Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Whew.  Let me take a minute to introduce myself and my organization.  I’m Ryan Max, a student at Miami University, and this Summer I am working as the Program Coordinator for SON Ministries’ Hilliard Free Summer Lunch for Kids.  In a nutshell, we provide a healthy breakfast and lunch to the children in the Hilliard area that receive a free or reduced lunch during the school year.  My first week here has shattered that nutshell.  This is about so much more.

“People are our priority, relationships our goal.”  I’ve heard this phrase many times in my first week, and it sounds like a fine mantra.  But it is much more meaningful when I can see the way the camps exemplify this firsthand.  We’re trying to build a community environment that many of the children we serve do not get to experience outside of the four hours they spend at our “Summer Camp”.

In my role as Program Coordinator I travel to three of the Hilliard lunch sites throughout the week, spending a day or two helping implement programming at each before moving on to a different group of kids and a different set of staff.  In five days, it’s incredible to see how strong the sense of community has already been developed at the sites.  Each site has its own personality and its own rhythm.

Norwich Township Fire Department visits a Hilliard Free Summer Lunch for Kids site

Every day is a whirlwind of games, art, science and food; a delicate balance of planning and chaos.  Basketball, jump rope, water guns, parachutes, fire trucks, kites, Soccer games, Dodgeball, homemade flags, daily skits, board games, books, gardens, restaurant planning, dozens of volunteers, hundreds of kids.

I don’t think anything could sum up the passion and goal of SON Ministries and the Summer Lunch program better than the call and response that I witnessed at one of our lunch sites this week.

Site Leader: “What’s my job?”
Children: “To love us!”
Site Leader: “And what’s your job?”
Children: “To love each other!”

That’s the new nutshell.

A basement, an attic, and two old offices later, I sit amongst a sampling of Columbus Early Learning Centers’ 125 year history and preschool toys. Treasures unearthed thus far? I suppose that depends on your definition of treasure. I’ve been rather enchanted by the blocks next to my desk — just kidding! Older treasures include a scrapbook of newspaper photo clippings of the all-female leadership over the span of 30 years, a 1964 ledger from the West Side Day Nursery (as it was then known) – utilities were expensive!, and hundreds of day nursery applications from 1900-1930. That doesn’t even include the undated photos (though hair and pants styles indicate the 1970s) and Super 8 Kodachrome film. And yes, I had to Google what Super 8 Kodachrome film is, or should I say was. I’m still pondering how we might watch the three minutes of footage that Wikipedia told me is on it, assuming it has not be ruined by its time tucked away in a box.

And what am I going to do with all of these disparate items? Well, it’s only my first week, so I can’t be expected to quite know the answer to that yet. The end goal, though, is to preserve the history of Columbus Early Learning Centers and to maximize its utility for future alumni, marketing, and fundraising initiatives. So more discovery and exploration await!

Columbus Early Learning Centers have provided day care services in Central Ohio since 1887, under more than seven different names and across four locations. Now serving infants and toddlers at two locations, Columbus Early Learning Centers maintains its connection to the women who started the organization, focusing on providing the highest quality early learning environment possible. The first day nursery in 1887 was not only one of the first in the state, but also one of the first of its kind in the country. Columbus Early Learning Centers continues this trailblazing tradition today. To learn more about their work, visit their website here. And to stay updated on my summer of treasure hunting, check back here weekly.

My name is Claire Adams, and I am a recent graduate of The Ohio State University. I will be returning in the fall to pursue my Master of Public Health, focusing in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. This summer I have been paired with LifeCare Alliance, a not-for-profit organization that provides many health and nutritional services to older adults, chronically ill, and home bound residents in Central Ohio.

More specifically, I have been assigned to the Senior Pet Care Program. Having a pet can be a wonderful thing for older and/or home bound adults. It was described to me this week that these animals are “their companion, their social worker, their therapist, their protector, and their best friend.” The Senior Pet Care Program works to ensure that these animals are fed appropriate food, cared for by a vet, and seen by a groomer. This program is made possible by grants and generous donations of time and products. The goal this summer is to further expand the program through recruiting and training new volunteers, securing more funding and donations, and developing promotional materials.

My first few days at LifeCare Alliance have been spent researching grants and learning the ropes of the organization and the Pet Care Program. There are three main obstacles that the program faces as we look toward expansion.

1. New volunteers are a must, specifically those willing to go out into the Columbus community and deliver the pet food.
2. We are always short on cat food. (Cat food sells very well and very quickly, meaning that companies have less left over to donate to groups such as ours.)
3. Although we have the funding to assist our clients with their pets’ vet bills, it can be difficult to find vet offices that are willing to provide services with the promise that they will be paid by LifeCare at a later time.

Although challenging, I am confident that these are hindrances that can be overcome, helping to Pet Care Program to become better than ever.

I am very excited to be spending my summer with The Columbus Foundation and LifeCare Alliance. There is much to be learned from the wonderful, experienced people who work at these vibrant, meaningful organizations.

For more information on LifeCare Alliance, visit http://www.lifecarealliance.org/

If you are interested in volunteering with the Senior Pet Care Program, more information can be found at: http://www.lifecarealliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7:be-a-volunteer&catid=4:general&Itemid=16

My name is Sarah Kenny and I am a rising senior at Vanderbilt University. Although I go to school in Nashville, I am a Columbus girl born and raised. Having grown up here, I never really explored Columbus outside of my ‘suburban bubble.’

So I am very excited for my fellowship this summer. I am excited to learn more about central Ohio nonprofits, but also Columbus as a city!

This summer I have been paired with Junior Achievement Columbus. This organization works in partnership with schools to implement curriculums that teaches financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship.

My specific placement is with BizTown. This is one of many curriculums that JA offers. In this model, twenty-two lessons are taught in fifth grade classrooms in regards to how a community operates, how to get a job, and how to keep a bank account. The classes then go on a field trip to BizTown and the classes simulate a day of ‘real life.’ Students are now referred to as citizens – and each citizen has his or her own job, bank account, and role in society. There are CEOs, town hall meetings, taxes, and a mayor. During my first day when my supervisor, Pete Crozier, was giving me a tour, I was amazed by just how in depth this experience was.

One other fun part about my placement is that I come into this internship with an interesting perspective. I am a Junior Achievement alum (I’m not sure that’s an official term), but I actually went through the program when I was in elementary school. I experienced BizTown (then it was called Exchange City).

I remember being the International Shop owner (BizTown has much cooler businesses now -Raising Cane’s, Donatos, and the Columbus Blue Jackets!) and making crafts that my friends would come and buy. I remember visiting my friends shops and making sure that I had budgeted enough money so that I could patronize each of their businesses. I also remember getting my first ever ticket for walking in the ‘grass’ (a green square in the middle of the room) – Junior Achievement has since gotten rid of that rule.

I remember getting so much out of the experience that my best friend, sister, and I went home and created “Kenny Town” in my house and “Sweet City” at my friend’s house. We each ran our own businesses in separate bedrooms, made our own money, and built our own communities.

Needless to say, I am very excited for my summer ahead. My learning curve is steep, but I’m ready for the challenge! The staff at JA are extremely supportive and even in just a few days, it is clear that their passion for mentoring does not stop with the citizens.

Also I have the master suite of all workspaces. Because BizTown is shut down for the summer, I get to work in one of the town businesses. How appropriate is it that my workspace is none other than the simulated Columbus Foundation!

Best,

Sarah Kenny

The Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship program, now in its third year, will place 11 Fellows with Franklin County nonprofit organizations for a period of 10 weeks. The class of 2013, will be engaged in influential projects to support the work of central Ohio nonprofit organizations that strengthen our community. Fellowships will begin June 10, 2013 and operate through August 16, 2013 and each Fellow will receive a stipend for the summer.

Learn more, and about the student eligibility requirements

Learn about the host nonprofits

Applications are due February 5, 2013.

While watching each of the 2012 Columbus Foundation Summer Fellows present on the work they’ve done this summer, the things they’ve learned, the ways they’ve grown, and the new directions they are heading in, I couldn’t help but be overcome with a sense of awe and wonder. From the start I had been thankful for this opportunity. From the start, I knew we would all do great things. But it really didn’t strike me until seeing presentations on the published work on case studies, the cost-saving research and planning, the inspirational artwork, the new ideas to help feed families, the new tools to provide healthy and educational opportunities for children, and everything else. And if you want to be inspired, just think of this: 11 young adults, a small simple group of individuals with a passion for making a difference, really changed communities.  What each one of us did was nothing short of wonderful, if not impressive. But what each of us did collectively? Now that was incredible; miraculous; exceptional; phenomenal. It is encouraging.

One dream put into action by the Columbus Foundation. Eleven goals from eleven ambitious and dedicated non-profits paired with eleven community-minded “students”. One shared belief: that a little bit of youth, creativity, direction, and passion, a small group of people can truly make a difference. And this is where I am reminded of a quote (author disputed) that holds a lot of truth in it: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. 

So I’d like to end my summer with the foundation and these 10 other future game-changers and servant-leaders by reminding people that together, we can be great; together we can exceptional; together, as thoughtful, committed citizens, we can change the world. Be inspired. I am.

Thanks to the Columbus Foundation, the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio, and the 2012 Summer Fellows for an amazing summer. May this not be a goodbye, and may you delight in the greatest of successes in your future endeavors.

The vendor manager and I had a conference call this week with the North American Street Newspaper Association.  We were able to speak to street newspapers in various cities like: St. Louis, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and Nashville.  They discussed ways to improve their street paper programs.  What I learned from this presentation is that all street newspapers are having similar problems to us like vendors selling old papers and not relinquishing their badge if they break the rules, yet fortunately our program is farther along than other papers.  We have more vendors and sales than other papers.  Some of the recommendations presented that may be helpful for our organization is to collaborate more with police officers and enlarge the date of the edition so vendors don’t sell old papers.

When I started this position I thought advocacy was just a word thrown out there to make non-profits feel good.  However, now I know that advocacy can work.  Speaking out to city council has evolved to the City, Community Shelter Board, and service providers working to ensure that people are not sleeping out on the streets.  While the issue has not been solved there are people addressing this concern today.

Self-determination, a term, constantly preached in my social work classes, meaning that an individual has a right to decide what they want to do.  This term has a new meaning for me after this fellowship.  I have met several homeless vendors who enjoy being on the land and do not want to go into shelter.  As a social worker you need to respect all decisions from clients.

This has been a great summer to build and strengthen my social work skills.  I have learned a lot about interviewing people, needs assessments, and understanding the community of Columbus.  This fellowship will help me greatly when I start my new internship at the Buckeye Ranch.  Considering many of the families served at the Ranch come from low-income backgrounds many of the resources I am familiar with will be helpful when I start my position there.   

David Teran

THANK YOU to the Columbus Foundation and to the Homeless Families Foundation! I am so thankful for all of the opportunities that the summer fellowship program has provided me over the past 10 weeks! I have learned so much… about homelessness… about the clients of the Homeless Families Foundation… about child transportation… about other community non-profits… about non-profit leadership… about Columbus… and so much more.

I feel so fortunate to have experienced so much in just 10 weeks. This has really been an incredible experience, and I’m looking forward to today’s luncheon where all of the summer fellows will be presenting their experiences and accomplishments.

This is a summer that I’ll never forget… thank you so much… for EVERYTHING!

I realize I write about almost all other experiences than my actual projects assigned to my role but I think that’s because working in multimedia for the past 6 years that it is second nature to me and I don’t really notice it anymore. The last couple of weeks after Freedom Schools ended I have really been able to dedicate to the other media projects for my host site.

I have been working diligently at branding a new initiative that is a branch separate from CD4AP. I love designing new logos and media materials, a very similar experience I had in my junior year at OSU as the founding officer for the Latino Student Association. I was Vice-President of Communications so I had a lot of branding I had to create from scratch. Working with CD4AP was a bit challenging because they had no strong direction in the beginning or influence for me to work from and I made millions upon millions of different logo iterations. My experience with the team is very similar to other clients I’ve worked with in the past; most of the time the client does know what he wants but doesn’t realize that they do and it can be like pulling teeth trying to get them to articulate it. That’s the beauty of designing however, creating a lot of different styles and images and working together in the creation process. The new organization is called South Side Renaissance and it will focus on housing in the community. (See my post from the Mayor’s press conference that touches upon this new partnership).  I’ve never had to design for a housing initiative so my research and creative process was a lot more involved and wide spread of ideas than I how I normally create brands but it was a lot of fun.

Lastly, I’ve been slaving away at OSU’s Digital Union (basically a technology lab) trying edit an awesome video of CD4AP’s first summer youth program as a Freedom School host site. That has also been a lot of fun, minus the various crashes and misplaced media files, the joys of working in multimedia. All in all it’s been a very great summer tinkering away in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Web media!

-Amber

“The time has come,” the Foundation said,

“To talk of many things:

Of fellowships—and Kids Lunch Club

Of magic shows—and swings—

And why it always rains at noon—

And tangled-up tent strings.”

-adapted from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking-Glass” 

The last day of the Kids Lunch Club was on Friday, and the children returned to school this Wednesday.  It’s hard to believe ten weeks has passed, as it seems we just began our journey with the Fellowship.  Last week was a strange mixture of sadness and joy for the end to a successful program.  The children expressed their sorrow in parting ways with site staff and the new friends they gained while attending the KLC.  The W.A.R.M. Lunch Club staff and VISTA Summer Associates had a closing get-together to properly conclude the program and our time spent together.  It was a great way to celebrate our achievements and take the time to say our goodbyes to one another as well. 

This week was spent tying up loose ends before tomorrow.  I logged our final numbers of total meals distributed for children and adults, and made several graphs demonstrating a 2-year comparison, meals distributed by site, and an attendance trend line by week.  Deb and I submitted our final claim for reimbursement for the months of July and August.  While completing an inventory of the site equipment (tents, tables, arts and crafts materials, sit-upons, hand sanitizer…you name it, we’ve got it…), the equipment manager, a site staff member, and I had an unfortunate issue arise.  The warehouse space we were borrowing was rented and we had to evacuate immediately!  Needless to say, Tuesday and Wednesday were days filled with manual labor, doing work that needed to be done.  We moved all four sites’ equipment from the warehouse into the W.A.R.M. trailer.  I wish I had a photograph of myself on the board on the “second floor” of the trailer….or maybe I’m glad there isn’t one!  We created an inventory list and a map so next year’s staff will know where specific supplies are located.

I also went to Otterbein University to meet with the professor helping the KLC with the program evaluation.  Unfortunately, since the survey distribution was only during the last program week we had a relatively low response rate.  However, he and I input the data from the surveys and analyzed it.  He will complete this project in the next month by writing a summary and suggestions for potential changes for improvement.  Plans are in place to complete surveys at the onset and culmination of the program in the summer of 2013. 

I would like to take the time to thank everyone who made this Summer Fellowship possible—the Columbus Foundation, Dan and Alicia, the Selection Committee, W.A.R.M., Scott, Deb, and the other W.A.R.M. staff, who welcomed me with open arms.  It was an enriching experience, both professionally and personally, and I am grateful for the people I met and worked with above all.  Thank you!