Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hi everyone!

Last week, I discussed my successful focus groups; however, this week, I had my final one, which was a failure. The population of focus was scattered site tenants, also known as independent housing. I had to plan a central location for the session and then mail flyers to individuals. A colleague who handles mailing information sent out about 70 flyers over two weeks ago. They had put extra flyers on my desk that I did not look at because I designed them and already knew what was there. The day before the session was to be held, I was cleaning up my desk and decided to recycle the extra flyers. When I looked at them, I noticed that it stated the focus group would be held July 2, but it was really meant to be July 26. The six had been cut off, which meant no one knew the actual date

It was too late for me to do anything about the mistake. I informed my supervisor about the issue, and we decided I would still go to the focus group location if someone showed up. No one came. It was frustrating because I had put so much effort into planning this focus group. I mapped out all Community Housing Network’s (CHN) scattered sites to identify clusters near public transit and a public or CHN-owned location to hold the session. I tried so hard to make sure tenants at scattered sites could have their voices heard. I know my supervisor will find a way to engage these tenants.

Even with one complete failure, I held three successful focus groups with a wide range of tenants. Everyone who attended the focus groups provided solid feedback and suggestions that will improve CHN’s ability to provide excellent service to the community.  

This week is the last week of summer programming at Bridgeway. I helped take pictures of the students painting rocks that they can give to their friends, staff, and families. We also had another visit from a therapy dog, which I helped to take photos of too. This week was officially the last week of the Summer Program, and I will really miss helping Rachel carry it out. I will miss working closely with her in general. I was able to see how much she cares about the students and I felt like I learned how to better interact and engage with the students through her.

We also planned for the upcoming 20th anniversary. To celebrate 20 years of the organization, the team wanted to undergo a social media campaign through a series of short videos, highlighting different moments and people that are representative of Bridgeway’s goals and values. The campaign would start next month in August 2024 and end in December 2025. I had the idea that these videos should have voiceovers from our CEOs to make them feel more personable to viewers. I felt that voiceovers from the CEOs themselves would add a human element to the videos. We continued to build on the idea and decided that we could do voiceovers from the different subjects of the videos so that viewers could hear from the people of the stories themselves.

However, Janelle said that she wants us to think of a commonality in each video that ties them together. One thing that really stood out to me is when our Communications and Events Assistant, Alyssa, said that the videos should serve the purpose of showing the growth of Bridgeway and how this growth would not be possible without the support from grants and donors. I feel like this helps me understand the goal of the videos, and I’ll be keeping this in mind as we keep thinking of an effective way to tie the videos together.

I was also able to attend the Kiwanis Charity Regatta boat racing event. It’s an event where the nonprofits participating can table and race each other to win more money for their organization. It was lighthearted, and I felt that it was a good way to end the week.

Hello Everyone! I hope you all are enjoying your meaningful work at your host sites! 

As I’ve stated before in previous blogs, my job this summer as a summer fellow at Community Shelter Board consists of many things, but my main focus has been helping my supervisor, Sara, with everything regarding coordination and planning for CSB’s 2024 Founder Awards Ceremony. Since we are getting close to the end of our fellowships, I have been doing everything I can to make as much headway as possible on this event before I go. One of the most important aspects of this event are the interviews of our honorees being conducted by NBC4 to be shown at the event and mentioned in the media. This week I officially sent over all of our media materials to NBC4 and have locked in and confirmed spaces for the interviews to take place. I am excited for next week as I will be attending the interviews solo and assisting to make sure the interviews go as smoothly as possible for NBC4 and our honorees.

This week I have also been working on other components to prepare for the event. I drafted three press releases to be sent out after the event, three fully designed eblasts to highlight our honorees’ achievements, and updated our slides to be shown at the event. I also have other logistical responsibilities such as communicating with our web team to explain how we want our landing page to look for our guests to rsvp and ordering the engraved glass awards for our honorees. 

Aside from work, we had an all staff outing this week at Cosi! It was nice to spend time with my colleagues outside of the office and have some fun. We split up into teams and had a scavenger hunt and our team won the prize! 

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!