Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hello, my name is Hitomi Abe and I recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Nutrition. I am excited to work with the Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services this summer, as a nutrition instructor.

ETSS is a non-profit organization that provides services to refugee families throughout Columbus. Services include after-school tutoring, summer camps, adult english classes, as well as many more. This summer, ETSS is running 3 different summer programs with over 50 kids at each site! I will be working at 2 of the sites, teaching nutrition education to the camp kids.

The staff here at ETSS have been extremely kind to me, answering all of my questions about the summer program! It is great to learn more about working for a non-profit organization, and I am grateful that ETSS has given me a big responsibility to lead the nutrition lessons for the summer.

This week, I have been busy preparing for the camp. So far, I have created 5 weeks of nutrition and gardening lessons. I’ll start on Monday with the kids teaching the My Plate as well as basic gardening skills. I created a My Plate poster with various foods from each food group. For the gardening skills, I am going to take the kids out to the community garden to plant some seeds! I’m so excited to meet the kids and have a fun and rewarding experience.

Wish me luck as I begin my summer with ETSS!

Hello and welcome to my Summer Fellowship blog! 

The Columbus Foundation Summer Fellowship Program is providing the perfect context to begin narrating my first blog. Writing to an audience over an extending period of time is something new for me, but considering where I am in my life right now; taking on new challenges seems to becoming very familiar!

Just five weeks ago, almost to the day, I was in Ohio Stadium listening to President Obama address my graduating class on the meaning of citizenship and altruism and the importance of community and active participation in that community, country, and world. His words couldn’t ring more true for how I developed over the past four years and where I will continue going from here. Social justice, diversity, service to others…. are just some of the values I have deliberately intertwine into my education and experiences throughout my undergraduates years and now as I stand in the gateway to the “real world” I want nothing more than to find how and where I can live out those values now. I believe The Columbus Foundation Summer Fellowship Program will be the perfect stepping stones to begin that journey and I am excited to be sharing it with all of you.

Graduation day with my parents

This summer I will be working at Columbus Collegiate Academy and my primary role will be to recruit and enroll potential students for the 2013-2014 academic school year. This includes (but is not limited to!) developing creative marketing strategies, talking with parents and families about the infinite benefits of sending their son or daughter to CCA and reaching out to community organizations for their support. Columbus Collegiate Academy is a tuition-free, open enrollment, public charter middle school with two campuses in Columbus. CCA Main opened just five years ago on the east side and has had incredible success. CCA has receive numerous awards including an excellent rating on the Columbus City Schools report card, only one of five schools to receive such a high marking. The average CCA student arrives there in 6^th grade nearly two or three grade levels below the average American 6^th grader and leaves in 8^th grade at or above the average 8^th grade level and with acceptance and scholarships to some of the best high schools in Columbus. I could go on forever talking up all the amazing results that are achieved here, but in short, the school leaders to have the right recipe of structure and support low-income children need to achieve academic success and ultimately thrive in our globalizing world.  

I am beyond thrilled to be working at Columbus Collegiate Academy working for something I truly believe in, a quality education for every child. Please check out CCA’s website to learn more about their amazing achievements and stay tuned to my blog for updates on my experience.

Thanks for reading!

Nikki

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, recently published a book titled Lean In in which she encourages women to boldly pursue their ambitions and challenges society to address the barriers women face.

In a commencement address at Barnard College in 2011 she told graduates, “lean way into your career. You’re going to find something you love doing, and you’re going to do it with gusto.”

I have adopted Sandberg’s words as my summer mantra. As the summer fellow at The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, empowerment for women is my day job.  We fund grant partners who are working to create social change by equipping, encouraging, and enabling women and girls to “lean in,” to embrace their ambitions and potential.

My task as the summer fellow is to research the state of philanthropic work targeted at women and girls nationally and within central Ohio.  The project description sounds straight-forward, but I have discovered this week that the assessment is going to be rather complex.  So in my second week of work, it is time to push up my figurative sleeves and lean in.  I am going to hunker down and work really hard.  I am going to see where this research takes me, and deliver thorough and useful results.

The mission of the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio is “to transform the lives of women and girls, by mobilizing the collective power and passion of all women working together.”  It is a big deal to have the opportunity to work for an organization whose mission and values so align with my own passion.  I am going to embrace it like a sponge, absorbing all that I can learn from my coworkers and contributing the ideas and skills that I bring to the table.

This summer fellowship is an opportunity to be at a table where they are discussing something that I really care about: enriching the lives of women and girls in central Ohio.  I am going to sit up, lean in, and absolutely make the most of it.

To learn more about the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio visit our website: http://www.womensfundcentralohio.org/

And follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/WomensFundCO?fref=ts

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