Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Week five at Seeds of Caring brought a unique set of challenges and reflections. I dreaded making this post because I worked from home all week. Originally, this was our annual break, so no one was in the office, and I found myself handling tasks remotely.

Working from home was filled with ups and downs. On one hand, I enjoyed waking up at a convenient time and still managing to get a reasonable amount of work done. However, the downside was the overwhelming quietness and the lack of immediate interaction with colleagues. Although I could email if I had questions, the absence of in-person conversations made the environment feel unnecessarily quiet.

I realized that I’m not really a person who enjoys working from home and will only do it when necessary. This week confirmed that I thrive better in a structured, office setting.

Despite these challenges, I focused on research and data entry. I spent time gathering information on potential non-profit organizations and looking into various cities for potential expansion. Additionally, I took an online test to assess my personality, which provided me with some insightful feedback.

By Thursday, after working straight through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I felt the need to take a break. I decided to relax and look up potential non-profit organizations, finding some promising ones that could be future partners for Seeds of Caring.

Friday, I got back to work and completed most of the tasks assigned to me. As I prepare to start the new week, I can’t wait to see everyone again. Although I’m back to the 9-5 routine, I know I’ll stay grounded and be more productive in the office environment. This experience has shown me that while I’m not fully attuned to the constant waking up for a 9-5 schedule, working fully remote is not an option for me.

I can’t believe it’s already been five weeks—time surely waits for no one. This journey at Seeds of Caring continues to teach me more about myself and the kind of work environment where I thrive best.

Until next week, have a great time!

Kanyin

My week at FLOW was another great few days. Because of the holiday I was able to do work from home for the last two days of the week. This was nice because I was able to be in my hometown but I am still adjusting to how to be productive while not in the office. But I had a very productive week and am making lots of progress on my project. I did a good amount of cold calling this week and it was kind of successful. I am learning how to communicate our goals in the best way based on who I am talking to . I also scheduled a tabling at a local farmers market! This will be my first tabling event alone but I am looking forward to being there and hopefully having a successful time talking to residents.

On Wednesday, I attended my first Science Board Meeting. This was a two hour meeting where the science board member, Laura, hosted a meeting with about 15 other volunteers and talked about current projects and future goals. I learned so much about the process for deciding on project plans, locations, and goals. We also analyzed past results to see what would be best to do again next spring. Now that it is fully summer, it is difficult to plant or expand gardens. Spring and fall are the best times so summer is a lot of maintenance and planning work. I was also able to meet a volunteer that is dedicating a lot of time to working with Olentangy schools to plant new trees. This has been challenging because school maintenance crews are weary of the additional costs. This is frustrating because there are many ways to avoid these costs and in the long run it will decrease a schools energy costs. But I learned a lot of information from him and I hope to work with the schools more!

Hello everyone! It’s hard to believe we are halfway through the summer fellowship! Time really does fly when you’re having fun.

Having fully settled into the swing of things at CHA, I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such inspiring individuals every day. Throughout my time working in the nonprofit sector, there is never a dull moment, and every day offers a new opportunity for learning something new. With each new opportunity, I find myself growing, attaining valuable insights, gaining hands-on experience, and learning more about myself and the nonprofit world. It’s beautiful to see how dedicated CHA is genuinely to serving children experiencing food insecurity. It has been incredible to witness firsthand the impact that Children’s Hunger Alliance has on children, families, and communities across Ohio. They are hard at work in Central Ohio and the surrounding areas, providing children with millions of meals every year.

During my summer fellowship, I’ve been diving into the world of donation requests, grants, volunteer engagement, and fundraising, and I’ve loved it. This past week, I learned more about the world of budgeting! I found budgeting to be more exciting than I expected. Budgeting, like many other things, calls for a lot of strategic planning, organization, and patience due to the numerous revisions and drafts over time. In some ways, budgeting can be nerve-wracking because it requires you to plan so long in advance, but this is worth it as budgets are more than just crunching numbers; they are tools that help organizations focus their efforts on their mission and goals.

It almost seems surreal that I’ve been here at CHA for over a month. I’ve learned so much in such a short amount of time. Knowing they will fly by, I can’t wait for the next five weeks. I’m trying to cherish every moment and make the most of this incredible opportunity! I am so grateful for this experience and can’t wait to share more about my journey in the coming weeks!

Hello Everyone! I would like to share a few highlights of my week, but there is one that I want to touch on the most, given the importance of the topic. For the past few weeks, my team and I have been discussing the idea of coordinating with our partners at homeless shelters and other organizations to organize a voting campaign. This campaign is a testament to our unwavering commitment to empowering people experiencing homelessness to exercise their democratic rights. I completed a communication guide for everyone involved at CSB to inform our staff of the initiative we are taking, and this week, I met with my team to discuss the next steps and suggestions for developing a How-To-Guide as a resource for shelter operators. The How-To-Guide will provide the shelter operators with Ohio’s voting rules and regulations, tips for outreach and gathering volunteers, why this initiative is so important, and other useful information. 

Exercising your right to vote is crucial, as everyone has a voice and deserves to be a part of this democratic process. Many political decisions may directly affect those experiencing homelessness, and I am passionate about getting as many people registered as possible. For those unhoused, extra barriers make it more difficult for them to register to vote, but it is very doable and feasible, especially when there is guidance available, which is what CSB is here for. 

This week, I also had the pleasure of meeting our new hire, Issrah, who is filling a brand new position in our Brand and Communications team as a Communication Coordinator. I am excited to partner with her on projects and see our efficiency increase as she adds value to our team. Issrah also has a background in politics and has already provided great insight into our voting campaign, which is great! I hope everyone had a happy 4th! 

Time has flown by as I close out my fifth week with City Year Columbus, marking the halfway point of this summer fellowship. It seems just yesterday I arrived at the Columbus Foundation for our first learning session and headshots. Although time has gone by quickly, I have learned so much in my role and from the people I work with. 

I joined City Year during a time of transformation where not only my specific site was going through voluntary/involuntary separations and redefining the scope of roles, but the national headquarters was also dealing with this monumental shift. As part of my marketing studies, I learned about the ever-changing needs of a business and in order to remain successful in an industry you must constantly be adapting to meet your consumer’s needs. Non-profits like City Year are not exempt from this integral component of business. 

At my site before I began the fellowship I had worked with a staff member on the Development team during a fundraising event. When I began the internship she had already departed from the organization but as I continue to find and utilize the abundant resources she left behind, I realize the importance of her time here and the value she contributed. It is in my belief that no matter how brief your time working with others you can always absorb something meaningful from the experience. 

This past week I worked on editing the alumni videos of two of our staff members who were leaving the organization. As I worked on their videos, I got to listen to their stories about City Year and the impact it had on them in their personal lives and professional careers. I also got to hear how they influenced their community through their service. 

In addition to all these changes happening around me, I found out recently that my supervisor will be unfortunately beginning a new journey at another nonprofit on July 19^th. I am grateful for all that she has taught me so far, wish her success in her future endeavors, and am looking forward to all the knowledge she will share with me in her remaining two weeks.

This week was a bit different than usual. After working over 40 hours last week, I was able to take Wednesday and Thursday off to move into my new apartment, which was much needed.

On Tuesday, I headed to Spruce Run at 8 AM with my coworker, Fiona. Spruce Run is a nature center located on the Hoover Reservoir, created by Columbus City Schools as an educational resource. This week, the Grange Insurance Audubon Center volunteered to help with their bird station. We were warmly welcomed by Heather, the center’s coordinator, and the dedicated teachers who spend their summers educating kids about nature. The bird station was in a cabin filled with taxidermy and had a bit of a funky smell but was still fascinating. It featured a screened porch perfect for birdwatching. Fiona managed the birdwatching station while I ran the migration game.

Since the kids were running late, we had time to explore the center. Located in the woods, it was a peaceful escape from the urban setting of Grange. We saw newly built wetlands and an impressive garden, featuring everything from strawberries and pumpkins to potatoes, apple trees, and a patch of towering sunflowers.

When the kids arrived, we greeted them with a tunnel of high fives and music. They were divided into groups and rotated through various activities. At the bird station, the kids were enthusiastic, even though some didn’t survive through migration in the game. I was impressed by how organized and efficient everything was at Spruce Run. It was a learning opportunity, as Grange could benefit from implementing some of their organizational skills to enhance our programming.

After returning to the center, I continued working on social media posts and the sponsorship project. The day extended until 7:30 PM for the Lights Out potluck. Lights Out is a group that advocates for preventing bird collisions with windows and rescues injured birds. The potluck was an end-of-season celebration where volunteers reviewed the data collected and discussed improvements for next season. It was inspiring to connect with so many passionate people dedicated to helping birds.

Today, I focused more on the sponsorship project, created a graphic for our newsletter, and posted the “Day in the Life” camp video (see below). I also covered the front desk because many of our volunteers were unavailable.

Happy Friday everyone! I wish I could sit here typing and say that this week was a fun one for me, but I’d be lying. Truthfully, the days have just been all the same. Why, you might ask? Well that’s because I’ve been stuck with Covid all week. What??!! Covid in 2024??? Yep, it still exists. And it being my first time having it, I cannot shake it to save my life right now.

On the bright side, my coworkers and I were already planning on working remotely this week due to Red, White, and Boom preparation near our office so this works out. We also luckily had a short week with it being 4th of July yesterday and 2 out of our 5 total people being on vacation. Covid said hey it’s the perfect time to strike this kid. That being said, I have been in bed all week trying to recover. My team has been very understanding and thoughtful towards me while I’ve been sick. I thank all of them for understanding. Though, that has not stopped me from trying to get some work done here and there.

I first continued working on my project of finding pictures for our 50th Anniversary. It was something that I could easily do from bed and allowed me to stay somewhat productive. Another project I got done this week involved Community Impact Projects from our Signature Program graduates throughout the 50 years of our existence. This might be one of my favorite projects I’ve done so far here at Leadership Columbus. A little backstory, every year in our Signature Program, participants must be involved in a Community Impact Project that they complete in groups. My job was to build an excel spreadsheet that listed all of the projects throughout the years with their project description and partnering organization. After I’ve listed all the projects, we can then go through and categorize each one. This will help us when we’re looking at the different impacts we’ve had in Columbus. We can now just go to the spreadsheet, see all the projects that have helped combat a topic, say “hunger” in the Columbus area. For me the project was very learning-enhancive because I got to read descriptions of each project showcasing the great impact it had on our community and city.

Other than that, I have been able to catch up on some of the shows or movies I hadn’t seen before (Shoutout Dune 2, that movie was awesome). You could find me in bed binging season 3 of The bear along with watching as much soccer and baseball as I could. I hope when I’m writing my blog next week, I’ll be back in the office with my coworkers and not rotting away in bed. Thanks for tuning in everyone.

Until next week,

Austin

Wow, this past week will haunt us for the foreseeable future. The Supreme Court made multiple historic decisions that will impact the future of Americans. Last week, I posted about the court case Grant Pass v. Johnson. The case was a debate on whether cities can prohibit people experiencing homelessness from sleeping on public property. Two lower courts favored Johnson, deeming that criminalization of being homeless violates the 8th Amendment clause of cruel and unusual punishment. The Supreme Court reversed this decision as a majority does not feel that fines and jail time for involuntary homelessness are unjust. This decision, while seemingly returning power to the state, also poses a significant threat to the most vulnerable in our population. It will give states the power to put more people in jail instead of helping those who need it. The Supreme Court is enabling the cooperation of public servants and private prisons. Jail time will not help someone who is experiencing homelessness get back on their feet. It will only provide another barrier to entry. It is already hard enough to hold a job while homeless; adding a criminal record will make finding that job nearly impossible. This decision is a cause for concern, as it could exacerbate the plight of the homeless. Good job, Supreme Court! You are really looking out for the people. 😊  

The next stellar ruling pertains to the powers of federal agencies. A majority ruling struck down the 1984 decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, which enabled federal agencies to interpret laws if Congress had not explicitly spoken on the question and the interpretation was reasonable. These two requirements created a framework for courts to follow when evaluating agency interpretations. The new ruling, however, raises serious concerns. Congress does not have the time to answer every question on policies they pass for federal agencies, and courts do not have time to go through every decision federal agencies make. Judges also lack training in these technical fields. Our own Chief Justice Roberts believes that courts should instead rely on friends of the court to explain microbiology to individuals with only legal training. This could lead to a chaotic situation where federal agencies struggle to function effectively. Our government already moves at a snail’s pace so let’s see what further polarization and courts relearning scientific processes does to improve that speed!

I may have saved the best for last with this case. Trump may have been handed a get-out-of-jail-free card, but only time will tell. This specific ruling is about Trump’s court case on his involvement in the January 6th coup. Our favorite Chief Justice Roberts had a lot to say about this decision. Respectably, he noted that a president cannot be prosecuted for actions relating to their core powers in office, such as vetoing, nominating their Cabinet members, or entertaining foreign guests. You can look here for a list of presidential rules (https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/education/three-branches/what-president-can-do-cannot-do). The president is mostly a face for our country; they are not a dictator who can overturn results from elections that happened during their time in office. Roberts is giving Trump a possible escape route. I can only hope that it does not work.

I have so many questions for our lovely Supreme Court justices. I am first confused as to why they even had to say anything about not prosecuting a president regarding their office duties. This is obvious. It is in our social contract that the president has those powers. We all agree on that every day. They even made a statement about those powers just to give Trump a chance to escape this case. Our current Supreme Court loves to think as fundamentalists, but we are not in the 1700s anymore. We have gas-powered cars and computers that think faster than humans. They should be acting like that is the age we are in because, in the 1700s, most people were homesteaders who did not interact with people outside of half a day’s horse ride away. We are globally connected and must uphold our part as a nation that sets a precedent for positively moving society forward. Society’s passions and needs are ever-changing. These rulings only hold us back from adapting to global challenges that threaten humans as a species. Humans are not infinite beings. The Earth can easily wipe us out.  

Good morning everyone! 

This past week has been a busy week for me in both my work and personal life. However, while reflecting on the week, I am glad to say I was productive, and it was time well spent. (Side note: I moved into my first apartment yesterday, which is a lot closer to the Community Shelter Board, which is a plus!). 

This past week, we had a learning session at the Columbus Foundation, where we had a long discussion about power and leadership. I’ve been thinking of ways to apply what I’ve learned about my value as a human being at my organization. During one of our past all-staff meetings, we got into groups called our “strength crews,” where we were asked to imagine a plan to end homelessness given the hypothetical situation that money was not a barrier. A part of the task was to explore our team member’s strengths to optimize our power and give everyone a role in the plan that plays into their strength. After the staff meeting, we were asked to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment and meet back up with our groups to discuss what the assessment determined our strengths are as well as how they can contribute to our team. My team and I met up at First Watch for breakfast last week and brought our list of strengths to explore. While at the meeting, I kept in mind the TedTalk Dr. Lomax showed us about power and the power we have with community. At CSB, we were saddened to hear the Supreme Court decision regarding people experiencing homelessness and the criminalization of behavior associated with those who are unhoused. I have high hopes that through collective efforts, we will be able to offer support where we can during these difficult times, as we have the power to make change together.

An exciting piece of news I would like to share is we have a brand new position in the Communication and Brand department being filled by someone this week. This new addition will bring fresh perspectives and energy to our team, and I am looking forward to the exciting projects we will be able to undertake together. With this new position, the Communication and Brand department will be able to work much more effectively and efficiently, especially in developing our social media presence. I am looking forward to working with her; I am realizing how fast this fellowship is flying by! It is bittersweet knowing we are almost already halfway through the program!