Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hello! My name is Maeve Scully and I am a rising senior at The Ohio State University. During my fellowship with the Columbus Foundation, my host site and base is the nonprofit Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC).  Cartoon Crossroads is a fairly new organization, as they are planning on hosting their fourth festival this coming fall. The CXC festival is an annual event that aims to highlight the importance and relevance of comics, art and animation while concurrently suggesting the relevance of Columbus as a hotspot for both established and up-and-coming artists.

My first week with CXC has been a whirlwind. The announcement party for the festival—one of the most important events aside from the festival itself—was on Wednesday. The event allowed for me to get to know some of the most integral members of CXC and learn a lot about the history behind the nonprofit. I’m so thrilled to be a part of an organization so passionate about art in Columbus and the announcement party really prepared me to speak out about CXC and the work they do. When I wasn’t preparing for the event, I was working with the nonprofit to examine their previous surveys in order to better them. This will be one of my main projects for the summer, as CXC is looking for someone to better their communication and outreach and surveys provide great insight into how that can be bettered. Along with that, I will have the opportunity to work on some marketing for the festival itself, so I spent some time this week working with my supervisors to determine their target audience and outreach strategy. With the new information, I will continue to research the best marketing points for their target demographics as well as Columbus locals.

It was a busy first week with the Columbus Foundation and CXC, but a very promising one. I can’t wait to see what impact I can make during this fellowship.

CXC pins from the announcement party

As I reflect on the start of my summer fellowship with the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus (BGCC), I cannot help but think of my experiences in the classroom.  One of the pillars of my educational philosophy was partnering with the community to maximize the potential of my students.  I did this by being relentless in ensuring parents/guardians were involved in the classroom, increasing opportunities for students to advocate for themselves and their community, and affirming my students’ intelligence.  Although I did my best in the classroom, I realized that supporting students 24/7 (which I would have been more than happy to do), may not be feasible nor mentally healthy for one teacher.  Deeply rooted in the mission of the Boys and Girls Club is a dedication to ensuring all students have the tools necessary to be able to prioritize their education.

This mission sets up a collaborative atmosphere where the entire COMMUNITY is educating the “whole child.”  This is the strength of our community.  We do not accept the geographic assignments placed on our students (education levels or socioeconomic status).  We are not content with the status quo.  We are uncompromising in our pursuit of maximizing the potential of our students.

This summer I am most excited about continuing to contribute to the movement described above; but in a role different than a classroom teacher.  My new role is to support the BGCC in their summer programing and offer suggestions to improve the quality of instruction.  This is more of a research/program evaluation role.  With this role, I will be able to produce data that can be used to increase the number of students involved with the various programs.  All children deserve an excellent education; for the next 10 weeks I am prepared to do everything I can to realize this vision.

**Nathaniel D. Stewart is a former middle school science teacher and current Educational Policy PhD student.  His research is focused on critical pedagogy and culturally responsive instruction.  (stewart.1690@osu.edu)

2018 Summer Fellows

Kidest Beyene
Host Site: Jewish Community Center
School: The Ohio State University

Madeline Foley
Host Site: Tech Corps
School: University of Cincinnati

 
Imani Harris
Host Site: King Arts Complex
School: The Ohio State University

 
Mace Hickman
Host Site: Equality Ohio Education Fund
School: The Ohio State University

Emily Long
Host Site: Huckleberry House
School: The Ohio State University

 
Michaela Master
Host Site: Local Matters
School: The Ohio State University

 
Radhika Pandit
Host Site: LifeCare Alliance
School: The Ohio State University

 
Bradley Patrella
Host Site: Justice League dba Ohio Crime Victim
School: University of Dayton

Maeve Scully
Host Site: Cartoon Crossroads of Columbus
School: The Ohio State University

Jessica Shakesprere
Host Site: Muslim Family Services of Ohio
School: The Ohio State University

 
Megan Simmons
Host Site: City Year Columbus
School: The Ohio State University

 
Nathaniel Stewart
Host Site: Boys & Girls Clubs of Columbus
School: The Ohio State University

 
Emily Stuldreher
Host Site: Besa Community, Inc
School: The Ohio State University

Isabel Taylor
Host Site: Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services
School: Penn State

My last week at the Hoover YMCA Park was pretty much a whirlwind. The Learning Garden fundraiser was held on Thursday, so I was working long hours to make sure that everything would be prepared in time. This was the first event like this that I’d ever organized and been responsible for running, which was a learning experience. There are so many moving parts to consider, but luckily I had the incredibly supportive Hoover team backing me up.

The Hoover Haven turned out so beautifully. The Hoover staff put so much hard work into the space all summer and it really showed. Even though we ran into some issues with outlets not working, overall the new education center is perfect for hosting events like this cooking demo. Some of the Y folks that attended the event were discussing how the Hoover Haven can be used in the future based on the success of the fundraiser, which was really gratifying for me to hear after working on this event all summer.

Now that my fellowship is over I plan to work for Chef Kuukua and Asempe Kitchen. I’ll be kind of a catch-all, doing everything from helping prepare and serve food to monitoring online fundraising campaigns and marketing. I’m grateful that my experience at Hoover led me to find a position like the one with Asempe Kitchen because it’s a perfect intersection of my passions and values as well as my past experiences. I want to continue making food accessible and using it to bring people together and bridge divides.  

By Kelsie Fields

It’s so exciting to look back on where we all started ten weeks ago. Meeting with everyone this morning and hearing about all the amazing successes our cohort has had at their various organizations. To cap off this amazing summer, I want to share just a few practical and universal lessons I learned from my fellowship at the Westerville Symphony.

1. Just ask! I learned so much from my supervisor, Sean Brewster, but most importantly, I learned to just ask for things. We were able to secure many donations and swag items for our runners by simply asking. We were able to get all of our t-shirts sponsored by just asking. It seems crazy, but it works.

2. Another lesson I learned is the importance of adapting your programming to your audience. During the fall and spring, we host symphonic performances that feature excellent musicians and music selections, but for some people, these concerts have barriers. We want everyone to experience the magic of classical music in their own way, and to do this, you have to get creative. During the summer, we host two free concerts that are outside, and we also have a programmed targeted at pre-schoolers. These programs allow us to think outside of the box and ultimately reach more people with music!

3. Thirdly, I learned the importance of self-awareness and the usefulness of understanding your strengths. Knowing how you work best and the steps you typically take to solve a problem can be very useful when working with a small team. I learned to communicate more effectively about how I work and the strengths I bring to the table, and this skill will be useful to me in my career.

4. Lastly, I learned more about this wonderful city. Columbus has no equal in the way it makes me feel at home. Being a part of such a local, community-minded organization was inspiring and altogether fun.

Thank you to my fellow fellows, The Columbus Foundation, and to Sean and the Westerville Symphony for a fantastic summer. Long live the spirit of Columbus!

Gray, rainy mornings always make me feel a bit gloomy. This morning was no different as I tried not to hydro-glide while driving on the freeway. In the past couple of weeks, my work load at Central has tremendously slowed down in preparation for my departure. These past few days, I have found myself stopping by people’s offices and timidly asking while trying not to annoy them, “Is there anything you need help with?”

This morning, when I arrived at Central, already a bit gloomy from the weathered drive there, I sat at my desk, trying to figure out what work I could complete. I could not fully focus because I was hearing loud music and singing coming from the gymnasium. Noise is not rare in Central because we hold a summer camp, child care center, youth programs, and senior programs. But, usually the noise does not take away from my focus. I had to see what was going on in the gymnasium, so I went down there to only find that the summer camp kids were participating in a talent show!

I immediately forgot about my gloom and the work I had to do and enjoyed the show. The Assistant Director of Central and other employees were right next to me, enjoying it as well. We all felt that our work could wait!

I sat amazed by how talented the children were. The show included singers, gymnasts, cheerleaders, dancers, and even stand up comedians! Might I add that standup comedy is very difficult to do on the spot!!!! I think of myself as a very funny person, but standup comedy, the pressure of landing jokes at the exact right time, gaging the crowd, and ad-libbing is not my forte. Alas, three 9 to 11-year olds were doing it right in front of me and doing well. I recorded almost everything on my Snapchat, but also took some photos on my camera. At the end, we all danced to that “Rollie Rollie Rollie with a Dab of Ranch” song that the youth love these days. Then, I remembered that I had to return to work…

Hello, it’s Jake again!

         Well, we are nearing the end of the Columbus Foundation Summer Fellowship. Tomorrow (Friday, August 11th) is the last day of our 10 week fellowship experience. It’s weird that this experience is almost over; it has absolutely flown by.

          I’m thinking back to the first day that all of the fellows met at the Columbus Foundation. I’m sure everyone was just as nervous to begin the fellowship as I was, but nonetheless we all were prepared. That day seems like yesterday.

          I am so grateful for all of the experiences that I have had over these past 10 weeks. I’d like to thank both Dan Sharpe and Dr. Lomax; both of you did a fantastic job facilitating the fellowship program. Thank you for planning all of the events/excursions; and more importantly, thank you for letting me join this immersive opportunity.

          I’d also like to thank Claus Eckert, the executive Director of Green Columbus. Thank you Claus for taking me under your wing this summer, and showing me the operations of a non-profit organization. I will forever be thankful for everything you taught me in the past ten weeks!

          Lastly, I’d like to thank everyone that I’ve worked with during this fellowship. For the first time, I felt like a valuable member of team. Thank you for valuing my input, education, and experience. It’s not often that people value the opinions and expertise of young professionals because of our age, but that was certainly not the case.

          This experience has been absolutely incredible, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunities I’ve been granted over the past 10 weeks. I wish the best of luck to the other fellows as they move on.

                                                                              Until next time,

                                                                                         Jake

It’s week ten somehow, some way. Ten weeks have flown by, filled with learning and growth and skunks. While I learned a lot about nonprofit management, marketing, outreach and development, I think what I will carry with me the most from this experience is the people. I came to Ohio Wildlife Center after a long year of political turmoil and disappointment. It’s too easy to become jaded with humanity. My cynicism about the nature of human beings was at an all time high at the beginning of this summer. Throughout my ten weeks here, I’ve been reminded again and again that there are many, many people who want to do good. I believe the good outnumbers the bad. There is nothing cynical about that. So I wanted to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Thank you Kelly for taking a chance on me this summer, providing me this incredible opportunity and living an incredible example of being a mother and a leader simultaneously.

Thank you Judy for always making me laugh with your passion for food trucks, fun facts about interesting auction items and your cheeriness even on the rainiest of Mondays.

Thank you Sherry for your hilarious storytimes, admirable tenacity through tough times and monarch caterpillar expertise.

Thank you Julie for your career advice, wisdom and your steadfast approach to development and growth.

Thank you Stormy for your inexplicable ability to manage chaos, fix broken animals, connect with every single human and animal in a genuine way and drink warm Coke at the same exact time.

Thank you Becca for my little cutie plants that are thriving, letting me assist on duck release/hurricane adventures and your contagious bubbliness.

Thank you Jilly for saying Smeegle the way you do, caring about every living thing energetically and lovingly and being truly GOOD.

There’s so many other people that add so much light and energy to Ohio Wildlife Center that I don’t have space to mention here. Oh yeah– Logan. Thank you, thank you, thank you. For your eternal sassiness, passion for pretty much everything, supply of chocolate and willingness to help every single other employee, volunteer or duck. You work harder and care more than any other person I’ve ever met, that’s no exaggeration. You notice the little things around you, like when I brought a massive tupperware for my ranch and carrots so you bought me a little container or catching a monarch caterpillar to make Sherry’s day or saving my life with a car charger. I think the world would be a much, much better if we were all a little bit more like Logan Oates. I’m trying.

After this summer, I’ll be returning to Ohio State to complete the second half of my undergraduate experience. I still am deciding where I’m going from there but I know my experiences in outreach and development this summer will serve me well in any path I choose to pursue. 

Thank you to the Columbus Foundation for providing me with this unique experience, creating space for education during the learning sessions, connecting me with some incredible individuals and last but not least, very good food.

I am very grateful, not cynical anymore, just grateful.

Olivia Adkins