Columbus Foundation Fellowship Programs

Hello again!

First off–let me give you a more formal introduction! My name is Kelsie Fields, and I just graduated from THE Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Italian. I have a huge passion for international issues, women’s access to education, and other related causes like immigration. With that being said, I discovered my passion for nonprofits in college and decided it was the path I would take in order to have an impact on global issues. I see my work with nonprofit organizations not only as a career but also as a pathway–a way to use certain skills to interact with issues on the ground.

Now to more music related things! This week’s post is inspired by our brand new Westerville Symphony blog! Sean, the Executive Director, and I had the idea that starting a blog would be a great way to keep our patrons up to date with what we are doing at the Symphony, and so we made it happen! The blog is called Da Capo, which in Italian means “from the top”. The blog will be posted weekly, and it will include press releases for our events, insider interviews with the musicians, and other fun pieces about symphony music in general!

Again, our goal at the Symphony is to attract not only dedicated patrons to events but also new and fresh audiences. We believe in the power of the arts to change communities, and we want to see as many people engaging with the arts as possible. We are hoping that the blog will attract new individuals to our organization and provide fun insights for our current patrons. Follow along with our adventures, both now and in the future, at westervillesymphony.wordpress.com!

Sneak peak of our first blog post!

In addition to starting the blog, I worked on our website this week, designed marketing materials for our upcoming 5k, and had a meeting with a board member. I look forward to sharing more adventures with you soon!

Go bucks!

Kelsie Fields

My name is Chloe Napoletano and I am a dancer, teacher, community dance practitioner, and art administrator. I just graduated with a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University. My fellowship location is the Columbus Museum of Art – an institution that I have spent time in viewing their galleries as well as volunteering. I am the coordinator for the Summer Workshops; they are day camps for kids in which they explore art using their imaginations and practice creativity.

In this introductory week, I learned quite a bit about CMA’s philosophy; they have decided to put creativity at the forefront of learning. This means that they do not provide art classes that teach the techniques of painting or how to throw pottery. Instead, they give “big ideas” and provide material in which participants can solve problems creatively. I will share an example of what this looks like. Let’s say the big idea is “Monster Tea Party”, and to create a work inside that theme, a student decides she must create a dish set out of clay. If that is the case, then museum staff will teach her how to throw pottery and make dishes. The “technique” learning is in service to the creative ideas.

As a dance teacher, I found this philosophy fascinating! This is an idea I have put to practice in my own work but I have not used the same words to describe it. For example, when I lead a creative movement class, I may give a prompt to the class such as, “Travel from this location to the opposite side of the room. Both hands and both feed must remain in contact with the floor at all times.” In this example, I have not provided information on any technical dance skills like pointing one’s feet or sauté-ing off of the ground. Instead, I posed a problem and asked for the participants to individually find solutions. If while moving across the floor, I noticed a student using dangerous spinal alignment, then I may take a moment to address a technical aspect such as safe body alignment.

This perspective on art learning that CMA and I share gives me confidence that we have common goals and ideals. I am excited to further learn how this philosophy will come into play during the Summer Workshops.

Until next time,

Chloe Napoletano

Hello World!

My name is Abigail Wocher. I am an incoming fourth year at The Ohio State University studying Nonprofit Management with a minor in Human Rights. The Columbus Foundation has provided me with an opportunity to work along side an organization known as Hope Hollow.  I am quickly discovering how this mom-and-pop nonprofit has changed the lives of a multitude of individuals battling cancer as well as their families (it is safe to say that this organization has changed my life in this short period of time too…and no, I promise my boss Kevin did not force me to say that).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Hope Hollow here is a brief description: Hope Hollow is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization responsible for providing care to cancer patients and their families with lodging, meals, transportation, hospitality and emotional support as they travel to Columbus for their cancer treatment.

Who is Hope Hollow? I was in fact quite curious about who was behind the operations of Hope Hollow, as well as who the founders were. To my surprise the answer is one and the same. Kevin and Jane Clark founded Hope Hollow after Jane herself survived two cancer diagnosis’s. As a survivor, Jane told me how her fight against cancer gave her an entirely new outlook on life, and that because of this her gratitude was overflowing. They knew they wanted to give back to the Columbus community that had supported them during their struggles and so Hope Hollow was created.

I have worked with a variety of nonprofits during my student career, but Hope Hollow was the first organization in which I would directly be working under the Founders/CEO’s, so I was not quite sure what to expect when it came to the specific work I would be completing over the summer.

Reflecting on my first week at Hope Hollow, it is evident that I will be working on numerous projects that require my skills to be flexible and dynamic (which I could not be more pleased with as “wearing multiple hats” is common in the nonprofit sector and is an aspect that I find to be very appealing). For example, this week I have worked with Kevin to improve resources for Hope Hollow’s Board Members, I have shopped and delivered groceries for a patient receiving treatment at the James Cancer Hospital, I had the privilege of accompanying Jane to the Kobacker House where we delivered dinner and gas cards to a young lady and her family, I assisted Hope Hollow in increasing its social media presence, and attended several committee meetings for an upcoming summer fundraiser event.

Hope Hollow is an environment filled with compassion. Jane and Kevin stress the importance of building relationships with the individuals that come to Hope Hollow for a little extra help. Kevin’s phone rings off the hook, and a large majority of calls come from persons who have utilized some of the services Hope Hollow offered them in the past (they even call if Kevin and Jane were present in their lives 5+ years ago). This little details speaks volumes to the impact that Hope Hollow has on those it encounters.

Week 1, if I could describe you in one word it would be: Humbling.

Hello!

My name is Sylvie Durlacher and I am a rising Senior at The Ohio State University studying Education and Leadership Studies.  This summer The Columbus Foundation has granted me an unparalleled opportunity to continue to cultivate my passion for working with non-profit organizations as a Summer Fellow with Neighborhood Services Inc. If my first week at my host organization is any indication of how the remaining weeks of this summer-long experience will be, I am truly in for what will be the most formative experience of my undergraduate career.

Neighborhood Services Inc. seeks to, “improve the quality of life in the Columbus community by compassionately and respectfully serving our neighbors in need”.  Since NSI is located essentially walking distance from Ohio State’s campus, I am able to walk to work every day!  Though, at the conclusion of my first week I realized that I wouldn’t need to rely on that walk to get my steps in for the day! (During my day I am continually on my feet–helping unload new deliveries, restock shelves and engaging with the neighbors!)  Today, for example, I learned how to skillfully use a pallet jack–a piece of “machinery” that is incredibly necessary in a food pantry in order to move produce and other goods–hmm I wonder if I can add that skill to my resume after this summer 🙂  While I inherently enjoy my daily walk to and from work, it has quickly come to have an added level of significance.  As I walk towards the intersection of 18th Ave and 4th St., the blocks between NSI’s service area and Ohio State’s campus growing, I am confronted a disturbing reality: access to basic necessities (fundamental basic rights) like fresh food is not equal in the city I have come to call home.

Some people (I think too many) are unaware that categorically, Franklin County has some of the gravest Food Deserts. Neighborhood Services, Inc. serves four zip codes, encompassing the Linden, Weinland Park, and University Area. NSI’s service area is in one of these Food Deserts, with the nearest grocery store located more than a mile away. In my time at NSI thus far I have had the opportunity to work in numerous roles. Working the front desk assisting with the in-take process and helping NSI’s clients in the actual food pantry have offered me more than just context for the project I will be doing. I am gaining a new understanding of the lives of my neighbors.  I am grateful for the trust they have enlisted in me, their eagerness to share their stories with me and ultimately their desire to help me become more aware of the complexity of the issues perpetuated by poverty that our neighbors face and the role that I can play in addressing them.

One of our pantry stock shelves today after serving 67 families (a record setting day).  With Columbus City Schools on summer break, families who have received free and reduced breakfast and lunch for their children during the school year are seeking out means to provide meals for their families.

Overall, I am overwhelmed with a hopeful sense of optimism about the impact my work will have this summer on NSI and their partners and stakeholders’ understanding of barriers to equitable food access in Columbus, Ohio.  I am excited to see how my design and implementation of an in-depth survey of NSI’s neighbors will be used to inform their current and future work and practices.

Neighborhood Services’ organizational value of serving with compassion, humility and respect truly transcend all aspects of their work.  Just a week into my Summer Fellowship and I am finding that these values guide me and shape my own approach to this work as a new member of the NSI community.

Until next week,

Sylvie Durlacher

Blog posts always feel like a message in a bottle. Whom do I address? So let me begin with a simple… Hello, you. Whomever you are. Here is what you need to know first…

Who: Karlee Hehemann

What: The Columbus Foundation’s Summer Fellowship Program

When: June 5-August 11, 2017

Where: The Deaf Services Center

Short. Simple. Sweet? Now onto the good stuff… I am finishing up my first week as a summer fellow. My cursor is currently hovering over the words “first week” wondering if that could be correct – I am questioning my own perception of time. Has it really only been one week? My poor recollection of co-worker’s names holds as my only evidence of time. Beyond that, I have already learned so much.

I have worked at nonprofits before, but nothing has ever seemed so important to me. Caring about the difference an organization makes is a game changer. After learning about Deaf culture throughout three semesters of American Sign Language courses at The Ohio State University, I wanted to know more. The articles and documentaries no longer sufficed. I wanted to learn Deaf culture first hand(s) – get it… like signing… hands?

So you may be wondering, ‘What is Deaf culture?’ Good question. I am still learning the answer to that. What I know so far is that Deaf culture is a community with it’s own etiquette, language, history, art, values… you know, like any other culture specific to a distinct group of people. However, what makes Deaf culture so unique is how unifying it can be. In a modern society moving swiftly towards individualism, community becomes even more important.

On day one at the Deaf Services Center, I was introduced to the people and departments throughout the office. The employees all range from Deaf, hearing, hard of hearing, and Deaf-blind. They work in departments focusing on administration, interpreting services, employment resources, etc. Basically, everyone at DSC is a pro-communicator.

Community minded + communication driven = this gal has a lot to learn.

On top of that, I get to be immersed in the daily victories/struggles of a grass-roots nonprofit organization. Doing my best to evaluate the efficiency of our current CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, research/contact local marketing firms, write up a RFP (Request for Proposal), organize for the DSC Golf Tournament this weekend, and learn all the business-related acronyms in the world (kidding.. but it feels like it).

Being apart of this program has already been a huge blessing to me. I had no idea what to expect while attending my first learning session last Monday, but it is safe to say that my expectations been exceeded. I am looking forward to this upcoming session, on Tuesday, and exchanging stories from this past week.

– Karlee H.

Hello, hi, how are ya!

My name is Sam Lechner, and I am going to be spending this summer as a fellow for the Columbus Foundation working with the nonprofit organization LeaderSpark. LeaderSpark is an incredible organization lead by one of the most compassionate and inspiring women I have ever met, Kay Wilson, and it focuses on providing Columbus City Youth with the leadership skills and opportunities that they need to grow and give back to their communities. As a rising senior at Ohio State studying Public Affairs & Strategic Communication and minoring in Leadership Studies, I honestly don’t think there could possible be a better place for me this summer.

The first week was…. crazy. LeaderSpark is currently partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus to put on the Achieve Summer Work Program– which helps youth ages 14-17 who attend Columbus City Schools to obtain work over the summer (and they make $10/hour through the program which is WAY more than I made scooping ice cream at my first summer job… but I’m not salty!). It’s a really amazing program, and it’s going to help a lot of teens get a solid start on career development. It’s also a heck of a lot of work to set up, so most of my first week was spent back and forth between the LeaderSpark office (The Hub) and the J. Ashburn Youth Center, where the B&G Club is located. By Friday, though, we had gotten all of the kinks worked out and got 100 Columbus City Youth a solid summer work plan, so you could call that a pretty good start to the summer.

Even after just one week with this organization, I’m leaving inspired. And I’m writing this post on Monday morning of week two (which is slightly late only because of who I am as a person, honestly), and I’m sitting next to my really awesome boss (his name is Solomon & he is just as wonderful as Kay), and I can’t wait to see what comes next. I have a pretty good feeling this summer is going to be quite the whirlwind, so I am excited to keep y’all updated (why did I just say y’all, I’m from northeast Ohio??).

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, MY FRIENDS!

Sam 🙂

“The first wealth is health.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Between 2000 and 2013, Columbus suburbs have experienced both the fastest population growth, up 22.8%, and the fastest growth in suburban poverty, up 113.6%. Furthermore, Ohio’s poor are more likely to live in the suburbs than the urban neighborhoods more commonly associated with poverty.

What does this mean for a seemingly affluent suburb like Worthington, OH?

Nearly 1 in 5 Franklin County Residents experience food insecurity.

In Worthington City Schools, 30% of students are on free or reduced lunch.

 Health is an all-encompassing state that we should think of as the intersection of wellness, balance, and access. 

Although the neighbors living in Worthington share general location, they all differ in health status due to some unique combination of these three entities.

Working as a summer fellow with The Columbus Foundation this summer, I will be working at the Worthington Resource Pantry to contribute to promoting the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual health and well-being of the community.Most of my work this summer will be aimed towards the planning of our Feed-A-Family Block Party in September, which is a fundraising event meant to raise awareness about hunger and need in our community. I am so excited to use my Public Health background and my event planning and fundraising experience to contribute to this amazing organization!

The save-the-date for our major fundraising event

At the Worthington Resource Center we serve the six zip codes of the Worthington School District, which include an international community. The top 10 countries of origin include Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mexico, Iraq, Cameroon, China, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Egypt, and Nigeria.

In 2016, the Worthington Resource Center:

Provided 226,000 meals

Served 1,500 households 

Aided 5,000 people 

Served 10,000 meals to children through the Summer Meal Program 

The work happening at the Worthington Resource Center is work that everyone should believe in because it does more than provide healthy food to people. From the ground up, this organization empowers community members to take charge of their health, their futures, and their lives. Our neighbors that get help with access to healthcare, housing, employment, and more, are gaining skills to carry them into a better and more substantial future.

Health is so much more than the absence of illness; to achieve health equity we must level the playing field of access to resources that encourage healthy lifestyles.

The Worthington Resource Pantry works to involve all members of its community to contribute to healthier lives for everyone, and that’s why I want to be here. In order for us to be wealthier as a whole, we need to be healthier as a whole.

Until next week,

Natalie

Hello! My name is Allison Stewart and I am working at Columbus Children’s Choir this summer. I am a second year Masters of Human Resource Management student at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. Music and art have been huge parts of my life, so I am very grateful for the opportunity to work in a nonprofit focused on youth, education, and music. I just completed my first week and boy has it been great! My main project is revitalizing an Alumni Association that reconnects alumni and current choir members, but most importantly helps alumni feel connected to the choir and each other. I hope this group fosters a feeling of community and creativity.

As part of my research, I interviewed our founder, Dr. Sandra Mathias. We talked about her memories of the choir when it was the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus (CSOCC) and how she has continued to spread her love for music and the arts. Many alumni from the chorus are in the Columbus Symphony Chorus or have their own bands. Some even act or work in music administration and education. What really intrigued her was how many alumni transition into musical theater and jazz from the classical foundations of the chorus. The interesting thing about music is how fluid it is; music can bring people together from all backgrounds.

During our conversation we also discussed different ideas for the Alumni Association and who would be interested. This group has to have a particularly vested interest in the choir and its continued impact. Our ideas ranged from small to global because hello, this choir is fabulous! Dr. Mathias felt strongly about giving students opportunities to learn how they can continue to study and work with music. The business person inside me screamed “JOB BOARD, JOB BOARD!” or seminars about futures in music. It would also be great if they could share these opportunities with each other in a forum, blog, or social media outlet like our facebook group! In summary, if not for the contributions of Dr. Mathias and her incredible work, this organization would not be where it is today. My wish is for this Alumni Association to help alumni pay it forward and impact themselves and others. Plato once said, “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

I pulled up to my first day at the Ohio Wildlife Center about 10 minutes late as I had taken at least 2 wrong turns on my way from downtown Columbus to somewhere past Dublin. I stepped over a No Public Access sign to find myself in a green landscape full of trees, grass, plants, bushes, life. My supervisor, Logan, and I walked past a few hawks, owls and even a turkey in a building to my right and approached a cabin-like structure that housed the office of the center. The cabin had originally been a family home until the center was founded and since has been transformed to house the administrative offices as well as a few various turtles, chipmunks, rats, frogs and other amphibians in aquariums. I was then introduced to the warm and receptive team, including a young fox with a head injury that was running around one of the upstairs rooms. Logan let me get situated and then took me on a tour of the grounds.

My name is Olivia Adkins and I’m an incoming third-year at the Ohio State University majoring in Public Management, Leadership and Policy with a minor in Business and a passion for conservation, non-profits and pasta. This combination of a love of the earth and the non-profit sector lead me to the Columbus Foundation Fellowship which brought me to this new and exciting place on a Monday morning.

So I have to admit, I had truly no idea what to expect from Ohio Wildlife Center prior to my arrival. What I indeed found was a small group of very passionate people in facilities that were efficient and effective, words not always used in the non-profit sector. Everyone was warm, welcoming and animal loving. I also ran into a few turtles, frogs, rats, snakes, opossums, owls, merlins, wild turkeys, raccoons, coyotes, foxes and hawks along the way as well. The center was literally bustling with wildlife—a group of young summer campers included.

Ohio Wildlife Center has a wildlife hospital, admitting nearly 5,000 animals per year, where anyone can bring any animals they find injured, sick or in danger free of charge. From a turtle who’s shell had been cracked by a car while crossing the road to orphaned fuzzy ducklings to a hawk that had a run-in with a fire pit, the hospital is full of stories. The center then sends the animals to a rehabilitation facility to monitor progress prior to re-release into the wild. My role at Ohio Wildlife Center will entail digital marketing via the organization website as well as social media engagement. I will be capturing the stories of animals that come through the center as well as assisting in the day to day administration as much as I can!

Throughout the course of my first week I have been acclimating to my new ecosystem and experiencing a lot of firsts– first time getting sprayed by a baby skunk was one of them. This environment is energizing, refreshing and empowering. Positivity cannot be undervalued or overlooked in our world and finding this group of people whose sole mission is to better the world around them with no ulterior motive makes my soul sing. The center’s motto is “fostering awareness and appreciation of Ohio’s native wildlife through rehabilitation, education and wildlife heath studies.” It is a place of growth, education and reemergence and I’m excited to begin my own metamorphosis here.

Prepare for the wildlife puns,

Olivia Adkins

.

Hello Everyone, my name is Jake Humphrey! I am currently an incoming third year at The Ohio State University. I am pursuing a degree in Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability specializing in International Development with a double major in Public Policy, Leadership, and Management. This summer, I will be working with Green Columbus, a small environmental non-profit dedicated to furthering environmental education and participation in the Greater Columbus Area.

There are essentially three aspects of my role at Green Columbus throughout the next 10 weeks: hands on environmental work, researching green spaces, and experiential learning about the non-profit sector.

First, I will be gaining hands on experience working in environmental education through a partnership with Godman Guild. Godman Guild is a non-proftit organization dedicated to education within the city of Columbus. They host approximately 150 interns between the ages of 14 and 24, of which will gain a real-life work experience for 4 weeks. Due to my background in sustainability, I will be working with the 14 and 15 year old age group as they will be working on environmental and sustainability projects. The program is called KEYS, and will begin on Monday the 12th.

Second, I will be writing a formal report on the use of green spaces both here in Columbus and other cities around the country. The goal with this aspect of the fellowship is to comprise a report of potential partners and resources in Columbus to further the city’s development of green spaces. I will be researching and studying the utilization of community gardens, revitalization of vacant lots into green spaces (e.g. pocket parks), and further initiatives involving green roofs.

Third, throughout the summer I hope to gain insight into the non-profit sector. I am a firm believer in experiential learning simply because the classroom cannot teach you everything. During this summer, I have set goals to learn more about the following areas of non-profit operations: grant writing and application process, take part in professional meetings, community engagement initiatives, and conduct interviews with local non-profit and environmental leaders.

I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be a Columbus Foundation Fellow this summer. I have high expectations that this summer will further my development both personally and professionally.

Best,

Jake