Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hello, and welcome back to my five loyal readers!

This week is significant to me because I am starting to feel confident with the names of the campers. Granted, it’s only been about eight days since I met them, but I feel as though we’re starting to get to the point where it’s offensive to the kids if I don’t know their name by now—especially if I’m talking with them daily. I am most familiar with the smaller nuggets save for the few middle schoolers who deem me cool enough to engage. Still! I’m making progress and it feels great.

Speaking of the younger kids of the camp, I spent my Monday supervising half of our “pod” (youngest age group) during a field trip to NetJets, a private business jet charter and aircraft management company. Apparently HFF and NetJets have an ongoing relationship which culminated in this center-wide visit; in my own words, the mission of the trip was to engage young people in cool things. And it was certainly cool!!

We made rounds to various stations that taught the kids about the anatomy of a plane, demonstrated a flying simulation, and explained multiple safety procedures via tours of safety vehicles to name a few. Though, the highlights of the stations, according to my group, were the meet and greet with the service dogs and the tour of one of NetJet’s private (18 million dollar!) plane.

Yes, the material items and information was neat. Even more neat, in my opinion, was the  encouragement and positive communication I heard between NetJet staff and our kids. One of the stations involved teaching campers the motions of the ground safety controller. You know, the one who guides the pilot to the correct strip. I heard comments like, “you’re doing such a great job. After you graduate, come back and visit me and we’ll see about getting you a job here.” Or, “would you like to fly a plane like this one day? It takes a lot of school, but it’s worth it” from the pilots who volunteered their time.

My hope is that experiences like this stick with the kids to foster academic and professional interests that will prompt motivation to graduate from high school, firstly, and then a form of higher education, even. Multiple staff members at the Dowd have expressed to me that their work is intentional and daily class activites are about more than just school.

The goal is to teach the kids that they’re smart, capable, interesting people who can achieve big things with the right support: an incredibly invaluable lesson to teach.

Hello Readers! 

Last week I finished preparing our summer camp curriculum. The week went by extremely fast as we prepared to serve about 32 kids starting Monday, June 24th. My curriculum focuses on social emotional learning and drug prevention. Along with teaching all the students I am also a summer counselor for a group of 7 girls at Bright Lights Summer Camp. 

My two days of summer camp have been a whirlwind. The kids have so much energy and sometimes I find it challenging to keep up. Keeping up with the kids, although draining, at the end of the day is a fun learning experience. As a counselor, I am met with the challenge of teaching my group what boundaries are, why listening is important, and how to have fun while being kind. Every opportunity is a chance to teach them about problem solving. For example, my group and I went to play outside with the other girl group and when we came back to the classroom they had about five issues to relay to me. So and so said this, so and so did this, I think so and so is going to start a rumor, I feel left out, and I hate going outside. So many personalities and feelings to appease and understand whilst following a schedule, however, we talk through each issue and I give them advice on how to approach each problem. Then I tell them that they have a chance to solve the problem amongst themselves, but if it gets out of hand to let me know. What the kids do not know is that I am learning whether the methods I use are actually working. My group of children are stretching my own understanding of how to communicate. This is also due to the variety of ages. Within my group the age ranges from 7 to 12 and all together I believe the age ranges from 6 to 14. 

When I taught my first class my 30 min presentation quickly turned into an hour presentation. Only because I felt I needed all of them to know that I wanted to hear from them. I have learned that children easily feel shut out if they do not get to participate. As the instructor, I have to think of the schedule and the time I have allotted, but the child will think why doesn’t she pick me and why doesn’t she want me to speak? If I ask everyone a question and one of them has a hard time giving an opinion they shut down. Now I am seeking to find this balance where I can communicate with children in a way that reaches them. Yesterday, while talking to all the girls during my lesson on social emotional learning I said that in order to communicate effectively they needed to talk to me. I told them I could not understand why they are not listening to me or why they are in a bad mood if they do not tell me their worries or issues. Then I explained, in order to communicate effectively we need to let people know how they make us feel and why we feel the way we feel. Right after I finished saying this three hands went up from three kids who were not listening. All three told me issues they were having some health issues and some personal. As soon as we talked I felt that all three of us were in a better place and that they felt they could rely on me more. 

I will continue to bring my best for the kids and I am hoping I can keep up! 

Talk soon!

Ladan 

This week was the first full week of summer camp and it was quite the week. When I wasn’t working on my marketing project, I was helping with the group of kindergarten through 2^ndgraders. Compared to my work last summer with the middle school group, this is a HUGE change. As expected, younger children are still figuring out their emotions and what activities they like and dislike – which can make it challenging to manage a group of 30 youngsters. I will say, though, that I have loved every second of my time with them, no matter how challenging or confusing it can feel. One thing that I have noticed, though, is that they are teaching me so much about compassion and selflessness.

One particular story sticks out that I honestly can’t stop sharing with people. One little boy who just finished kindergarten this year comes to camp every day sad that he has to leave his mom. When I came into camp on Thursday, he was sad to the point of being inconsolable; no redirection was helping him. After trying to redirect him many times, I finally said “why don’t we color our moms pictures so they will know how much we love and miss them while we are at camp.” Through this activity, he was able to calm himself down and still acknowledge that he missed his mom. Some of the little girls at camp asked him if they could join in coloring and he said yes. What one little girl said stuck out to me in terms of the magnitude of love that these children have for others. While making her card, the little girl said “I’m going to write ‘dear mom, you never have to give me anything because you are already my everything.’” This moment left me speechless, and almost a little jealous that I didn’t come up with that myself. The display of love each camper, not just these three children, shows for their family and friends is truly touching. It’s unconditional and so giving. Children display it towards each other, too. When one child cries, there are at least 4 others who ask if everything is ok and want to know what they can do to help. I think we should all be more like children in this way – loving others for the sake of someone else’s well- being and asking nothing in return. I’m jealous that children can be so adorable AND selfless all at once.

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).