Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

This sunny, clear first day of summer is a perfect way to close out a fun week at the GIAC. We had our first week of camp this past week, with 3-5 year-olds in the mornings and 5-7 year-olds in the afternoons. We had a blast all week–we made slime, hiked and looked for birds and bugs, sang silly songs about habitats, frogs, bug bites, did science experiments, and so much more.

But my favorite thing we did was our daily “Sit Spots,” which are three minutes of sitting down in a spot outside and listening to and observing the nature around us. At first, I thought there was no way we could get 5-7 year-olds to sit still and silent for even ten seconds, let alone three minutes. But it was heartwarming to hear some of their responses to what they saw and heard and how they felt–by just the second day, almost all of the campers described feeling calm, peaceful, or happy.

Showing kids that nature can be calming and good for our wellness is vital to teaching them how we can value and respect nature and each other. After this short activity, I noticed the campers being better listeners and friends to each other, because they had spent just a few minutes reflecting on their role and their experience in the environment around them. The campers’ kindness to each other further reminded me of the significance of the GIAC’s work to make nature accessible and inclusive to all, because right now some identities are more welcomed than others, both outside in nature and elsewhere. But taking a moment to be still and to listen teaches us about how we can put our views aside and learn from others, whether we’re in nature or not.

I further felt this experience of listening and sharing with others in the GIAC’s impromptu summer solstice ceremony today. The solstice is a special day to be at the GIAC because the center has a large sunroof and sundial markings on the floor that indicate the time of day when the sun passes through on the summer solstice (the floor also has marks for the winter solstice, the autumnal and vernal equinoxes, and John James Audubon’s birthday!) So at 12 noon, there were about 25 of us gathered in a circle, consisting of the staff, a few passersby, a meeting of people who were going over details for tomorrow’s wedding at the facility, and a group of kids with whom I was playing a bird migration game with as part of a program. We all watched as the sun’s shadow crossed the mark on the floor for 12 pm, and cheered as we officially rang in a new season.

For just a few moments, a group of strangers shared to celebrate the simple joy of a sunny day of summer, and it was surprisingly powerful to be a part of that. Summer has never been my favorite season, but today I was reminded that I can find moments of peace and connection no matter how many sunburns and bug bites I have.

The sun has just now set on the longest day of the year, and with that I wish everyone a happy summer ahead! (:

It has been another busy week! It feels like every time I finish one thing, there are a bunch of other things that follow, but I like that; the more work I can do, the more I can truly learn and get out of this Fellowship.

I have been doing a lot more community outreach and completely loving it; the kids I am working with are funny, smart, and really want to learn about good dental health and love that we are there. It has been important that I remember the good we are doing and to not dwell on the bad situations many of these kids are in. Having a good attitude is key when doing this type of work.

One of the conversations we had last week at a learning session has stuck with me; we talked about the difficulties of coming from different backgrounds than the people we are serving, and how to overcome these difficulties. Dwelling on these differences can make this type of work difficult. I think its important to acknowledge the differences, but to focus on the fact that these kids are eager to learn and have fun with us.

I really cannot believe it has only been three weeks; I think I have learned more through this experience than I ever have during my years as an undergrad. On top of learning more about what goes into running a successful nonprofit, I have improved my time management skills. Applying to graduate school and taking online classes on top of this full time job has been busy, but I know I am giving my all at all three.

I am excited to continue outreach tomorrow; we have an all-day event and except a lot of kids to show up, so it should be a day full of smiles and learning! Educational outreach has always been something I wanted to incorporate into my career, and having the chance to participate and lead outreach at KidSMILES has only strengthened this passion.

This past week at the McConnell Arts Center has really been the first chance I’ve gotten to settle in. Between my first week of Camp Creativity and my second week of prepping for the Arts Festival, it was nearly impossible to get a feel for what a “normal” day looks like at the MAC. With this in mind, I wanted to talk a little bit about how scary it can be to settle in to a new environment, especially a new work environment. 

For my generation, the job market is hyper-competitive, and so is the internship circuit. Students nowadays feel pressured to know everything they can about a company and to be a master of any and all skills that may be required in any given position. So once we get a job, it can be scary to ask for help. We’re afraid to ask for what we don’t already know because we have this idea in our heads that not knowing is a sign of weakness.

What I learned this week, though, is that the reality is far different from that. I sat down with both my supervisor and the executive director and went over all kinds of logistical things about my job, like which laptop I would use, where I should keep my lunch, how the phones work, and how to use the timecard system. They both emphasized the fact that I could always, always, come to them with any questions I might have. Meeting with both of them about these things made me feel so much more comfortable with my position, and once it was settled I was able to fire out a ton of tasks that needed to be done.  

I also became much more familiar with Microsoft Excel. Before this internship, I was marginally familiar with the program, but treated it as one would treat a raccoon that wandered into their yard: with extreme caution and probably having someone else deal with it. Having a long list of spreadsheets to create, update, and combine was terrifying. It felt like a dozen wild, green Microsoft raccoons had come to gather around my desk and wait for me to call Animal Control. However, just working with the program boosted my confidence so much. Digging in and troubleshooting with Google made my tasks a lot easier (and it doesn’t hurt that my desk neighbor is an Excel whiz).   

My biggest takeaway from this week is something I want to shout from the rooftops of every college campus in the country: You don’t have to know everything! Settling in to any new environment requires asking a lot of questions, even if they may feel silly, and your desk neighbor is probably more likely than you think to help you out. In the end, you need to feel comfortable in order to be successful, and your bosses and coworkers will understand that, especially in the nonprofit world.  

It is now the end of week 3 of my fellowship at Community for New Direction. This week was spent getting everything ready for camp on Monday. All of the counselors came in for training 9-3 every day. My jobs for the week included conducting ice-breakers, printing and organizing folders, creating a van inspection checklist for all drivers, and assisting with background checks and CPR/First-Aid training. I have also started collecting baseline ADAMH quizzes from other agencies to enter into the AOD-V quiz excel sheet.

On top of all of the work I was helping with this week, everyone else was responsible for learning bus routes, planning curriculum and extra field trips, organizing data, printing and filing forms, calling parents, picking up supplies, prepping the vans, and much more. The office got full and loud very quickly as everyone was hard at work on their assignments. It was important for everyone to remain attentive and motivated throughout this entire week to ensure nothing is left out or forgotten, risking a smooth start to camp next week.

There were times that I observed the full time staff giving specific instructions to the temporary Summer Day Camp staff and the temporary staff would still be confused or do the wrong thing. For instance, all staff were told to work on their curriculum from 9:00am to noon and then were to report back to the elementary school at 1:00 for a meeting. Half of the staff were a half hour late to the meeting at 1:00 and a few others failed to go to the correct meeting place.

It was very puzzling to me that those in charge would say one thing and then the group would do something different because they were confused or weren’t asking questions. In my studies, almost every class talked about the importance of communication when working in the social-profit sector. I had a conversation about this issue with my bosses and I mentioned it might be best to change the way communication happens between permanent and temporary staff. I will keep working on this idea to come up with a solution that the organization can use in the future.

After an eerily quiet week at Cristo Rey, the building finally feels like a school again now that around twenty students come in each morning for summer school. Now I get to spend every morning assisting in the classroom as students complete online course recovery and develop foundational reading and math skills. A whole team of teachers and myself coordinate summer school, and it is through working with them that I am learning more about the many hats one wears to ensure the school runs smoothly.

Depending on which student raises their hand for help, I become Ms. Webb, the geometry tutor, fluent Spanish speaker, or theology expert. I often know very little about the subjects they are working on–the geometry questions always stump me–but I realized that my role in summer school is more about being the students’ personal cheerleader, rather than their teacher. The faculty assisting with summer school are here to make lesson plans and use their expertise to develop math and reading skills, while I have the job of encouraging the students along the way. When a student raises their hand with a question, I have the opportunity to sit with them and allow them to talk through their thinking with me. Usually, I don’t have to provide much help because the student is on the right track to mastering a concept. The students have the agency within themselves to answer the questions, and nothing is more exciting than watching them realize that too as they come up to me and say, “Ms. Webb I did it on my own… and passed!”

Along with watching students succeed academically, another highlight of working with the students comes whenever I see them goofing around and acting like normal teenagers. When they think none of the teachers are watching, students will ~hit the woah~ across the room to each other or try to get away with watching a Youtube video instead of doing their work. I always laugh because it reminds me that I am only a few years older than the high schoolers; their “secret” ways of getting to joke with their friends across the room parallel how my friends and I act whenever we end up in a course together at OSU.

Initially, I was really nervous about working with students in summer school, but the first week alone has been incredibly rewarding. Interacting with students and assisting with their coursework has brought a new energy to the work that I do. Whether I am wearing the hat of lunch monitor, development intern, or personal student cheerleader, I am part of the Cristo Rey team. The work I am doing–no matter if it is in the classroom or in my little office–will ultimately further Cristo Rey’s mission of transforming educational outcomes for Columbus students.

Stigma and misconceptions exist around many issues with deeply social and systematic roots. Homelessness is one of those issues. As a sociologist, I am been trained to look beyond the individual to understand the nature and patterns of endemic inequality. As I was going through my undergraduate and graduate studies I have begun to realize that my perspectives are the result of years of education and the development of critical thinking skills. As an individual, I strive daily to challenge my own thoughts and actions, breaking down social norms to understand their origins. The problem is that my viewpoint and knowledge of issues are a result of privilege as a highly educated person.

The myths about homelessness that I see as false and nonsensical, are not shared universally. I am also not perfect. By speaking to caseworkers partnered with Siemer, I am also breaking down my own existing biases. So, for the benefit of those reading this blog, I want to share some of the reasons why the families served by Siemer have become homeless.

Most of the families at-risk for homelessness or those that are currently homeless, are single parents with only one income to support their families. These folx are not welfare kings or queens living beyond their means or defrauding the government. A family does not lose their housing because they are using their money to paint the town red. These parents make minimum wage with no benefits and still need to pay rent, bills, grocery expenses, childcare, and medical needs like anyone else. Wasteful spending and recreation are the last thing on the minds of those that are trying to keep their heads above water.

Simply put, minimum wage cannot even meet the minimum requirements to sustain necessities. Income inequality makes life extremely precarious. An unexpected car repair, a medical issue, loss of work hours, or a loss of a job can send these families toward a tailspin. They are forced to make tradeoffs between basic needs: Do I stay from home with my sick child or do I lose my job? Do I repair my car, or do I pay rent? Do I pay my bills or keep food in the house?

While low income may be a driving force toward housing instability, improving a family’s income is easier said than done. These families have histories of mental illness, trauma, incarceration, and are usually a descendant from a long line of generational poverty. The issues that lead to homelessness are complex and therefore, require complex solutions. Blaming homelessness on an individual’s character flaws is a way for us to turn a blind eye to the true bases of homelessness; it is an easy and thoughtless out.

Working at Siemer has been an opportunity to challenge my own understanding of homelessness. So, next time you see a homeless person or family on the street I invite you to think beyond the superficial.

I had a great week at Ohio Wildlife Center. There is never a dull moment and I am enjoying growing my relationships with my coworkers. I heard a story from a co-worker I thought I’d dedicate my blog post to this week.

On Wednesday this week, I went on an eaglet rescue mission with Ohio Wildlife Center’s Director of Education, Stormy Gibson. Stormy has been with the organization for 11 years, and she used to be a zoo keeper at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium. On our way to rescue the eaglet, we got a call that it has safely flown back to it’s nest and our assistance was no longer needed. But while we were in the car coming back, Stormy told me a story about when she worked as an animal care provider at the Wildlife Hospital that really stuck with me.

My passion has always been helping animals, and at the last Fellows meeting I felt out of place when talking about other organizations that are focused on helping at-risk populations in our community and other people in need.

But while talking to Stormy, I realized our mission can help both animals and people. The story she shared was a few years ago when a large family had come in to the hospital with a snapping turtle that had been hit by a car while they were trying to move it across the road. You could tell the family had been through a roller coaster of emotions that day due to the tear-stained shirts and tired eyes, and they needed some peace. Unfortunately the turtle had passed away before the family could get to the hospital, but the hospital staff made sure to talk to the children, thank them for taking this time out of their day to assist a helpless animal in the middle of the road, and that they would do anything they could to help it. They needed to know their actions were not for nothing, that they did the right thing and they were appreciated, even if the outcome was not as good as hoped.

The compassion the staff displays for both animals and people at this organization is faith-restoring. People in the nonprofit world have big hearts, and they’re willing to help whoever needs it. I am thankful to be working with an organization that has so much empathy for others (human and non-human alike).

The introductory periods have waned and the ‘meat’ of the program has begun—literally. A part of my day-to-day responsibilities involve preparing and serving meals to the children at camp!

I was hired by HFF to assist with operation, planning, and implementation of children’s programming for the summer food service program. I am responsible for supporting the kitchen staff in whatever capacity they may need. My parents refer to such a role as the “up” person: chop it up, sweep it up, run it up, you get the idea.

Initially, me and the AmeriCorps Vista for the summer, Elizabeth, intended to do just that. The week before camp started, we had made our first food run to Aldi for the upcoming week’s groceries, knew the ins and outs of the meal serving logistics, and were excited to meet all the kids after the meals were over and we were released to participate in activities outside of the kitchen. The good news is that we do, in fact, perform the aforementioned tasks. Though there is one stipulation.

The night before the first day of camp, Elizabeth and I learned that the chef for the summer—Lisa—had been diagnosed with tonsillitis and another secondary infection that prevented her from coming to work. Thankfully, the chef who cooks during the school year was around to help, heavily, with planning and food prep for the first two days. Miss Gayla, if you’re reading this, I appreciate you more than words can say! However, after Tuesday, Lisa reported that she was bed ridden for the rest of the week and Gayla had alternative responsibilities at HFF that she needed to fulfill. Thus, Elizabeth and I became the chefs until further notice.

As I sweat in the kitchen today, furiously buttering bread for 200 grilled cheese sandwiches (yes, 200!) and stirring tomato soup in an industrial sized pot, I am learning that the outline for this type of work is constantly subject to change. Further, everyone seems to help out with everything. In the words of my supervisor, “we do it all here.” Schedules get moved, activities don’t always happen, intentions sometimes aren’t realized, and that’s okay.

The shift from support person to primary provider was swift and welcomed because I care about the mission of the organization and the people that they serve. I am willing to do justabout anything to help the campers have the best possible experience this summer.

Please enjoy the attached photo of Elizabeth with our (absurdly tall) grocery cart filled with two days’ worth of groceries. Unfortunately, we only brought one quarter for the cart. Rookie move.

My third week at Ronald McDonald House Charities has been a mixed bag. I’ve balanced my time between traveling, seeking out constituents, and data entry. On Wednesday, I sat in at a presentation from Mid Ohio Food Bank, communicating changes in their strategic plan to the food pantries and nonprofits they partner with. The meeting illuminated what a complex policy issue food insecurity is. For example, the president told the story of a woman who couldn’t afford to go to the food pantry. Despite the food being free, going to the food pantry meant taking a day off work. Additionally, the meeting highlighted how many different players, each with their own values and skills, are trying to combat food insecurity. For example, of the three speakers, one of them, MOFB’s Director of Platforms, was a young data analyst and former employee at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He shared lofty goals of using drones inside the foodbank, and collecting more opt-in data from food pantry customers to be shared with organizations in other sectors of social services to more efficiently and collaboratively create models to combat the social determinants that lead to poor health. Many food pantry employees in attendance faced his speech with skepticism, highlighted by an initial question of “what is a ‘platform’”. There are so many linguistic, professional, cultural, generational, political, and socioeconomic boundaries that must be crossed even just to understand other people’s perspective, let alone create a solution. I’m sure the same is true for strategic decisions made in a hospital.

Tomorrow, I am visiting constituents (people and organizations who have or potentially will donate cash, product, or services to RMHC) on my own for the first time. I’m a little nervous, but mostly excited, as this is one of the primary skills I hope to cultivate over the course of this fellowship. I’m learning that donors and their donations come in all shapes and sizes. As the Senior Director of Development put it on the first week, “sometimes you’re writing a 2 page brief for a $1,000,000 ask”. Some groups want to donate their specialized services to create an app or repair equipment. Some want to bring ice cream to the house.

Additionally, this week has been filled with lots and lots of data entry, one of the drier parts of the position. As the Director of Platforms stated at the MOFB talk, “data, not oil, is now the most valuable resource on the planet”. This of course is scary, but rings true most afternoons during my time at the House. While I still try to create a standard process to link volunteer and donor data, I’m slowly entering all the constituents from one database into another. I’ve found moving between the rabbit-hole mentality of seeking out donors balances nicely with this repetitive and predictable task

Apologies for the belated post, but my work phone was blowing up last week! However, it was for good reason – we have been completing phone interviews at rapid speed! To give some insight into my project: Siemer wants to understand caseworkers’ best practices for the families in their cities and how their network can support them. Our findings will be shared across the network to breed ideas and collaboration across the Siemer network.

What about this is exciting, you ask? Any insight they gain is helping them to serve more families facing housing crises! Listening to both the staff and the caseworkers has been inspiring; they put their all into providing the best attention and resources to the families they serve. It still feels remarkable to be a part of their team.

In addition to the many calls, I have continued to dig into some exciting literature (my area of expertise). While I may not be in the field supporting the Siemer network, I am doing my do diligence to find research that highlights their accomplishments and the great work they do. In my mind this is a small way to bridge the work of the academy with the work done by social profit organizations.

When I first came to Siemer, one of the first things that struck me was that I have a lot of research-related resources as a student, compared to those working on the ground. I’m especially referring to the gazillion articles, books, and data I always have at my disposal. I am privileged to be at a university that provides funds to subscribe to reputable journals and publishing companies. A person without a student affiliation would have to pay out-of-pocket to access this knowledge.

As an individual who wants to use my education to help others, the lack of connection between research and practice was somewhat disappointing. However, it also presents an opportunity for others to work towards bridging this gap. The academy can empower those working for social change and vice versa. Maybe in the future, I will be one of many doing such work!