last week of June–4 weeks into my fellowship at Cristo Rey Columbus HS. I was loving my position, the people, the networking opportunities, and I was excited about what I was learning and researching. However I couldn’t help but wish that I could see the students running around the school hallways as I had the first week. It was simply an unavoidable aspect of working during the summer months when students are on break, however it was difficult feeling so disconnected from those who benefit from CRCHS’ mission. But then my opportunity came–on June 25th, CRCHS hosted their orientation event for their incoming freshman class and they extended the invitation for me to lend a hand.

Students enrolling in CRCHS originate from a very diverse range of middle schools so it’s extremely unlikely that any student will begin their freshman year with a buddy from the same middle school class. This is why a fun orientation event is so necessary. The students were invited to the school for food, games, some introduction to extracurricular activities and most importantly, an introduction to their fellow classmates.

Aside from being able to meet and engage with some future CRCHS Cougar students, I had the opportunity to hang out with current students acting as “ambassadors” for the event, helping out with the activities and lunch. Within minutes of beginning my time in the cafeteria alongside a few rising junior students, I realized just how much I missed engaging with people younger than me. I had a blast. If I’m completely honest, it was kinda fun being the “old” one because I was still an accessible peer of sorts. Though I was teased for not having enough Instagram followers or for still having a Facebook app on my phone (apparently having a Facebook is no longer cool????) I was also being peppered with questions about college, campus living, and picking a major.

As soon as they had realized that I was a recent college graduate, they were wide-eyed. They crowded around and began to ask the funniest, most obscure questions. It dawned on me that many of these students probably didn’t have a parent or older sibling to introduce what a typical college experience was like. All they heard was what the college counselor would tell them, which was great, but when it comes to actual dorm roommate experiences or advice regarding studying abroad–they never had the opportunity to truly ask whatever they wanted about those 4 years of college.

THEN, I started asking them about what they wanted to do as well as where they wanted to go to college….

“Pre-med!”

“Stanford!”

“Physics!”

“NYU!”

“Pre-Law!”

“Loyola of Chicago!”

I mean, it took a few moments for me to realize my mouth was hanging open.

I wasn’t nearly as driven as these students in my experience as an upcoming junior. I had no idea what I wanted to do, I had no clue where I wanted to go, and I sure hadn’t thought about my opening line for my college admissions essay or picked who I wanted to ask to write my LORs. Talking to these 16-year-old(ish) girls was truly inspiring, despite the fact that I had recently completed the very goals they were so energetically envisioning. There is nothing cooler than to see someone their age so excited about education and so motivated to achieve their goals. It was truly a testament to the faculty and staff’s hard work and the culture that the school has built around encouraging their students to enroll in college. It was this experience, talking to a bunch of teenage girls as we handed out Donato’s pizza and they stopped every 10 seconds to take a SnapChat picture, that truly proved the CRCHS mission as a tangible, attainable vision for Columbus youth. It was evidence that what they are doing here is working, and later as I watched the nervous freshman signing up for Volleyball or Mock Trial, I had a new appreciation for how CRCHS was impacting their future trajectory.

It’s been a heartbreaking and tumultuous week in America. As I retreated into the warm embrace of Netflix and cute animal videos on the internet I reflected on how one of the many benefits of my privilege is the ability to stop thinking about systemic violence and racism when it all becomes too overwhelming. Social workers are guided by the NASW Code of Ethics, which has social justice as one of its core values.  The emphasis on social justice and looking at people in the context of their environment is one of the primary reasons I chose social work over other disciplines. I’m hoping for peace, healing and radical change in our country, but have been realizing that hope is not enough. Myself and other graduate students in the College of Social Work have started discussing how we can create a more active dialogue among our class. What I’m doing down at Southpoint has also colored how I’m thinking about these issues and considering the type of social worker I want to be.

This week I took the teens to the OSU Urban Arts Space for our first learning partnership session. They staff laid out a variety of materials for the teens to explore and use on canvas. It was so much fun getting to see what the teens created when given the space to express themselves on their own terms. During our time at the gallery we discussed racial tensions at their high schools, Ciara’s recent wedding dress, what forms of art they prefer to express themselves with, whether or not there is a feud between Beyonce and Rihanna, and the most effective way to attached googly eyes to a canvas. We had a lot of fun and definitely one of the major high points of my summer.

I just finished the second fitness class we’ve hosted down at the Southpoint Community Center. Student fitness instructors from the RPAC have volunteered to come down and teach to parents and teens. This was our first weekend class, and it was such a nice way to wrap this week up. It was fun to see the adults and kids try something totally new. It reminded me of the first time I ever did yoga. I resisted it for so long, for some reason writing off as too frou frou for me. When I finally did it I saw what all the hype was about – being able to center yourself and connect to the present moment is a powerful thing.

Something I don’t think I’ve talked about nearly enough is how amazing the concept of this fellowship is. Not only do I get to gain real-life work experience every day at KIPP, but the Foundation also provides us with invaluable “learning sessions” every other week. At these sessions, we get to hear from interesting members of the Columbus community and to ask them questions about their personal experiences.

A few weeks ago, we got to hear from Doug Kridler, the Executive Director of the Foundation, about the path he took to get where he is today and why he loves Columbus. He gave us some amazing life advice with a bunch of fun anecdotes sprinkled throughout. And a few weeks before that, we heard from a panel of diverse members of the Columbus community about their work, which varied from empowering kids in foster care to a spoken word poet who wrote and performed a special piece at Columbus’s Bicentennial celebration.

This past week, we spoke with Jason Moore of Fulcrum Creatives about the concept of “benefit corporations” (or “B Corps”) and the importance of branding in marketing. I hadn’t heard much about B Corps before, but the concept really intrigued me. The certification comes from a corporation demonstrating their commitment to positively impacting their community. He talked about how much it really matters that every employee can answer three questions about their employer in the same way: “who are we? what do we do? why do we do it?” If this can be done, then the corporation’s “brand” is truly cemented, and they will be able to effectively show observers what they are trying to do and (hopefully) gain their support. I’d never heard branding talked about in such a direct, easily explainable way, and I found it fascinating.

We also had the chance to attend an etiquette luncheon this week, which besides providing a free meal (I’m a poor college student who appreciated that aspect of it!) taught us how to properly conduct ourselves in a professional eating setting. It was a bit of an embarrassing moment for me as I realized just how little I knew previously how to make myself appear professional and impressive while eating. Definitely gained some valuable skills from that! (Did you know you’re supposed to keep your hands on the table the entire duration of a meal so that you look engaged? Because I certainly did not.) I’m just feeling very thankful to the Columbus Foundation for all of these cool, enriching experiences that they give us outside of our specific programs!

This week I’ve felt like a baby bird being pushed out of the nest to learn to fly. Our Youth Program Manager, Brittany, has officially completed her last week at ETSS. I have been passed on all reports, past agendas, schedules, email contacts and responsibility for the Youth Summit.

So far things have been going well, I led my very first Summit meeting along with a quick tour of ODU yesterday. I was happily surprised to hear from all workshop instructors either at the meeting or via email to work out the details of their rooms. The meeting went smooth and I surprised to hear myself giving answers to questions from the partners and workshop leaders. I guess you never know how knowledgeable you are about something until you’re bombed with questions about every detail.

Today I was able to be part of a manager’s meeting and the wedgewood community inevitably became a discussion topic. Like I’ve said before, this area is one of the most violent areas in Columbus and is only growing worse. Over 80% of the wedgewood residents are refugees from Somalia. Of the 2,500 residents living there, 2,000 are youth living in poverty.Weapons, violence, and gangs have become a larger issue and ETSS is meeting with other community organizations to brainstorm a solution to these issues next Thursday. The proposed solution will be to turn an abandoned middle school, that is within walking distance of the apartments, into a community center.Most of today I have been researching center’s from inner Toledo that I know have had an impact on the community. I’m gathering information about how the building were obtained, different ways of paying to expenses whether it be grants, donations, sponsors, or partnerships with benefit corporations. I’ve also tracked down my capstone paper that specifically speaks on the benefits on after-school programs in low-income areas.

My goal is to show the board how beneficial a mere after-school program can be to a community, let alone a whole community center. I’m hoping that by showing the board the different ways other community centers have grown, it will motivate and push them to advocate for creating this community center in wedgewood.

Stay tuned for updates on this and wish me luck 🙂

As an International Studies major, I enjoy being surrounded by people of various cultures, getting to know their background, and hearing personal stories. At the beginning of my fellowship, I had a chance to accompany my supervisor and co-worker in distributing meal coupons to some of the Somali community on the North and West side of Columbus. I found this to be one of my favorite events that I have been able to attend at LifeCare.

The first distribution I attended occurred right before Ramadan began – which consists of a month of prayer and fasting. Being naïve to what exactly Ramadan is, I found myself researching after leaving the coupon distribution, intrigued to learn more about what Muslims practice during this month. This year, Ramadan lasted from June 5 to July 5. For those of you who may not know what Ramadan entails – Ramadan is a month where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk in an effort to strengthen their relationship with God. Fasting reminds them of those less fortunate and forces them to remove themselves from worldly desires.

The most recent distribution took place this past Thursday, July 7, as Ramadan had just come to an end. We were able to hear about the celebration that took place the day before which consisted of “a lot of food and drink”, said the lead volunteer at the distribution site. I found it extremely interesting to hear firsthand about this event in which so many people around the world participate in. Contrary to last month, the Somali people exhibited new excitement to receive coupons because of the ability to eat at any time of the day in the upcoming month. I enjoyed learning more about their culture, hearing their language, seeing the women’s beautiful dress and hijabs, and even seeing a few henna tattoos.

LifeCare gives out approximately 3,000 Somali coupons each month. This allows those participating to receive a free meal at different Somali restaurants located throughout central Ohio. I find it extremely beneficial to see the diverse community in which LifeCare serves. It is remarkable how LifeCare is able to cater to the Somali population’s needs and respect them by providing coupons where they can eat food from their own culture. It is especially important for those who are refugees, as part of the integration process. The ability to have access to a free meal with food from their own culture can provide a sense of comfort throughout the transition period. LifeCare strives “to lead the community in identifying and delivering health and nutrition services to meet the community’s changing needs.” This is exemplified through the distribution of Somali coupons each month.

Yesterday, I was invited to sit in on a nutrition app development meeting. The app group from the Center has met with the technology firm previously but this was the first official action meeting to kick-off the six month creation process.

With a room of half eating disorder specialists and half technology specialists, the divide was clear. I noticed how the firm was attempting to grasp the Center’s complex nutrition terms and philosophy while the Center was trying to understand all of the moving parts in this massive project . They each had to re-explain their thoughts to overcome language barriers and made remarks like, “this is all Greek to me”.

This meeting was rather reassuring that I have learned quickly in this fellowship. When the firm posed questions, I simply observed but felt that I could speak on behalf of the Center to make decisions. You can certainly argue that in my position, I better know my wording and ethical decisions without much thought. However, at internships that I have had in the past, it has taken longer than six weeks for me to feel truly comfortable and adjusted to a work environment, yet alone be able to have a say in large undertakings.

I walked away with confidence that I am not only learning constantly but trusted and valued. I have been given full access to communication channels that are rarely handed to others. I have received feedback that makes me smile quite a bit (who would’ve thought that this bathroom stall newsletter would be such a hit or that other eating disorder facilities across the country would borrow my designs for their social media accounts?!).

Additionally, I have the consolation that at week six, it’s not Greek to me. I have less questions to ask, more freedom to run with my tasks, a greater understanding of the obstacles and triumphs that occur here daily and a long but exciting to-do list to accomplish. Thank goodness, it’s not Greek to me!

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to spend the Fourth of July with friends and family in Washington D.C. Eager to embark upon my very first solo road trip (I told you I could do it, Mom!) and first-ever visit to Capital City, I left the office Friday anticipating a weekend filled with great food and plenty of patriotism—the perfect way to celebrate making it to the halfway point of the fellowship.

With only three days in the area, I made it my mission to explore the area as intricately as possible, creating my own personal version of D.C. Bingo in which I would all of the major historical landmarks and neighborhoods the city had to offer. After one long day of touring many of the city’s standouts, such as the White House, the Washington Monument, and my personal favorite, the Lincoln Memorial, my friends and I decided to take an impromptu trip to the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, a famous nonprofit with the mission of “telling the story of America by portraying the people who shape the nation’s history, development, and culture.”

As I roamed amongst the hundreds of portraits of Americans, famed for their remarkable character and achievements, I couldn’t help but feel inspired by their accomplishments. These Americans, these famous artists, inventors, performers, activists, and leaders, capitalized on their talents and dreams to form our nation’s collective identity. Their tireless work and dedicated passion significantly shaped American society, allowing us to understand who we are and what we can aspire to be. Perhaps most importantly, seeing their faces allowed me to pose the very possible notion that one day, my hard work and dedication could make a difference in the world significant enough to shape society too.

This summer, I’ve been able to explore my own passions and interests through experiences that have allowed me to question what it is that truly ignites my fire. The individuals depicted through the Smithsonian’s portraiture were once upon a time, very “average” people, individuals with hopes and dreams similar to my own who were able to overcome obstacles to achieve impact. Seeing their faces reminded me that substantial change does not come from superheroes or miraculous instances of fate. Instead, it results from a tireless commitment to values and the ability to inspire others to follow suit– something I feel I am extremely capable of.

Reflecting on my visit to D.C., I was reminded of our amazing potential as individuals when we seek out our dreams. For now, I will continue exploring my passions in the areas of the nonprofit excellence and accountability, and I hope to inspire you to do the same. With this summer’s group of passionate fellows, I wouldn’t be surprised if twenty years down the line, I saw one of their faces memorialized through the portraiture at the Gallery.

Here I am geeking out at the Lincoln Memorial. You can tell I really am not excited at all.

My fabulous tour guide and I at the Washington Memorial.