Going into CAPS, I had the assumption that most if not all of the placements would be remote, i.e. work from home. While this work style offered flexibility of location giving me the opportunity to travel and work anywhere I had Wi-Fi, I was worried about the potential lack of connections to the organization and staff. How could I form meaningful relationships and create a positive change if I was never in the same place with the people I was working toward that change with? To my surprise, after being selected as a fellow, many of the placements were in person or had in-person components. Going into the organization interviews, I didn’t let the pros or cons of either modality of work skew my opinion of the nonprofit organizations. Rather, I was focused on two somewhat simple things I am looking for in my future career: connection to the people and passion for the work. After my interview with Lutheran Services in America (LSA), I was overjoyed! I felt as if I had known the person who interviewed me my whole life, all of the nerves went away, and I felt like I was catching up with an old friend. When talking about the mission of LSA, it was apparent how much she believed in it. When she asked me what I was most passionate about, I shared my drive to advocate for and give a voice to people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Then, we talked about the LSA Disability Network (DN) and how my passion could be fulfilled and expanded within it and I knew that LSA was the place for me.

My very first week with LSA, I had an introductory zoom meeting scheduled with every single member of the staff. Each meeting was like the others even though they were all different people working from different places. The first word that comes to mind when I think of those interactions and the people is genuine. They truly were interested in getting to know me and offer their support in any way they could. The phrase many of them used was “professionally and personally” indicating their desire to support me as a person and not solely as a summer intern.

Maybe it’s that LSA has such a small staff. Maybe it’s because they are all truly passionate about the work they are doing. Or maybe it’s because they cultivate a work environment where mutual respect, open dialogue, and empathy are the driving force behind every interaction.

As discussed during my first interview, much of the work I do is with the Lutheran Services in America Disability Network (LSA-DN). The DN has 16 dedicated members that have conversations and training around disability advocacy and policy and how to improve and enrich the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The same genuineness that I continue to witness with my coworkers is also evident with these members. They are honest about how they are feeling within their organizations and within their lives. In a world where so many people are taught to leave their problems at the door when coming to work, it is so encouraging to see and hear these people opening up to one another and to me, a new face on the zoom gallery screen.

I don’t believe that these characteristics are only found at LSA. I truly believe this level of connection and empathy can be fostered anywhere (even in a virtual setting) as long as there is an intention. An intention not to be the best organization or even be the most efficient, but an intention to truly see the people you are working with and for as human beings. Within nonprofits, I think it is easy to lose sight of your staff because of the focus on the change you are trying to make in a community or in the world. While it is important to have this focus, taking a moment to acknowledge the humanness of the people doing the work and putting in the effort for the change can break down a barrier between those serving and those being served. This is when trust is created and a culture of empathy and understanding is cultivated.