Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Greetings, everyone, and happy Friday! This week has been truly memorable and inspiring during my summer fellowship. It’s unbelievable that we only have two weeks left. The past week has been extremely busy, but it has been worthwhile, and I have learned a lot.

Week 8 started with a special volunteer event in Cleveland! We traveled to Cleveland for a special meal packing event in collaboration with The Cavaliers Community Foundation, Coca-Cola, and The Ohio State University Student Life Office to make over 2,000 shelf-stable weekend meals. We packaged shelf-stable Weekend Meal components into convenient grab-and-go boxes to distribute these meals around the state to give to the kids. It was heartwarming to witness the coming together of so many compassionate young people, all with a strong desire to serve to ensure that children and their families won’t have to stress about having enough food over the weekend.

Wednesday was another exciting highlight of my week, as we had our bi-weekly meeting with the Columbus Foundation. Although this week was virtual, it was still lovely to hear what everyone was up to and have been learning at their host sites and to hear from our guest speaker, Toshia Safford. Toshia Safford is the outstanding CEO of the Center for Healthy Families here in Columbus, Ohio.

Her honesty and vulnerability impressed me as she shared emotional stories about several families she works with, including some whose lives she has been put at risk in the process. She shared that her experiences inspired her to establish a mental health program at her non-profit. While also emphasizing that leadership is about taking action, not merely holding a position of power. Moreover, she stressed the importance of having empathy, listening to ourselves and others, and finding balance. It was so nice meeting Toshia Safford. She was so insightful and inspiring!

I am so grateful for this opportunity and this journey has taught me many valuable lessons about dedication, patience, and the power of networking. I am so grateful for this opportunity and looking forward to another week at Children’s Hunger Alliance.

This week, I spent a lot of time on Canva creating social media posts. We try to post something every day, so it’s become almost like a daily routine. I haven’t mentioned it much in my blogs, but my skills in Canva have improved a lot. Another thing I haven’t talked about is watering the gardens, which I help with around twice a week. It’s a nice break from my desk and I love the peacefulness of the plants.

A big project I finished this week was remaking the center’s brochure that includes a green infrastructure scavenger hunt. We couldn’t find the original version, so I had to recreate it from scratch on Canva. It was tricky because I had to work on it sideways to make sure it printed right and it definitely hurt my eyes, but it looks almost identical to the original one with a few edits. Sandy and I are still trying to find a better way to work on it that isn’t sideways, but I’m glad we have an editable copy now.

We also had our biweekly meeting with the Columbus Foundation, but this week was virtual. Toshia Safford, the CEO of the Center for Healthy Families, was our guest speaker. She shared emotional stories about the families she works with including some that put her own life in danger. That experience led her to implement a mental health program at her non-profit and she explained how leadership is taking action, not just a position. She emphasized to be non-judgmental and have empathy when it comes to working with clients and just being humans in general. However, something I struggle with sometimes is having too much empathy. A metaphor I like to use is that it is good to be in someone else’s shoes to get a different perspective but not let the shoe become stuck to where their problems consume you. I asked her how she deals with this, and she explained that it takes time to learn how to balance the two and to keep personal boundaries set. She recommended learning about Daniel Coleman’s five components of emotional intelligence, so I am excited to look into that for personal and professional growth.

On Thursday, I went to Burbank Early Childhood School to help with nature programming for preschoolers and two-year-olds. We took them on a bird scavenger hunt, showed them how to use binoculars, played “Birdie Says” (like Simon Says but bird-themed), and sang a bird song. It was surprising that many of these young kids had already used binoculars before.

Lastly, the City of Columbus recently announced a grant for youth-led organizations to work on projects related to the city’s climate action plan. In a meeting, it was decided that I should take the lead because I’m a student at OSU. I reached out to the Society of Ecological Restoration, a club I’m a part of, to see if they’d be interested in using the grant to transform our overgrown green roof. I’m still waiting for a response, and the deadline is coming up on August 2nd. I’m hopeful they’ll get back to me soon because I really want to help write the grant to get some experience in that.

In the meantime, my boss gave me another grant application for a water bottle refill station funded by the Ohio Department of Health. This one was a short 12 question Microsoft form, unlike other extremely detailed grant applications. After getting feedback from my boss, I submitted it, and fingers crossed we get a new water bottle refill station!

Another week at the Women’s Fund is gone like the wind! It’s crazy how fast summer has gone, it feels like as I’m getting into the full swing of day-to-day the program is ending. As we discussed with Ms. Toshia Safford, she stated that it takes 1-2 years to fully get acclimated to your job. As these weeks close out I starting to think about how to wrap some projects up so the team can pick up where I left off.

This week entailed lots of research and strategic thinking. The two projects revolve around the idea of reconceptualization and implementing new programs. The Women’s Fund hosts their annual fundraising event, Keyholder, which typically features guest speaker(s) that can offer some perspective of how they interact with their professional space as women. The goal of the guest speakers is to recognize how the interconnectedness of individuals’ various identities influences how they engage with the world. This week I have been looking for venues that could potentially be the new home of Keyholder. The team is revising what Keyholder could look like because they have been doing this format for 10+ years and want the event to be centered around something different.

My second project pertains to some potential programs the Women’s Fund wants to start in the near future. I’m looking into other women-centered non-profits to see what’s out there and how this new program can be different. In addition to researching, I’ve been strategizing ways for StoryCorps to become more active by communicating with donors and partners. This week especially, I’ve been going through the list of donors and thinking of ways to get them involved in the project whether it is through hosting an event, sending a personal email, or having our CEO meet with some people in an organization to communicate the purpose of StoryCorps. This aspect of planning is new for me as I have not been on the “strategic marketing” side of things, this experience with conducting outreach for StoryCorps has given me some additional skills.

As this week comes to a close I am eager to see how our StoryCorps board will gain momentum as we continue to strategize how to connect with organizations and the public to participate. 

Hope everyone had a great week!

See y’all in the next one.

Kennedy Smith

As the weeks fly by, our routine remains consistent. Even though we’re sticking to our usual rhythm, each week brings its own set of milestones and achievements. It’s amazing how the same routine can feel so fresh and exciting as we hit new goals and celebrate small victories. Each week, we see progress in unexpected ways, and it’s those little wins that keep us inspired and moving forward. So while our daily routine might look the same, the sense of accomplishment and the joy of seeing things come together make each week feel special in its own way.

This week was a perfect example of how our steady routine leads to remarkable moments. We kicked off with a summer program focused on repurposing materials, and it was incredible to see the kids transform what many might consider waste into meaningful creations. A particularly touching moment was when one child crafted a special safe for their brother in the military, who is stationed in Spain and won’t be back for another two years. It was a powerful reminder of the creativity and thoughtfulness these kids bring to their projects. Another standout project was a windmill made from cardboard. One child shared how they failed the first time they tried to build it but were determined to make it work on their second attempt and they succeeded. These moments highlight the resilience and ingenuity of the kids, making the week even more memorable.

Tuesday continued our theme of repurposing with even greater enthusiasm. The kids were thrilled to transform everyday items into fantastic new creations. Their excitement was contagious, and it was truly inspiring to see their creative energy at work. We also hosted a VIP visitor from Columbus First, which naturally brought a bit of nervousness. Thankfully, the visit went smoothly, and the positive feedback we received was incredibly rewarding. It was a great affirmation of the impact we’re making and a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team. This recognition gave us a fresh boost of motivation and pride in what we’re achieving together.

Wednesday was especially impactful as we donated the 600 veterans kits that the kids had worked so hard to assemble to a local veteran shelter. The heartfelt thank-you message we received from a veteran was deeply moving. It was a powerful reminder of how our efforts are making a real difference. I also had the chance to drop off items at the Ronald McDonald House, further supporting families in need. The day truly highlighted the tangible impact of our work and reaffirmed the dedication and compassion of everyone involved.

Thursday and Friday were a blend of activities. I visited schools to distribute flyers for upcoming events and entered data for our summer activities. Additionally, I worked on content for the PLANT prep groups, crafting questions to inspire creativity, confidence, empathy, and kindness. I aim to make our discussions engaging and age-appropriate, fostering a positive environment for everyone.

As we head into the final weeks of this fellowship, I’m reflecting on our accomplishments and feeling a sense of urgency to maximize our remaining time. This journey has taught me valuable lessons about dedication, impact, and the power of community. I’m looking forward to another week of making a difference. Have a great week ahead!

Kanyin

Good afternoon! Week 8 is over, and it has been a great one here at Legal Aid. This week was not extremely eventful, but I did get to work on projects continuing from previous weeks along with starting new ones. As I stated before in one of my previous blogs, I have been working with the communications team here to develop a “story bank” of previous client stories that may prove useful for any further communications work. At this point in the process, I am working on tracking down and assembling the various signed documents that allow us to use client stories and pictures to further the cause and mission of Legal Aid. This is, of course, an extremely important piece of this project, even if it can seem tedious. These stories are real life and carry serious weight for those involved, so making sure we have proper permission to tell them is not something to overlook.

Besides this, I have also been working on showcasing some of Legal Aid’s new board members through our social media and newsletters. This is really interesting, as Legal Aid’s board is in part made up of former clients, who have been so moved by their experiences that they have given back their time to furthering Legal Aid’s mission. I have been lucky to hear their stories and try to tell them to the world, and I am excited to talk to more in the coming weeks. All of this has shown me that, while the work comes first, it is extremely important to take care telling what that work has achieved and how it can impact the community. Because of this, I have been trying to take great care in approaching the narrative and storytelling aspects of my work here at Legal Aid. I hope to continue this next week, along with continuing to assist in our major grant applications.

In these 2 months working with FLOW, I have learned so much about my goals and future plans. For years, I have known that I want to work in the environmental field, but wasn’t sure what I specifically want to do. I have done work in renewable energy, wildlife protection, zero waste, corporate sustainability, etc. I have enjoyed all of them but this summer more than anything in the past has taught me so many valuable lessons that I hope to incorporate into my future career. The element that I am most surprised by is how much I enjoy outdoor work/ the physical labor aspect. When learning about sustainability, I understood the actual labor that is necessary whether it be in ecosystem services, gardening, or the many other crucial management processes. Outside of brief and sporadic work days/ volunteering, I have never consistently participated in field work. At FLOW, at least twice a week I get to spend half of my day in one of our tree nurseries, a park, a pollinator garden, and many other beautiful locations around the watershed. Being able to work hands on reminds me why I care about this work so much and helps me work harder at the administrative and project management parts of my job. This balance is something that I hope to find in future positions and I hope to learn so much more about the way our planet functions.

A highlight of my week was the release of an NBC4 article about FLOW’s tree giveaway. This spread the word about native species and the danger behind invasive species, specifically the Bradford Pear Tree. Hundreds of people reached out interested in our tree giveaway this fall and even many people not in our watershed have emailed me asking about other opportunities in the area. Very excited to have more people learning about FLOW and the environment!

Hello all! As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in a beanbag chair on Day 5 of Leadership Columbus’ Central Ohio Leadership Academy (COLA). I’ll start by giving a little background on what COLA actually is. COLA is a tuition free, 6 day program in the summer for rising juniors and seniors in high school. The goal is to help them develop their own unique leadership along with strengthening their personal development. The way I’ll write this blog is by splitting my experience here into two blogs. The first, this week, will be about how I’ve witnessed the students in my cohort grow. Next week, I will share about how I’ve grown as a leader and person over this week so stayed tuned for that.

In my role at Leadership Columbus, I was fortunate enough that I was asked to help facilitate throughout COLA week. The way COLA is designed is that students are separated into small groups (cohorts). Within these cohorts, we strengthen collaboration, team building, communication, and the overall growth of each student. As a facilitator within my cohort, our job is to help guide these students’ conversations and really get them thinking about why they wanted to be here, what they’re passionate about, and what impact they want to make in the world.

Though it’s not quite over, I have still seen these students grow so much. On the first day, there was a surprising amount of energy with our students. Usually, it takes some getting used to and people are more shy to raise their hand or speak up. This year, that was not the case. I could tell from day 1 that this group of students were different and were going to have an amazing week. Within our group, there were some students where I could tell it might take them a little longer than most to open up to others. However, I could tell that each of them were extremely intelligent and just needed a little bit of guidance to get them to that point. The second day was very chaotic but I felt the students were able to gain a lot of skills from it. We spent the morning outside doing 3 hours of team building activities within our cohorts. Those 3 hours consisted of arguing, miscommunications, but growth as well. It’d be easier for me to explain what I saw in the form of Tuckman’s 5 stages of group development. Firstly, the group went through the forming stage on Monday when we just divided them up into groups of 4. Tuesday morning was definitely the storming stage. In these activities, the group argued, struggled organizing the team, and felt they weren’t getting anywhere with it. There was also confusion about what the end goal was and why they were doing the activities in the first place. However, watching these high schoolers go through the stages of group development during these exercises, I realized something. Their communication and way they persevered and succeeded by the end of the day, I realized how mature they really are. It was genuinely resemblant of any other storming stage of a work team in the real world.

By the end of the day Tuesday and into Wednesday, I noticed my group starting to go through the norming phase. They settled down and began explaining how the tough morning on Tuesday had made them stronger as a team along with being better communicators. They realized how important these new skills were to them now and in the future. Right now, my cohort can be seen in the performing stage. I’ve personally seen how each student in my cohort has grown and what impact they can bring to the table. I have also seen a few of my students stick out and have that leadership “X factor”. This was seen through activities and conversations we had on Thursday. This was the day where I could see how much this week had already impacted the students. We had lunch outside and even went on a nature walk, the whole group was getting along and building friendships which was very heartwarming to see how they’ve all grown together. Afterwards, we then came back on a serious note and began talking about their impact statements. Another goal of COLA is for each student to write an impact statement that they share on the final day with everyone about an impact they plan to make in their schools or communities following this program. The idea is to take what you’ve learned from COLA and put it into use by creating an impact in something they’re passionate about. After hearing my group’s rough drafts of what they wanted to do, I could tell that each of them would be so successful in the future. I was shocked how mature these students were with how they wanted to make an impact. If you had heard these impact statements, I promise you wouldn’t realize that they would’ve been made by 16 and 17 year olds.

I am extremely grateful to have been facilitating this week and have felt so inspired and excited for the future leaders in our country. These next 2 days, I will really witness the students shine and will see them at the highest. I want to give some personal shoutouts, starting with my co-facilitators for Cohort D also known as the “Dimensional Dominators”. I would like to thank Brayton Bollenbacher and Gigi Bix for being the best co-facilitators I could had ever imagined. They truly cared so deeply about each student and I believe that our students noticed that as well. They also guided me to my highest potential throughout this week. We all just really wanted the best from our cohort and wanted to guide them to become the best they could be. Finally a special and most important thanks to my colleague, Laddan Shoar – program manager of COLA, for letting me be a part of this wonderful week. At first it felt a little odd because I thought I was only a facilitator because of my role at Leadership Columbus this summer; but I’m so thankful I was given a shot to help facilitate and witness firsthand the growth of all the students who participated.

In my next blog, I will talk more about how COLA impacted me and how I saw myself grow. See you next time!

-Austin Gray

I took time this week to reflect on how civic engagement impacts the community. Although already involved in my community through student organizations and volunteer experiences, City Year Columbus made me dig a little deeper.

City Year’s values are characteristics that contribute to a thriving community and advocate civic engagement. One of the most meaningful is Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a term from the South African Zulu tribe meaning “I am a person through other people; my humanity is tied to yours.” I like this concept because it means we are all connected to one another through interdependent relationships and our humanity is reflected in others. In the digital age where misinformation spreads like wildfire, people lack the ability to interact offline, and our world is becoming ever more polarized; It’s important to remember we all share the same fate.

I have previously learned about the relationship between civic engagement and self-efficacy in a psychology class. When people believe their actions have influence over outcomes, they are more likely to be involved in the community leading to increased self-efficacy and a self-perpetuating cycle. City Year’s value “belief in the power of young people” encourages believing in the potential of young people to transform the world. Young people are full of energy and idealism that fuels their self-efficacy which turns to civic engagement. It is then our duty to do the best we can for the future generation.

My marketing professor once gave me a piece of life advice that relates to City Year’s value “service to a cause greater than self.” He said that to feel happy in life you must discover your “why.” What drives you as a person? If you only seek superficial fulfillment, you will never be satisfied. Instead, your time, energy and effort should be dedicated to a greater purpose. We must put aside our ego and our differences to unite and achieve a common goal.

City Year’s values demonstrate the power of community, and my experience has taught me the importance of civic engagement. I hope in the future I will continue to expand on these ideas.

Last week was one of the most rewarding weeks of this program so far. The two focus groups I conducted with tenants in Community Housing Network were a resounding success. As part of CHN’s stakeholder engagement, we received direct feedback from those who occupy our properties. Since week two, I have been preparing for four focus groups, two of which I held last week. It was gratifying to see all the preparation I had done culminate in such successful sessions.   

The focus group consisted of a series of questions that I drafted. It allows tenants to discuss their goals, struggles, perceptions, and experiences. During the past academic year, I had to take a public management course for my major. My professor focused most of our time on facilitation tools and tactics. At first, I was unsure if I would enjoy the course, but it became my favorite that semester. Thankfully, my class was highly engaged because we had to do small group facilitations. The professor provided us with tools that helped me guide the focus group sessions. They got hectic at points because I was both the note-taker and facilitator. Still, holding small group discussions with the public was good practice.   

It was evident that tenants had a lot to discuss. I appreciate their honesty and bluntness because they provided great perspectives into the life of each property. I cannot say I have the whole story for the properties I visited, as the focus groups had limited participants. Those involved provided thoughtful and innovative suggestions for CHN’s challenges while delivering services.  

Prior to last week, I had been feeling very drained because most of my work involved sitting at my desk with limited interactions with others. It was refreshing to engage with the people I work to serve. The focus groups reminded me why I want to be in public service, and for that, I am grateful.