Hi! My name is Kenzie LeBrun. I just graduated from Wheaton College in IL with a BA in psychology. I have the privilege of working with Green Columbus this summer. I am currently one of their two hired employees. I would love to work with nonprofits in some capacity beyond this summer, and being one of two people working gives me a lot of hands-on experience of what working in all aspects of a nonprofit entail.
Shelly Douglas is Green Columbus executive director, and was a Columbus Fellow herself two years ago. I have spent this week with Shelly, learning about the organization, and doing a couple of outings. We went to the FACCES summer event Wednesday evening. We had a table set up and talked to people to try to get some volunteers out to their greenhouse (every first and third Thursday if you are interested). Friday we visited a park to get the lay of the land because we are teaching some students at the park next week. We also spent some time Friday in one of our two tree nurseries.
Green Columbus is an environmental nonprofit that has two big events they do each year. They organize the big Earth Day Columbus events. This last year over 160 sites were organized where people picked up litter and planted trees. The other big event is the big tree giveaway in October. In their tree nurseries, they have about 3,000 trees that are growing to be given away for free to the people of Columbus. This event is what I will be spending most of my time preparing for. Unfortunately, we had about 1,000 trees that did not start growing. They are just sticks in a pot, so we had to pull them out. Saturday morning we are having an emergency tree replanting, where our volunteers will be planting some new baby trees that will hopefully grow and be ready for the giveaway in October.
Each day is different than the last. I am not a routine person, so the variety of my day to day is exciting and right up my alley. Besides removing dead trees, a lot of my work so far has entailed data gathering. I have created and sent out surveys to 3,000 people so Green Columbus can track their trees and gather information on how the Earth Day events went. I am very excited to see where my internship takes me next, I currently have 70 baby trees in my basement, you never know what will happen at Green Columbus.
My name is Elisabeth Cobbs and I am a recent graduate of the Ohio State University. I graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Public Management, Leadership and Policy from the John Glenn College of Public Affairs and B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences and Honors in Public Affairs. I was so excited and honored to be a part of the Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship program and be paired with my top choice, the Riverview International Center (RIC). I have already learned so much in my first week. Let’s talk about it!
The RIC is a nonprofit organization that helps new Americans access basic needs and services. Some of the services provided are career counseling and job preparation training, healthcare and benefit enrollment, school enrollment, and ESL classes as well as assisting with access to more basic needs such as food access, diaper donations, and assistance finding furnishings for new homes. The project I am heading during my fellowship is the kids summer reading program. This program helps the kids in the neighborhood keep up with their literacy skills during summer break. My responsibilities include keeping track of who attends each day, assisting with volunteer participation, maintaining safety and organization, and keeping track of relevant data that will inform future reporting.
The first week of the program has been so fun and rewarding for everyone! That is not to say there have not been challenges. One of the most important things I have learned is that taking the time to communicate and stay organized even in the midst of little kid chaos is crucial. I have been so lucky to work with an incredible volunteer coordinator, Angelica, and enthusiastic volunteers who have been my biggest support. They have been flexible, engaged, and responsive to the needs of me, the program, and the kids participating. By the end of this week, we developed a solid game plan that is going to take us smoothly through the rest of the program. At the beginning of the week, we were not even able to get a formal line going for the check in process. Yesterday, we had the straightest line I’ve ever seen. The best part of this is that the kids took charge and organized it themselves! It was very impressive. I am so happy to be a part of this program that helps build community and friendships as well as maintain literacy.
In addition to the summer reading program, I am assisting with some management and administrative projects. I have helped write portions of the RIC newsletter, learned how to submit tax exemption certificates to vendors, and helped train volunteers for their participation in the neighborhood block party thrown by Serve the City today. Each day, I am learning more and more about operating a nonprofit, how to engage with kids and families from different backgrounds that may not speak English, and what kinds of roadblocks new Americans face and how we can help make these processes easier. I am so grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to begin my second week!
Hello! My name is Lily Kate Harpham and I am a recent graduate from the College of Wooster, with a degree in History. My fellowship host site is Ohio Designer Craftsmen, where I will be helping coordinate the Young Master’s Summer Camp, an art program with sessions for kids entering grades 1 through 6, and grades 6 through 12.
This week’s camp theme was “Home Sweet Home” where guest artists taught the kids to create dream homes made of popsicle sticks and hot glue and make compostable paper filled with native wildflower seeds that can be planted in their yards, as well as many other projects relating to the theme of the week. The camper’s creative impulses are fed with the encouragement and guidance of the patient artists and eager-to-help teen volunteers. It has been enlightening and encouraging to interact with such emotionally intelligent and creative kids. The campers are open with each other about their need for personal space, or quiet time, and are polite and inquisitive. They are open to new projects and eager to ask for help when they need it, and love to help each other when they are able!
My role this first week has been mostly in coordination of the camp, helping ease transitions between activities, running snack time and lunch, prepping materials for upcoming lessons, and filling in to help any of the campers with their projects whenever needed. After a few days of shadowing and assisting the educational coordinator, I started to take on more responsibility myself. Beginning with the drop-off/check-in of campers in the morning, and encompassing each class transition, snack time, and pick-up, I have been very much enjoying the process.
The projects that the campers are completing each day are exceptionally planned, each one relating to the theme of the week. My personal favorite project so far has been an embroidery craft. Each camper was tasked with drawing a design that they would then recreate on their embroidery fabric, attach to a piece of felt, and then tie tassels around the edges of the fabric to create a custom pillow! As someone who picked up embroidery as a hobby within the last few years, it has been really cool to see kids as young as 6 learning how to sew and embroider, and taking home their final product!
On the last day of camp, there is an art show where parents/guardians and invited guests can come and see all of the work that has been done throughout the week! The campers design their own invitations and name plaques for their displays, and answer questions about their work. It was so fun watching all the kids get excited about their hard work, and show off their favorite projects.
I have already learned so much about multitasking, prioritization of needs, and program management, just from my few days in my role. I am enjoying myself very much, and am excited to see what I learn next!
This week I began my summer employment at Equitas Health, which I must admit is a very exciting opportunity for me. Focusing on LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS-related care, Equitas is an important healthcare resource for thousands in Ohio and neighboring areas. My duties for the summer primarily orient around Equitas’ presence at pride-related events and celebrations around Ohio, but I will also be assisting in other, non-pride-related activities. For instance, this week I spent two days working at OHIV.
OHIV, from my understanding, is a sexual health and education hotline and organization that provides free information, condoms, STI/STD testing kits, and other sexual well-being services. I spent my time preparing sexual-health kits that are freely distributed, as well as engaging with current OHIV employees and learning about their mission and structure.
Working directly under Equitas, whether from the office or at home, has been mostly clerical work. I am not bothered or disappointed by these tasks. It is only my first week and it has been confirmed that my responsibilities will grow. Not only that, I am more than happy to do this work given the time of year. It’s June! It’s Pride Month! A very busy and exciting and slightly chaotic time for an organization that directs its work toward queer individuals and communities.
Speaking of pride, tomorrow (6/10) I am traveling to Athens for their community pride events. I’ve never been to a pride and I surely haven’t worked one before, so I excitedly await the opportunity! It’s not likely I’ll be doing much – mostly watching how other employees and volunteers interact with patrons and gaining an insight into their messaging and what they prioritize. Ideally, I will be much more proactive and engaging in the next pride event I work.
A goal of mine for this summer is to gain a better understanding of how non-profits operate and to learn where I may be a good fit or where my skills and interests can best be applied. I don’t expect to learn this immediately, but over time I expect to have obtained a more comprehensive picture.
My first week went well and I’m looking forward to writing about my next week in my next blog post!
When going into new spaces, your first day is a projection of how forever will go. Walking into this new chapter of life made me nervous, having a fellowship is the step into your future career. Foreseeing the future shouldn’t be anything I’m scared of but on June 5th I had multiple questions for myself. I asked myself “how should I carry myself in this work environment?” “What if I don’t fit in with my host site?” and “how will I show my strengths as a worker?” I filled myself with doubt before I even made it to my first day. Once I made it to the Columbus Foundation and met Dr.Lomax and Becca, my uneasy feelings surely went away. I was welcomed with open arms and never felt more comfortable anywhere else. Dr.Lomax spoke words of encouragement to me and my fellow peers, which finally made me excited to foresee the future.
I am a fellow at the Central Community House (Central), a non-profit community center in Columbus, Ohio that provides essential support to neighbors in need. When walking into the building I felt a warm and inviting spirit from all the employees there. Everyone had a big smile on their faces, and I couldn’t stop hearing laughter. The sound of laughter and happiness was something I needed in a work environment. Art is a huge factor in CCH, walking in you see many beautiful African American paintings and even exclusive ones from Africa. You feel the way the art brightens the halls; art brings together the sense of being at a home away from home. On CCH website you see their emphasis on bringing people together and helping build communities, with such an open and safe work environment I am excited to be able to contribute to their mission.
Hi, my name is Adian Dobyns and I am a 2023 Columbus Fellow hosted at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC). I am a recent graduate from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Sociology. In the fall I will be continuing my education at the University of California, Irvine, where I will be part of their sociology graduate program.
CXC is a free-to-attend arts festival taking place in the fall, with a focus on cartooning, graphic novels, animation, and other related cartoon media. CXC differs from other conventions or festivals in that it focuses on the creators of comics and related works, such as artists and writers, rather than the pop-culture surrounding their creations. CXC works closely with both acclaimed and nationally recognized artists as well as up-and-coming artists based in Columbus, OH, to create a culturally enriching environment that is accessible to all, creator and fan alike.
This week I was fortunate enough to participate in the CXC Season Announcement, where the Special Guest line-up for CXC 2023 was announced. This was a very exciting event, where prominent creators and passionate fans gathered to celebrate CXC and the continual growth CXC has experienced over the years. A total of 20 special guests were announced, but I wanted to highlight one in particular, whom I feel is emblematic of the goals and impacts of CXC. Keito Gaku is a Japanese artist and writer, and the creator of Boys Run the Riot. Keito Gaku is a transgender man, and his manga tells the story of a transgender high school boy who struggles with social acceptance, finding an outlet for self expression through street fashion. Despite being his debut work, Boys Run the Riot has found critical success, and has done much to elevate the voices and experiences of transgender people in media. His appearance at CXC this fall will be Keito Gaku’s first at a comics event in the United States.
CXC was founded on the idea of bringing together creators and fans and facilitating real, genuine connections. I find that the involvement of Keito Gaku in this year’s CXC is both representative of how the reputation of CXC as a place welcoming to artists and creatives has grown and an act of reaffirming the mission of inclusion, connection, and cultivation of creative talent. I am certain that there are countless Columbus-based talents who have been personally impacted or inspired by Keito Gaku’s work, and I am glad to be a part of the organization that is able to facilitate their future connection.
I felt my heartbeat in my feet. My hands were shaking. I felt a small drop of sweat slowly trickle down my forehead. Walking through the big double glass doors of my new internship site, you might ask? No – just merging onto I – 70 during rush hour traffic to get there!
Let’s back up a few steps. My name is Sarah, and I’m an incoming junior at Ohio State. I’m a Public Health Sociology major, but I’m also on the pre-medicine track. Going into college, I knew that I wanted to attend graduate school one way or another, whether that be a Master’s program in public health or medical school, but I was unsure of which path I wanted to take. The more time I spent in college, the more torn I became. So, I began taking steps to delve into each career path more deeply. I started working as a Patient Care Associate at Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and began shadowing physicians in various fields, both of which gave me incredible insight into the world of medicine. However, I still felt that I wanted to explore a possible career in public health. Though the classes I had taken at OSU gave me a solid overview, I knew that in order to determine whether I wanted to pursue higher education in the field, I would need real world experience, so I began searching for an internship.
I’d never searched for a real job before, so I did what most people who don’t know anything about something would do: I Googled “public health internships near me.” After some sifting through search results, I stumbled across the Columbus Foundation. They’d match me with a nonprofit fitting my professional interests, it was during my summer break, and it was paid — it seemed too good to be true. So, I decided to apply, and I ranked Saint Vincent Family Services as my top choice organization. A few weeks later, I received an email stating that I had moved on to the second round of the application, and a few weeks after that, I had an interview with SVFS.
After talking with my interviewers, I became fascinated. SVFS seemed to intersect perfectly with all my interests: children, behavioral healthcare, and trauma. During my interview, I learned that SVFS has two distinct programs: Saint Vincent Prep Academy, which is a fully accredited school that integrates therapy and other behavioral healthcare into the school day, and Residential Care, which allows children to stay at the facility who have experienced severe emotional, social, and/or behavioral problems. What I liked even more though, was the motto: We Make Good Kids Better. I knew that the staff at SVFS recognized that no child is inherently bad, they have simply experienced trauma and life events that caused them to display these kinds of behaviors. When I toured the facility, I immediately knew that this was where I wanted to spend my time over the next few months. Every person I met cared deeply about the children they served, were passionate about the organization’s mission, and were extraordinarily welcoming and friendly.
Most of our efforts this week have been focused on preparing for SVFS’ annual fundraising event: Returning to Our Roots, where donors and volunteers can come to learn more about the services that SVFS provides and meet and interact with staff and providers. Though my job most of the summer will be to plan and execute summer programming for children in Residential Care and those attending Prep Academy, this week, it ranged from marketing to event set-up to door greeter. I felt a great sense of community and togetherness, as everyone from the school principal to the CEO were focused on preparing for the event on Thursday. As the week comes to a close today, I feel grateful for the incredible support of the staff at SVFS, especially Sara Russell, Director of Community Engagement and Marketing, and Catherine Sherman, Fundraising and Grants Coordinator, who I’ve worked most closely with.
I was nervous on the first day, of course, but because of the staff and support they gave me, merging onto I – 70 was the most nerve-wracking part of my week. I feel excited and am ready to embark on this adventure the rest of the summer!
Hello! My name is Rose Arkus and I am currently in my Masters of Public Affairs program at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University with an expected graduation date of May, 2024. My summer fellowship service site is PrimaryOne Health corporate office.
I think it is important to disclaim the mission statement of PrimaryOne Health, ” it is our mission to provide access to services that improve the health status of families—including people experiencing financial, social or cultural barriers to healthcare“
Services provided:
OB/GYN
Primary Care/ Pediatrics
Dental and Vision Services
Behavioral and Mental Healthcare
Adult and Internal Medicine
Speciality Care Services
Health Care for the Homeless
On Monday when I first embarked on this summer journey I was frankly filled with uncertainty and curiosity. Starting something new is never easy, and taking a leap of faith into a new organization felt a little uncomfortable. Although, for unforeseen circumstances the beginning of my week at PrimaryOne Health was a little off-kilter I took it in stride, and pivoted. This is one of my strong suits, the ability to move with the flow, shift, change, and this is a necessary tool when working in the non for profit sphere.
I got to learn a lot about the nitty gritty of Primary One Health School Based Health Centers (SBHC), and how the Groveport Madison and Columbus City Schools have come together to serve the needs of those in the community. Governor DeWine has funded into this endeavor, the SBHC grant is designed to develop new sites in both Groveport Madison and Columbus City school. I quickly found an admiration, and interest in this critical endeavor. Students, families, and community members will now have extended services, and have access to imperative health and behavior services that were not available prior. Every single person that I have met in both the corporate office, and also in the sites I have visited thus far have been exceptionally warm, kind, and inviting. I have my own physical space in the office, and have felt instantly brought into the team. I see so much potential and so many amazing people to learn from, and it is an overwhelming feeling.
I have been working closely with Susan who has been so supportive, and welcoming. I have been able to sit in on some meetings, and have already learned so much. Susan is the director of marketing and communications. She does so much, and I have an interest in learning more about marketing and communications as well as social media from people on her team. PrimaryOne Health has so many little pockets of areas of interest, every corner I turn I find something I am excited to learn about, and I can feel my passion growing for the mission of this organization. Susan took me to two PrimaryOne Health health centers. There are 11 locations, we went to the E. Broad St. location, and the Parson location. Each site serves different pockets and demographics of the community of Columbus where the site is situated in. They have been described to each have a different feeling, and I am so excited to get to see all of them. Being in the physical site brings me the most excitement because I love the hands on and visual aspect that I do not get to have when I am at corporate. The employees and clinicians at E. Broad were so kind, and also you could see how much of a team the staff are. They focus on primarily behavior health, and I got a tour of the facility as well as got to talk to some of the Physicians and Behavioral Health Clinicians. Parsons Ave. was such an awesome experience. The facility was so big and had so many services offered. In their site they had a primary care wing, pediatrics, women’s health, and a physical therapy unit which is very rare for a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The people exuded warmth and passion and it was contagious. The Centering Pregnancy program was so special, and I cannot wait to sit in on a session potentially.
I have so many feelings of excitement, invigoration, and pride to be apart of an organization that is made up of so many wonderful people that are doing such critical work in the Columbus community. I am sitting in a position where I get the opportunity to experience many different things and I get to see so many moving parts of such an impressive machine come together to serve those who need it most. Community health is such a passion of mine, and I think this is the perfect place to give me a glimpse into all the different niches within community health. I want to contribute in any aspect I can, and just absorb all the wonderful things I can learn in the next 10 weeks. I’m in a place in my professional career where I feel enlightened and unbound to expectations so I truly believe that through my time at PrimaryOne Health and The Columbus Foundation I may be pointed in the direction I’ve been searching so desperately for.
The Columbus Foundation 2023 Summer Fellowship application is open!
This 10-week paid Fellowship starts June 5, 2023 and ends August 11, 2023. Fellows are matched with a nonprofit based on interests, skills, and the nonprofit’s specific needs or objectives, and are required to attend five professional development sessions culminating in a mandatory end-of-summer presentation on August 11.
Eligibility:
College junior, senior, May/June 2023 graduate, or a graduate student in the fall of 2023 and have graduated from a Franklin County high school. OR College junior, senior, May/June 2023 graduate, or graduate student attending a Franklin County college or university. Highly desired qualifications: A strong academic record (preferably a 3.0+ GPA); and strong English oral and written communication skills.
Mission: To provide an international showcase for the best of cartoon art in all its forms, including comics, animation, editorial cartoons, newspaper strips, and beyond, in a city that is a growing center of importance to comics and cartooning.
Project: To support staff through event planning, increasing earned income, and implementation of a marketing strategy.
Mission: To empower people to reach their full potential, be self-supporting, and live cooperatively with all others by building community that meets the needs and nourishes the creative aspirations of one another.
Project: To support staff through event planning, increasing earned income, and implementation of a marketing strategy.
Mission: To be the gateway to good health for those at risk of or affected by HIV; for the LGBTQ+ community; and for those seeking a welcoming healthcare home.
Project: To assist with agency coordination and representation at LGBTQ+ Pride events around the state.
Mission: To engage and enrich the community through high-quality exhibitions, education programs, and to support and promote the professional development of fine craft artists.
Project: To be the assistant camp coordinator for campers ages 6-17 assisting with the development, planning, and implementation of summer programs.
Mission: To create, find, and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.
Project: To support the Cause Marketing campaign by creating a sustainable marketing campaign, securing new corporate partners, and executing the strategy.
Mission: To help families build bright futures by providing trauma-informed pediatric behavioral health care within a learning community to change the lives of children and families.
Project: To create a communications strategy that engages donors and stakeholders, and support staff in planning fundraising events.
What a summer! I can’t believe that this fellowship experience is already over. Even though time flew by, it was filled with lots of learning and growing, both personally and professionally.
At ETSS, it was great getting to work with Eric and Destiny of the Advancement team, and Lilu and Diego on the Youth Summit. I learned and practiced many new skills, such as those involved in event planning and external communications. I hope to stay connected with their work and cause and remain in contact with everyone there.
Through my time at the Columbus Foundation, I learned a lot about professional pathways, and how to become a leader that helps others find and use their power for good. Before this summer, I had never really thought about leadership in this way, or at least I have never been taught to think of leadership in this framework. However, it makes sense. A good leader not only helps people, but also teaches those around them to be better leaders than themselves. In order to keep the mission and good work advancing, growth must always be taking place.
I have also met so many wonderful people through my time at the Columbus Foundation, including the cohort of fellows. My fellow peers have accomplished so much, and I can’t wait to see all that they continue to accomplish in the future. It was amazing getting to know all of them, and I hope to keep in touch with everyone.
Along with the fellows, we have had so many wonderful guest speakers during our professional development sessions. I am excited to continue talking to one speaker in particular, Nick Jones, about his work with Healthy Neighborhoods, Healthy Families at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Lastly, I wanted to thank Dr. Mark Lomax and all of the Columbus Foundation for this amazing opportunity. I am extremely thankful for all this fellowship had to offer, everything I have learned, and all the connections I have made.
Welcome to the blog of The Columbus Foundation's Summer Fellowship Program. Follow our Fellows as they help out the nonprofits they are matched with, learn on the job and from each other. The projects they are assigned to are challenging and highly important to the community and each nonprofit. Check back frequently, or sign up for the RSS, as many updates will be coming. It's going to be an exciting summer!
Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs 