Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Shelly, our executive director, went out of town this week. Her sister is due to have her baby any day and she went home to be with her family. Since we are an organization of two, that left me alone this week. Shelly gave me a laundry list of things to do while she was away. I have been slowly chugging away at that list.

After all the prep of Green Drinks last week, we held the event on Wednesday night. We had a script typed up for our emcee to use for trivia, we had a scoring sheet created and we had a table set up with merchandise and information about our nonprofit. We had enough people come to create five teams. My personal favorite question was “How many elephants’ worth of material is landfilled per day in central Ohio?” Answer is 720 elephants, or 3,600 tons (source: SWACO). Green Drinks was a lot of fun and it was a great opportunity for me to meet more members of the board.

The rest of this week I have been working on our membership model and looking into adding a business level partnership. Our plan is to present our research and ideas to the board next week at the board meeting. I have also started the process of writing our first ever newsletter, and Shelly gave me the distinct pleasure of going to our storage unit to take inventory. We have a lot of excess shirts and sweatshirts from Earth Day that we need to track and try to sell. Keep your eye out for our online sale / fundraiser soon!

After Green Drinks on Wednesday the president of our board asked me if there was anything specific I wanted to grow my skills in. Honestly, I do not know what areas of skill I want to grow in or invest in. Dr. Lomax asked us a similar question this week at the Columbus Foundation. He asked us to define our why, and that determines our what. I think part of this experience for me is clarifying my why, and that will hopefully lead me to develop my what.

It has now been an incredibly rewarding four weeks since I embarked on my fellowship at the Ronald McDonald House Columbus. This opportunity has allowed me to actively participate in remarkable projects and gain a profound understanding of the purpose behind this exceptional charity. Collaborating with my dedicated team has fostered a strong bond, fueled by our shared passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others. As I reflect on the past month, I am overwhelmed by the wealth of knowledge I have acquired regarding the Ronald McDonald House and the challenges associated with funding a non-profit organization.

One of the most striking aspects I’ve noticed during my time here is the stark contrast between marketing for a non-profit and marketing for a for-profit venture. While both involve a certain level of drive, promoting a non-profit organization demands a unique kind of passion and perseverance. At RMHC, effectively advertising all our initiatives becomes crucial to keep our donors engaged and sustain the operations of the house. A well-executed marketing plan is not just a means to increase awareness but also a lifeline that ensures our ability to provide support and care for families in need.

However, amidst the challenges encountered while devising a marketing plan, I have discovered the value of incorporating genuine human connections into our content. Encouraging individuals to step in front of the camera has been a hurdle, but it has also proven to be immensely rewarding. I continually remind myself that videos and posts featuring real people outperform those without. The adage “people love to see people” resounds in my mind as I strive to capture the stories, experiences, and emotions of those whose lives have been touched by RMHC.

During my time at the Ronald McDonald House Columbus, I have not only immersed myself in the various projects but also familiarized myself with the inner workings of the house. One particular aspect that has left a lasting impression is getting to know my way around the facility and witnessing the incredible dedication of the volunteers in the kitchen. It has been awe-inspiring to watch these selfless individuals come together to cook meals for over 100 people, ensuring that families staying at the house have warm, comforting food during their challenging times.

In conclusion, my time at the Ronald McDonald House Columbus has been an invaluable experience thus far. It has allowed me to witness firsthand the incredible impact that a dedicated team, combined with effective marketing and unwavering passion, can have on the lives of those in need. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, and I eagerly anticipate the next phase of my journey as I continue to make a difference and create meaningful connections through my work at RMHC.

This week I have begun to feel very comfortable in my role. I feel like I have a good relationship with all of my coworkers as well as the families and kids that come to the office for programs and services. I feel well acquainted enough with the organization at this point to be able to jump in on various tasks and projects between my larger responsibilities. This week has been fairly slow around the office because Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest holidays in Islam, was this week. Eid Mubarak to all the friends who celebrate! While many families were out enjoying picnics and time with family, I was condensing and cleaning out our donor and volunteer database! However, I am happy to do this – I know it helps my supervisors and improves the efficiency and effectiveness of our organization. It has been helpful to learn that the small, mundane tasks allow the bigger, more exciting things to come to fruition, and staying on top of these responsibilities ensures the health of the organization and its ability to provide crucial services.

I learned two interesting things about grants this week. First, some have time constraints within which the organization has to spend the funds. Right now, we are trying to catch up spending for maintenance and improvements. This means I got to do a lot of online shopping today, which I am very good at so this is the perfect task for me. Second, I learned that the guidelines an organization must adhere to when applying for a grant are often far more strict that you would think. This is especially true for small organizations. We were recently trying to decide whether to stretch ourselves a little bit in order to fit a grant’s requirements or wait until next year when we have more capacity to actually fill the grant requirements. Stretching ourselves would have likely involved developing a whole new program to submit for funding, and hiring and entirely new person to run this program. I enjoy engaging in these kinds of cost-benefit analyses and seeing how each organization may do this differently and how important various factors are to the evaluation.

Our summer reading program is nearing its end. While this is sad, and will mean a lot less quality time spent with all the kids we have come to love so much, it is also exciting! It means another successful year of summer reading under the RIC’s belt and one of my first big accomplishments as a recent college graduate. It also means we are close to the ice cream party meant to celebrate the end of summer reading! The kids can’t stop talking about it and, honestly, I can’t either!

I would sum up week three at Green Columbus as mundane, ordinary.

I spent time this week working on our Green Drinks Event. Green Drinks is an event that is held all around the world. It occurs in over 500 countries. Once a month there are lectures or environmental topics discussed at the events. Green Columbus was created by a group of people who got together for Green Drinks. They discussed their shared interest in trees and beer. Green Columbus has agreed to always host Green Drinks once a month as long as people who care about the environment want to keep going. Green Drinks is typically held at various local bars. Occasionally some of the profits from the bar that night are donated to Green Columbus. This month we have been planning environmental trivia at Brewcadia! I put together the trivia questions and planned the script.

I have loved being able to have a different schedule each day I work. This week I have spent days on the computer. I have researched other non profit membership levels and brainstormed how to incorporate that into Green Columbus. The goal is to encourage monthly donors to our organization. I researched different newsletter templates that we could use in the future. The goal of this is to produce a quarterly newsletter for our members and volunteers. I love getting to do all aspects of work that Green Columbus requires. I hope to be working for a non profit after this summer and being able to do all aspects of this job is preparing me very well. Even the aspects that require hours researching and reading articles. Thank you week of mundane, to teach me the beauty of the ordinary.

This past week was a difficult one for me personally, and I was so grateful that I was working at a small, community based nonprofit full of kind, caring people. I was able to take time for myself and still felt supported when I came back to work. All of the kids are so sweet too! Like I wrote about last week, it has been so fun seeing their personalities come out as we all get to know each other more. They are kind and silly and they are so sweet to each other, most of the time! We are still getting new kids to come to summer reading every night. We now have 72 kids!

I am happy I get to run the summer reading program for the neighborhood. Not only is it a time for the kids to practice reading and see their friends, it is also a welcoming time for parents to come ask questions and receive help. Last week we had a diaper distribution so as kids were reading, parents were able to get access to diapers for their little ones at the same time. It is also a great time for the neighbors to catch up with each other and continue to build community. It is cool to see how this one program has an impact beyond just the kids.

Starting this week, we will have grants do almost every Friday. This means I will be doing a lot more writing and research than I have since I graduated! I am looking forward to this. I love to write and I am excited to see how grant writing works and hopefully be successful in securing some funds for the organization. I’m sure writing is a lot more fun when you can earn money for it! I am looking forward to the week ahead and can’t wait to see what it brings.

Week 3 at the Ronald McDonald House has been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. From the moment I stepped foot in this amazing organization, I knew I was part of something special. Now, as I enter my third week, I can confidently say that it has been my favorite one so far.

Having fully settled into the swing of things, I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such inspiring individuals every day. The team at RMHC is not only passionate about their work but also dedicated to making a difference in the lives of families in need. Their commitment is contagious, and it motivates me to give my best in everything I do.

Each day presents new activities and challenges, and with each one, I find myself growing and learning more about myself and the business. It’s incredible to witness firsthand the impact that the Ronald McDonald House has on families, providing them with a supportive and nurturing environment during their most challenging times.

One of the highlights of this week was the completion of my scavenger hunt project. I put a lot of work into it, and the feeling of pride was overwhelming when I had the opportunity to present it to the entire marketing board for RMHC. Their feedback and appreciation for my work were truly humbling. It was a validating experience that reassured me of my abilities and strengthened my belief in the importance of the work we do here.

I have now been assigned a new project, which is to create an entire marketing campaign from scratch. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the upcoming kitchen closure that will take place over the next three months. The closure is necessary to renovate the house for an exciting new expansion.

This new project presents a fresh set of challenges and opportunities for growth. It is a chance for me to showcase my creativity, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills. I am excited to collaborate with the talented team here at RMHC and make a meaningful impact through this campaign.

As I reflect on my RMHC experience so far, I am filled with gratitude and a deep sense of purpose. This organization has given me the chance to work towards a cause that truly matters, surrounded by incredible individuals who share the same passion. I am eager to continue my journey here and contribute to the transformative work of the Ronald McDonald House. Thanks for reading!

My third week at Equitas Health was largely in-line with expectations sourced from my first two weeks. Assisting with some computer work to ease the workloads of staff, preparing pride bags and filling them with distributable goodies, packing sexual health items with OHIV, etc.

This week did, however, produce a new, more significant and long-term task. Most of my work revolves around helping Equitas with its presence at pride events throughout Ohio. In a change of pace and priorities, my new task is oriented around post-pride analyses. I am creating a presentation that will be used to display and communicate helpful information regarding pride ongoings as well as the staff reception towards the events they may have worked. It is significantly more time-consuming and in-depth than my previous assignments and work, and I believe it will have a greater significance and importance to Equitas as a whole. I enjoy the increase in responsibility, and I am hopeful that this may be indicative of more assignments to come in the near future.

I’m beginning to feel more comfortable in my role, and part of that has to do with the relationship-building I’ve been unwittingly engaging in. Being cordial and professional with coworkers in the office hasn’t been challenging per se, but I have been appreciating its payoff. Simple and casual signs of acknowledgment and light conversations with those around me have made me feel welcome in the office. This is my first time doing any sort of office work and I was curious to see how I would fit in in that environment. A simple reality that I’m becoming acquainted with.

I am also appreciative of my direct supervisor, Jostin. I’m not certain whether they are considered my boss or not, but most of the time they are the one in charge of me and pointing at tasks for me to complete. They’ve been kind and supportive which has certainly allowed me to ease into my responsibilities, and they have given me general guidance in terms of how to engage with and navigate a professional environment.

Overall I have been enjoying my time with Equitas and I am eager to see what’s next for me!

As the second-week winds down, my theme was assumptions. During our fellowship meeting, many fellows mentioned how they expected to do specific assignments but ended up doing completely different things or running a program instead of being support. As Pride is celebrated this week, assumptions are often made about a person’s personal life. Lastly, spending time with the organization’s clients really got personal, and assumptions about their lives burst.

Sitting at the table at Milo-Grogan for the weekly arts and crafts meeting, we started talking about our personal lives and family. Family relations are hard and often hard to talk about. The assumption that everyone is connected and supportive is so far from the truth and if that were a nonprofit like At Home By High would not be needed. Getting them to open up took work. Still, when the trust was established, they were more open to discussing traumatizing events and distant or non-existing relationships with immediate family. Some distant relationships stemmed from family disputes that resulted in the termination of relationships. There was a lot of pain and trauma when talking about certain relationships or memories. The bright side is that they bond over similar life experiences and become each other’s chosen family. They support each other, check on each other, and fuss and fight with each other. The assumption that getting older includes family support, and a leisurely and active life is so far from the truth. Many of the aging population are socially isolated due to mobility issues, limited incomes, and lack of family connections for many different reasons.

As we celebrate pride, Juneteenth and continue on our journeys with our fellowships, we learn that assumptions about people, organizations, or family can hurt your growth and relationships. So be open listen, change, or new opportunities. Your life and relationship often flourish when you are not limiting your experiences and relationships.

This week at CXC I was able to meet more of the people behind the organization, and get a better understanding of the effort and logistics required to organize such a large yearly event. I had a number of usual tasks, such as researching clubs and special interests groups to reach out to, or contacting local events calendars, but it’s certainly more interesting to write about the Zoom meetings I attended where committees discussed the various volunteer, marketing, and hospitality needs to address before CXC in September-October. I was also able to meet many of the other people who make up CXC, including other staff and committee members. 

The three meetings I attended this week were dedicated to matters under the purview of the volunteer committee, the marketing committee, and the hospitality committee. The volunteer committee discussed matters concerning volunteer needs and coordination, as well as volunteer recruitment and retention. The marketing committee discussed opportunities to collaborate with local media and interest groups, various marketing strategies, as well as promotional opportunities to encourage greater interest in CXC. The hospitality committee discussed matters concerning the transportation of guests across the city and the amenities provided to guests and festival attendees. 

I learned a lot observing these meetings and how the people in them would interact in a professional environment, problem solve, and discuss new ideas and solutions. While I’ve focused a lot of my efforts on getting the word out about what CXC is, and why people should attend, there is an extreme amount of effort that goes into organizing and planning a massive, multi-day festival such as this one. There are so many problems or needs that I would have never thought of that these people dedicate their valuable time and talents towards solving and filling. It’s both humbling and reaffirming to be reminded that I am a small part of such a large and ongoing celebration of the arts.

This week was such fun and absolutely flew by! Our theme was Fairy Tales and the projects were incredibly fun and creative. With the help of the teen volunteers and guidance from the artists/teachers, the campers completed diverse projects including fairy doors, good luck charms, and their very own wearable fairy wings!

On Monday, the campers began with the creation of magical fairy doors. They made little doors out of popsicle sticks, and then shaped stones out of polymer clay, which were then glued to the doors. Their individuality showed in the added details, such as moss, paint, or vines. The creating of wearable fairy wings was a more elaborate endeavor, involving sketching out how their wings would look and then creating templates for the wire boning of their wings. Teen volunteers stepped in to shape rubber coated wire to serve as the structure of the wings and cut plastic sheeting in to the desired shapes. The campers then used a great variety of materials to decorate their wings like puffy paint, Sharpies, and beads.

My personal favorite craft this week was done on Wednesday. The campers used polymer clay to create little lucky charms that would be placed on keychains. The item that each of the campers chose to sculpt for their good luck token really illustrated their individual personalities. Some older campers chose to sculpt items that were traditional good luck charms, such as four-leaf clovers, while the younger kids sculpted miniature versions of their favorite things, like food or imaginary creatures like dragons! I was able to participate in this project and made a few little wormlike creatures that were reminiscent of the worm-on-a-string toys that I used to play with as a kid. The campers, in turn, started to make their own little wormlike clay creations, and it was really fun to teach them how to make them and see how their versions turned out.

A tradition of the Young Masters Camp is the Friday art show, when invited family and friends come and look at the entire week’s worth of hard work. During the previous Young Masters session, I did not quite know what to expect, so I felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole process. This time around, I reorganized a few parts of the set-up process to make it a bit easier for myself and the other facilitators. The campers broke up into two groups of twelve and took a bit of time to set up all their work in front of them. I absolutely love seeing all the campers get so excited to show off their work and tell their visitors the inspiration behind their art. 

Now that I’m closing the book on week 3 of the fellowship, I feel that I’m able to contribute to our campers in a more concrete way and I feel more confident in myself in my role.