Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hello everyone! This week has been a busy and exciting week for me at CSB! 

This week I got the privilege of representing CSB by showing up to facilitate the scheduled interviews of our honorees for the 2024 Founder Awards Event. I got to work with Robyn Haines with NBC4; she was the interviewer for each of our honorees, and she was a pleasure to work with. On Tuesday, July 30th, I was scheduled to meet Sherrell Johnson, the CEO and president of Treats 4 the Streets. Treats 4 the Streets is a coalition who holds a weekly food service at the Downtown Metropolitan Library serving restaurant quality foods, baked goods, essential hygiene products, Narcan, and health check-ups from a physician to unhoused individuals. Being there and observing the warm and genuine aura of Sherrell Johnson, I was more than confident in CSB’s decision to recognize her with the Bob Lazarus Unsung Hero Award. I was also grateful for the experience because the people in need of services were treated as family and it was refreshing to see a group of people who care to help and do not see people for their situation, but as human beings. 

On Wednesday, July 31st I met with Timothy Miller at the Crane Group office for his scheduled NBC4 interview, and it was interesting gaining insight from someone who was on the Community Shelter Board’s Board of Trustees for 24 years. He had a lot of educated takes on the state of homelessness and what initiatives Columbus can take to tackle this issue.

Lastly, on Thursday August 1st, I met with Nathan Smith at one of the hotels he’s used to temporarily house residents of Colonial Village who lost their homes due to administrational negligence and substandard living conditions. Nathan was very humble and down to earth; he and his team took up the initiative to rehouse the residents from Colonial Village and have successfully rehoused over 1,300 residents. His work is truly centered around his personal passion for helping others and sitting in on his interview was truly inspirational. 

I had a great week and I’m grateful my supervisor, Sara, trusted me with taking this on. 

Hi everyone! Sad to say goodbye to such a remarkable experience. This week was my last at the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. My time at MORPC has been a tremendous experience, which I will cherish for the rest of my career. This week, I got to end with a few very amazing opportunities and events. Specifically, I believe that my work with using GIS and helping develop their green infrastructure toolkit was an amazing opportunity to network with members of the community.

In this opportunity, I was able to spend my last few weeks going around Central Ohio to different communities and highlighting their green infrastructure initiatives. As someone who wants to work for the federal government, I believe this helped me get a good local perspective of how these agendas from the top actually make it local governments effectively. Implementation is a major issue for programs, so I absolutely loved being able to see the progress and tips that these communities offered. As I continue to advocate at various levels of government, I will surely take into account these incredible experiences and the different perspectives and voices that I heard along these last two weeks.

In another light, I was able to finish my work across the office, finishing a passion project of mine as I got to do a deep dive into a public policy development that would reauthorize the Economic Development Administration. As someone who is currently looking at congressional or EDA roles in the future, it was a match made in heaven when I was allowed to work on memos concerning this bill. Without a doubt, I am so happy that I got to do this work, so I am thankful once again to MORPC for allowing me to work on various subjects.

It will be a sad goodbye, but I can positively say that MORPC and their staff have been rock stars throughout this summer. I will truly miss the great people I met throughout my time there.

Hi everyone! It’s crazy that this program is almost over. Week by week you get even more comfortable with your host site as you have more conversations and are brought in on more projects. It truly feels like I’m a part of the team, we have team discussions on future events and someone will say “Oh Kennedy can do this or be a part of this” until they realize I will be gone by then. The team at The Women’s Fund has been incredibly welcoming and has let me know how the organization runs and what future plans are. The conversations about career trajectory and nonprofits and personal conversations about family, friends, pop culture, and politics were so meaningful. Through these 10 weeks, I’ve truly gotten to know the team and collaborated on projects throughout the programs.

At this point, I am making sure all my projects are done or at a place for someone to pick them up. The Donor Survey is completed and is ready to be sent out for the date they have planned. StoryCorps rollout on social media is happening next week. My main projects have come to a close as the program is. This week had an overwhelming theme of weirdness. It feels weird for the program to be ending. It feels weird to be a post-grad. It just feels so odd to not be in school and now looking for full-time job opportunities. As a student, you often think about this time in life, but it feels weird to be living it. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and will continue to have. Life is truly a journey that I take on day by day. Taking things day by day has reconstructed my thinking to not put time limits on everything. I am an extreme planner who likes to put deadlines on everything. Taking one step at a time relieves the pressure of needing an answer.

This program has affirmed my want to work in the non-profit space and changed the way I approach various opportunities that further my career. I have been challenged to think about my “why”, which has clarified a series of unknowns for myself.

Hope everyone had a great week

See y’all in the next one!

Kennedy Smith

Hello! With Week 9 almost over, my time here at Legal Aid is almost to a close. This week, I have started to wrap up a few projects to prepare for the end of the summer and my time at Legal Aid, along with helping out with some grants and ongoing work. Early in the week, I continued in assisting research for an upcoming federal grant. As I stated before, this grant, one which would massively increase our eviction-work funding if won, requires a wealth of data that we have not previously used, looked for, or even were sure existed.

So far, we have hit a lot of roadblocks in our research, but after a lot of work we have started to chip through and find some of the necessary data. Researching and working with other Ohio nonprofits in search of this data has caused me to reflect on the importance of interorganizational outreach in the nonprofit world, as, when multiple groups are seeking the same mission, it can be critical to work together and share information.

Besides this research, we have been preparing for an upcoming fundraiser for the Ohio Poverty Law Center’s 15^th Anniversary. It is an important event, as fundraising for the Ohio Poverty Law Center, a political advocacy organization, has its own separate challenges than fundraising for the rest of Legal Aid. Furthermore, the communications team, in collaboration with some attorneys interested in getting good client stories out to the public, has been trying to set a more regular and guided process for collecting, writing, and putting out stories of Legal Aid impacting peoples’ lives. I have been able to directly help in this process, including doing some client interviews to test out some new story writing methods. All in all, it was a good week, and I am sad my time at Legal Aid is coming to an end.

This week at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, we hosted two more mini camps for the Homes for Families Foundation. Just like the last camps, I was in charge of setting up lunch for both camps, which included pizza and a taco bar. It was great to see so many of the same kids from the previous camp recognize me.

In addition to the camps, I continued working on our social media. I’ve noticed that educational posts tend to get more engagement, so this week, I created one about spotted lanternflies and why they are invasive and harmful to the environment. This was brought to our attention by one of our master gardeners, who noticed an increase in these pests on our trees. I also made a post about bird molting, inspired by an article my boss shared with me, explaining how this natural process makes birds look unusual and scary but is perfectly normal!

I also prepared for my Pecha Kucha presentation, which will take place next week at the Columbus Foundation’s closing luncheon. This presentation format consists of 20 slides, each shown for 20 seconds, making it a casual method to share a summary of my internship. While practicing, I realized how quickly 20 seconds pass, so I had to cut down on a lot of my content, which was difficult given I’ve done so much here.

Lastly, I worked on creating educational signage for our native trees around the center, highlighting their benefits to birds. Our master gardeners provided the information on each tree, and I turned it into engaging graphics. This project gave me the opportunity to be creative while also learning more about Ohio’s native trees, including river birch, downy serviceberry, swamp white oak, and pagoda dogwood. One of the most enjoyable parts of this task was designing a logo for the series, “Good Trees for Birds,” and experimenting with generative AI on Canva. The AI tool made the design process fun and efficient, allowing me to experiment with different styles and layouts. I’ve included an example of the signage below.

Hi Everyone! At the end of my ninth week, I am overcome with bittersweet emotions. Yesterday, several of our summer interns at CRIS had their last day, and it’s sad to say goodbye to so many bright, passionate people I got to work with over the last few months. We had a huge team of interns working on our team, ranging from housing, volunteer outreach, communications, and countless others throughout CRIS’s other departments. It feels like we just met yesterday, yet at the same time, I feel like I’ve known them all for years. When you work so closely with people over a short period of time, that’s just how those relationships develop.

Before our interns left, we celebrated at Somewhere in Particular Brewing next to our office. We had an amazing time eating great food, and the main focus of the evening was CRIS trivia. We had two rounds, with the first round theme being general CRIS knowledge and the second round theme being fun facts about each intern. A variety of prizes were on the table for the top 1-4 scorers. After both rounds, I had 24 points, putting me in first place going into the final question. Unfortunately, I got the final question wrong, so I dropped down to third place at the finish, but I won a beautiful CRIS water bottle, so I left happy. The trivia was a wonderful way to recap our summer and have a lot of fun before we all parted ways.

Work-wise, everything went smoothly this week. I made my food box drop-offs, coordinated with volunteers to respond to other food needs, and met with some more prospective food partners. As I head into my final week, I am tasked with training some of our new hires on the food system I created and how to make the best use of it. If you told me 9 weeks ago that I would know enough about food pantries and food security that I would train new hires on it, I would never believe it. Now, though, I feel well-prepared, and I am excited to explain my work this summer and see how my work continues after I leave.

It’s finally week nine at Seeds of Caring, and I am flooded with emotions as I reflect on this incredible journey. With only one week left, I am torn between excitement for the future and a bittersweet sadness as this transformative experience comes to an end.

I remember when I decided to apply for this program, I was driven by the belief that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. That very day I received the email inviting me for an interview at Seeds of Caring, sitting across from Sarah and Brandy, I felt an instant connection and knew I had to be a part of this organization. When they offered me the position, it felt like a dream come true.

My first day as a fellow, following our initial meeting at the Columbus Foundation, was a whirlwind of nerves and anticipation. Walking into that room of unfamiliar faces, I felt a wave of anxiety, but the warm welcome I received quickly put me at ease. As an introvert, I feared these ten weeks would be incredibly challenging, but I soon realized I wasn’t alone. Many of the staff members shared my introverted nature, which made me feel more comfortable and accepted. The conversations we had, I still remember the one with Ciera, another BTS lover, were particularly heartening and made me feel like I belonged, especially because this was had the very first time we met.

I remember leading my first session with the kids, this was a moment of intense self-doubt; I must say. I watched the other staff members engage effortlessly, and I felt a sinking fear that I couldn’t measure up. When it was my turn to lead, I froze, convinced that the kids wouldn’t enjoy my session. This thought weighed heavily on me, and after the session, I felt like I had let everyone down. I was determined to do better and vowed that after our annual break, I would give it my all. I practiced relentlessly, determined to present the material in a way that was authentically me. Returning to the summer programming with renewed confidence was a turning point, especially now that I know I have to make an impression on the kids at the new Freedom school location. The joy on their faces, their hugs, and their eagerness to share what they remembered from our previous lessons filled me with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment I had never experienced before after the second week. It reaffirmed my passion for working with children.

This week, I had a deeply reflective meeting with my supervisor. She praised my growth, acknowledging my strengths in planning and task execution, and gently pointed out that my communication skills, although better than how I started, still have room for improvement. I smiled and told her that I couldn’t deny all the things she said about me. While it was hard to hear, I appreciated the honesty. It’s a reminder that growth is continuous, and there is always room for improvement.

As I wrap up this summer fellowship, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I’ve learned so much about myself, my strengths, and the areas where I can continue to grow. The connections I’ve built with the kids and the lessons I’ve imparted to them have been incredibly rewarding. This experience has shown me that even as an introvert, I can inspire and lead with confidence and authenticity.

Week nine has been a rollercoaster of emotions, and as I look ahead to week ten, I am filled with a mix of anticipation and nostalgia. This journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I am eager to see what the final week holds. Here’s to embracing every moment and making the most of this incredible opportunity!

Until the final week, see ya!

Kanyin

Another great week at FLOW! This week was a pretty typical week of FLOW activities and projects. I worked at the Worthington Tree Nursery on Thursday where they were installing a new pipe to assist with the irrigation system. The irrigation system has been a bit defective in the past few months which has made caring for the trees more difficult. Volunteers were able to fix the timer system on the irrigation a couple weeks ago, however they want to ensure the entire system is functional. The new pipes will help make this system function correctly for years to come.

Most of my time this week and entire summer has been dedicated to the Tree Giveaway Project. The opportunity to work on such a significant project has been very beneficial. I have gained various project management skills and strategies since the start. Initially, I was overwhelmed about where to start. I had not had experience in managing a project independently and was unsure on what steps to take first. Eventually, I realized that I just needed to start somewhere. I created steps each week to accelerate the project and analyzed what has been completed and still needs done. I was able to adjust my action plan based on new information and opportunities. I learned a lot about effective marketing and community engagement and how to adjust my actions in order to best serve the mission of the project. This week, I spent most of my time compiling my work and making it organized in order to help transition it to someone else after I leave. I did not understand the complexities and specifics of a large community project until this and I am very grateful to better appreciate the steps necessary. I know this is a skill I will use for the rest of my career.

Welcome everyone! I’m back in the office today, but still chilling in the same beanbag in which I wrote my blog last week (it’s practically my desk). So, as I promised last week, I’d like to take the time this week to tell you more about how I’ve grown as a leader and person from COLA.

Growing up, I have always enjoyed coaching others. Throughout high school, I helped volunteer with Special Olympics Basketball and Soccer. Being a volunteer coach helped make me who I am today. It was a very rewarding experience because I got to watch the athletes grow and become better at the game. As I grow older, I have realized that I still want to help others by coaching or even mentoring now. This week provided me a perfect opportunity to take all that I’ve learned this summer and help coach and mentor these younger leaders to become their best selves. It’s crazy to say, but I’ve gotten to the age where I’m almost out of college and can now help guide others in their college selection process. I had multiple students ask me questions about Ohio State, Fisher School of Business, or the Summer Fellowship Program I’m in. I don’t mind answering as many questions as possible because if I could help them in any way at all then I’d be satisfied with the work I have done.

Over the course of the 6 days I spent being a facilitator, I was able to realize my purpose of being there that week. I was meant to serve as a guide or mentor for these high schoolers in whatever way possible. There were a few students in my cohort that I knew were shy from day 1 and that’s okay because it takes time to feel comfortable to open up to others and be vulnerable. All it took for me was to find out what they are passionate about and then give them the opportunity to tell me more about it. These students were extremely intelligent and had amazing passions, no one would’ve known about it unless they said something. My goal as a facilitator was to slowly break open their shell and give them the opportunity to tell me more. This could be done by just simply sitting next to them at lunch and letting them tell me more about themselves. I wanted them to know that I care and that I wanted to know these things about them.

Throughout the week, our cohort conversations progressively got more open and comfortable. They had grown not only on a personal level but as a team. When the students started to create their impact statements, that’s where I felt I could really help facilitate them. Some students just needed a small push or guidance to get to their end goal of what they wanted to accomplish. I loved being able to have these deep conversations with my students to get them thinking more critically about what they can do even in high school. It’s amazing how much you can get from someone just by listening to them tell you what they’re passionate about and what they want to achieve.

At the end of the week, we have a Leadership Luncheon for the students to learn how to network with professionals in various industries. I have mentioned this already but before the summer started, I would get really nervous thinking about networking with strangers I’ve never met before. During this summer, I quickly realized that it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. During the Luncheon, I spent my time walking around the cafeteria breaking up huddles of students and encouraging them to talk to one of the professionals. There were some Leadership Columbus board members in attendance so I could help introduce some students to people I had met already and then get outta there. In one instance, there was a student who was nervous to approach anyone so far. I tried to slightly push them and encourage them into a conversation with one of our board members, Mark Bobo who they had been wanting to speak to. I knew I just needed to slightly guide them into a conversation and they’d be confident enough to take it from there. Eventually, me and another student were able to convince her and rope her into a conversation with Mark. By the end of lunch, she had spoken to so many other people and felt comfortable enough to be doing it on her own. At the end of day, she approached me and thanked me for giving her the small push she needed to speak to the professionals. For me, this moment was very rewarding and I had felt that my time there that week was truly valued. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it felt very natural for me to help her in that situation. I knew exactly what she was feeling and would want someone to do the same for me.

In conclusion this week, I think I managed to not only be a great facilitator but also serve as a wonderful mentor for my students. I struggle with giving myself praise, it just feels uncomfortable to tell yourself that you did a great job. Many of my students personally thanked me and said that they appreciated my guidance and support that week. It’s hard for me to understand the magnitude of the impact that I had on my students and I feel that’s why it’s hard for me to pat myself on the shoulder for it. I am really excited to see what all these students accomplish in the future and I hope they’ll know that they always have me as a resource. We stressed in many conversations throughout COLA and even for me over the summer that us students, both high school and college, are the leaders of today. There is still so much we can do now to help and we shouldn’t have to feel scared to step up and make change even in the smallest ways.

If you’re reading this, I hope you took something out of my insights from COLA week. I truly learned a lot and I hope you did too.

See you next week for our final blog together!

-Austin Gray

As my time at City Year Columbus interning as a Summer Fellow through The Columbus Foundation comes to an end, I wanted to take time and reflect upon what I have learned about philanthropy. Philanthropy is defined as “the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.” The idea of spreading wealth to the less fortunate seems good natured, however I think it’s more complicated than that.

When I picture philanthropy it’s billionaire Bruce Wayne giving his money away to whatever cause he finds important at the time because he will never run out of funds. Most people who engage in philanthropy aren’t billionaires, but they do come from a place of socioeconomic privilege. I recently discovered if you donate to a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization, and they qualify for charitable deduction you can reduce the personal income tax you owe. That raises the question of whether people donate because they truly believe in the work a nonprofit is doing or they just want the tax break.

It’s also important to note the rise of social media and keeping up public appearances. With social media at its height, we are constantly bombarded with what’s going on around the world and have access to information we would have never interacted with before. With increased awareness people are exposed to more social justice problems and incentivized to act. As the younger generation is becoming more politically involved than the previous generations and companies are expected to increase DEI and CSR, the wealthy are also pressured to be more charitable.

I wonder if it still counts as philanthropy if your intention is to get a pat on the back and praised for how humble you are, while promoting the welfare of others is just a bonus. However, we must look at the bigger picture. If the overall outcome is good and benefits society then how we got there is less important. We can only hope people choose to give from pure intentions and educate them about the deeper meaning. To progress, we should continue to be true to our work and make small strides wherever we can.