During my time at The Bridge Teen Center so far, collaborating with my coworkers and the teens has allowed me to see how a dedicated team of people can work together to provide free opportunities for students to learn and grow in eye-opening ways. Starting my first day and continuing every moment so far, my coworkers have led by example in inspiring me to be intentional with everything I do and every interaction I have this summer. At The Bridge, it is easy to see the big picture in smaller things I do like making phone calls to invite teens to various programs and putting them into our database. The reward comes when parents are compelled to take a moment to say how blessed they are that their teen found The Bridge this summer or a couple of years past. They have said that their teens have been benefiting socially and gaining valuable experience from the various types of programs offered at The Bridge.

Recently, when I got the chance to observe teens experience indoor scuba diving, I got to talking to the bus driver who is a frequent volunteer at The Bridge. After talking to her more, I found out that she was about to accept an assistant principal position and had been working in the education field for 20 years. We bounced back and forth about how students often struggle to have outlets and think of places like school and The Bridge as safe places to learn, be, and express themselves. Although she knew a whole lot more than I did, we shared a mutual core belief that giving students opportunities like The Bridge turn into impacts that will shape who they are as people in crucial ways. We talked about how the ways that teachers and role models view students will become the ways that students see themselves, possibly in a positive light for the first time. This brilliant discussion gave me a chance to review my calling, which includes giving students a safe space to grow into themselves. I have been able to be a part of The Bridge, where an excellent team of people work together to do just that by creating, providing, and organizing various programs where teens can learn and grow in their interests and gifts as well as social and leadership capabilities.

Every other Friday night, The Bridge hosts their largest themed programs where the entire facility including the outdoor space is open to the teens. On my first Friday night, I worked the front desk and was surprised at how engaged I felt with the teens as I got to check each one in and made a countless amount of new IDs for new students. As aforementioned, I have been able to make seemingly more tedious tasks meaningful because they all lead to the bigger picture of giving teens the best experience they can have at The Bridge. You can make any interaction with someone intentional and impactful. I have been inspired to not take any interaction at face value because each holds the opportunity to encourage a teen and set the tone for how they will approach and view their experience at The Bridge.

Last Friday, The Bridge hosted an “80’s and 90’s Bash” event for the students where I oversaw one of the rooms called the Garage. I encouraged students to vote for The Bridge as Southland’s Best 2022 for various categories as well as ran the candy bar. Although this may seem simple, there is a significant difference between someone who takes the task at face value and someone who works on a like-minded team that strives to use every opportunity to positively interact with students. At The Bridge, one must always hold dear to their heart of service, their care for student engagement and experience, and their dedication to excellence in everything they do. Having this in mind, I was open to asking students questions about what inspired their themed 80’s and 90’s throwback outfits and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone by trying new things like our karaoke with their friends. It is surprising how little it takes to engage with a student that could lead to their personal reflections that make their night the best it can be. Myself along with over ten volunteers supervised and engaged with students in order for
the event to not only run but to thrive with enough student interaction and excitement so much so
that they would come back again.

– Isabelle Kalil, The Bridge Teen Center

It has officially been five weeks since I started my internship with Heartland Alliance and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity. From my first day in the office I have been overwhelmed with an incredible sense of community and in awe of the amazing work which my coworkers do on a daily basis. It has caused me to do a lot of thinking. While I have learned so much at this internship already, most of which I can’t disclose, for the purpose of this blog post I want to focus on one theme in particular which has been on my mind since starting in May–that is, the idea of community and boundaries.

Throughout my time at Valpo I have heard the idea of work and home life boundaries expressed in both the classroom and colloquially–to varying degrees. Many of the individuals I look to frequently uplift the importance of this separation–whilst also going above and beyond for their students, thus often sacrificing it for themselves. As a result, I find that I began this internship believing in a strict separation between the two–like church and state.

What surprised me starting day one at the office however, is that my coworkers approach their job and a sense of community differently. To begin with, Heartland Alliance is adamant that we call the people we serve participants and not clients–it emphasizes that we work together–as equals–not apart. This theme carries through in every aspect of the work which they do. Moreover, my coworkers spend their personal time interacting with participants doing crafts, gardening, and sometimes–years later–talking on the phone as friends. While they are distinct, there is a strong sense of community between coworkers as well as coworkers and participants. Additionally, as I began working with participants myself I found it difficult to process what was going on around me, or show up fully, without allowing for some spillover between my personal and professional life.

This has caused me to reflect a lot on the way I understand boundaries. Specifically, I have been wondering more about what the purpose behind keeping personal and professional lives separate is. I am finding that when I approach participants with the intent to foster community, as my coworkers model, it feels as though I am better able to honor both their humanity, as well as my own.

In my spare time this summer I have been doing a fair share of reading–one author I read recently, Nadia Bolz Weber, discussed the idea of being fully integrated and its centrality to human flourishing. She mentioned that, as she engages with the members of her congregation, she wants them each to be able to feel fully integrated emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially and so on so forth–no discontinuity at all.

So I am beginning to wonder: what are the implications of this for my work/personal life boundaries? On the one hand if we can integrate so fully in work and home life that there appear to be no boundaries we risk our mental well being and personal privacy as well as the privacy of those we serve. However, on the other hand, if we separate the two drastically we risk making it impossible to cross that divide and do a discredit to ourselves by forcing a divide between professional and unprofessional aspects of ourselves. In thinking more about the balance between these two I am realizing that I want to be in community with those I serve. While I also believe it is necessary to have boundaries between my work and home life, I think that aspiring to live in community with those I serve is the best way to inspire me each day to work and lead from a place of love. As a result, now that I am more comfortable in my role, I find it inspiring to aspire to this and am trying to adapt these ideas into my own life so as to live more integrated.

So what do you think? Perhaps this all sounds a bit too much like I am applying to be an RA, but I am curious what your thoughts are. How do you practice living integrated while also uplifting personal and professional boundaries? Most importantly, how do you believe we can cultivate boundaries without fracturing ourselves and allowing ourselves to lead from a place of love both professionally, and personally?

At this point in time, I by no means feel like I have any answers for these questions–but I am curious to learn more and am, as we speak, taking time to observe the ways that community and boundaries are appearing in my life, and the lives of those around me.

– Katharina Depenthal, Heartland Alliance Health

Arriving at the Kheprw work site for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that I was parking not at an office building or cold, emotionless structure. Instead, I had arrived at a neighborhood. This is where most of the workers live and spend nearly all of their time together. Rather than sharing an office space, they share a community. The word “community” has continued to encompass my experience, and it’s what everyone here at Kheprw lives and breathes by. Every night one worker makes dinner for everyone else, and whoever is available will sit together on what’s lovingly called “the porch” as they talk through their day. I have had the pleasure to join on multiple occasions. On the first day I shared some personal passions, including my love of dystopian novels. The second day, I was given a dystopian book to read, free of charge. Moments like this have slowly cemented my respect and love for this organization and the people in it.

My work largely includes working with food-based programs. Food structures, food deserts, and food markets have filled my thoughts for the past month while working on projects and finding my place within this organization. I am currently managing our participation in a weekly food market, and I am helping with a weekly gardening class called Growin’ Good in the Hood. Kheprw has long believed in establishing food sovereignty through local efforts, and their work has led to many partnerships with local farms and gardens. Every week I am able to purchase food from a couple of these places and sell it at a market. One week Growin’ Good had a field trip to one of these gardens, Lawrence Community Gardens. Amber, who is in charge of operations, used the phrase “Labor of Love” to describe the work they are doing. I saw such love with my own eyes, through the sustainable practices used and through the mission of food justice. And, I see this love everywhere I look in this line of work. I see it in the farmers, I see it in the gardeners at Growin’ Good, and I see it in Kheprw itself. Everyone loves what they do because they care about why they are doing it. Whether it be food sovereignty, economic justice, or what Kheprw calls “community wealth building,” everyone here sees a greater purpose in their work.

Reflecting on this first month or so, I hope to find the same passions in my future. This work has been challenging, but I see and feel how important it is. My coworkers have taught me what it means to personally invest in your job, and what it means to invest in each other’s success. Although I largely work from home, I find myself speaking more and more with my fellow coworkers, as we discuss my projects or just our personal lives. Whatever career I pursue, I hope to build these same types of relationships, and to find my own “Labor of Love.”

– Emily Fletcher, Kheprw

As of today, I have been an intern at the Bridge Teen Center for around three weeks, and I am finally starting to settle into the apartment that I will call home for the next couple of months. The Bridge is a non-profit in the suburbs of Chicago with the mission to provide “free programs during after-school and unsupervised hours where students can develop mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually in a safe environment”. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I walked in on the first day, but I am already starting to feel at home there, just as hundreds of teens have. Amongst many other tasks, I have been able to help with volunteer events, interact with students in the job-readiness program, and even help a master chef during a student program.

Last week, I updated the volunteer bulletin board for summer. At first, this seemed like something that would be a quick and easy task. When researching possible quotes to include, I came across two that stood out to me. While I had heard both of these quotes already, after completing the first few weeks of my internship, I began to think about them in a different light. The first was this quote by Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” While I have always liked this quote, it was not until recently that I was really able to appreciate it. I have come to see that every person at the Bridge, whether they are a volunteer, intern, or staff member, is an important part of a whole. While the work we do may not always seem important, as a team, even as a small non-profit, we can really make a difference. Redoing a bulletin board may not seem super important, but if it motivates even one person or brings a smile to someone’s face, it makes a difference. Additionally, I have come to accept that while I can not help everyone, helping even one can change the world for that person.

The second quote that resonated with me was “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” (Mahatma Gandhi). I feel like this quote is a total embodiment of what the CAPS Fellowship Program is. I decided to apply to be a CAPS fellow because I hoped to learn more about myself and potential paths for my future. If anything, I am even more confused as to my future, but I am learning that there are many different ways and numerous careers that will allow me to serve my community and help people. During the rest of the summer, I hope to explore more of what my place in this world is, and I am beginning to learn that the best way to do so is to just spend time serving others.

While I did not end up using either of these quotes for the project, instead opting for a more summer-themed one, I still learned a lot from this seemingly simple project. The finished project can be seen in my pictures. I hope it brings a smile to the face of the volunteers who see it. I can’t wait to continue serving and learning and interacting with all the other people who make this mission possible.

– Sophia Panfil, The Bridge Teen Center

In the two weeks that I have been here at the Grunewald Guild, I have done so much and meet many wonderful people. The Guild is a faith-based non-profit that facilitates summer art programs. There is quite a lot of work that goes into the Guild, like preparing for the guests to arrive, setting up studio spaces, communications, etc. My fellow intern and I have done everything from washing windows and cleaning floors to creating class spotlights that can be posted on various social media. I have already had so many new experiences that I was not expecting. Similar to Katie Endres, who is a CAPS fellow at the Guild as well, I had a few hiccups in getting to the guild at the planned time. I missed the shuttle that would take me from Seattle to Leavenworth, due to a slightly late arrival, resulting in me having to spend the night in Seattle. In hindsight this wasn’t too big of a deal, but this was my first time flying alone and across the country from my friends and family. This experience was certainly an exercise in learning to go with the flow and handle what life can throw at me, which is the first of many that I’m sure I will deal with over the course of the summer.

The constant flow of work is a bit exhausting, but the result is always worth every bit of energy. At the end of everyday, I am proud of the work that I did and am excited for people to arrive at the guild to really see the reason behind the work. It can sometimes be hard, while doing mundane tasks or physical labor, to understand what it is that we are working toward. Cleaning is not my favorite task in the world, but there are days when that is what needs doing, while I am in the thick of it, I often become very tired and frustrated, losing sight of the bigger picture. However, I am lucky enough to be working with people at a place that encourages us to look at the bigger picture, remember the reason that we are here and to remember what we are working towards. I am really looking forward to seeing how I grow through my time here at the guild. It is a place that values personal growth through community and already I have begun to feel how true that is. Working with my fellow intern, other volunteers, and my supervisor, I have learned valuable ways to effectively communicate and support each other not only in our work but in our personal lives. While the summer ahead feels a little daunting, I know that our little team here at the guild will be able to handle everything that is thrown at us and make this summer a happy and wonderful time for all of the people that visit. I am so happy that I get to be a little part of the guild’s long and full history and help it to continue on in the future.

– Natalie Gut, Grunewald Guild

I began interning for the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross about a month ago and in that time I’ve learned so much about what it means to be a member of a non-profit organization run primarily by volunteer work. To be candid, the work done here is nothing like any of the work I have ever done in the best way possible. Each week has a different schedule and most days I end up meeting someone new as well. However, whether I spend a day canteening at a Triathlon or spend the week mostly at either the Merrillville or South Bend offices, I always learn something new. 

What surprised me most in the first couple weeks was the variety of opportunities to engage within the Red Cross. When most people think about the Red Cross the first thing that usually comes to mind is donating blood and mass care for national disasters. However, the first big event that I attended was neither. It was a Sound The Alarm event where volunteers of the Red Cross came together to help install new smoke alarms within the homes of Aetna, Gary. We joined up in groups of roughly four where each Red Cross volunteer was assigned a role. I was given the role of documenter which meant I was able to interact with clients and document the information (ie: how many alarms installed, how many didn’t work, etc.). The other roles were those who installed the smoke alarms, those who gave the clients information about hazards and went over an emergency plan, and the final volunteers were extra support for the installer. The coolest part was that this event was completely open to the public. Local community members could walk in and help out or request for their home to have smoke alarms installed. It was honestly heart-warming to see volunteers from the Red Cross, members of the local fire department, and random everyday people working all towards the same goal. Until this point I hadn’t considered what else the Red Cross was doing in the local communities, but I quickly found it was only the tip of the iceberg. From presenting to kids about being prepared on what to do if there was a fire to canteening for a triathlon early in the morning there is an opportunity for many kinds of people with vastly different interests.

Though the work itself is new for me, something that struck me as the most important difference was how the staff interacts with the people volunteering/working for them. I’m pretty accustomed to the rise and grind mentality fostered in academic settings and spaces like food service. However, the patience and genuine care I’ve seen and experienced from the people I work with has blown me away. Despite there being what seems like a million responsibilities on my supervisor Brent’s plate, he always takes the time to step back from that to check in on me–he’s even had to remind me to drink water and eat a couple times during long events. But it isn’t just him, every single one of the people I have met through working with the Red Cross has had that same passion of caring for others. I’ve met Penny who loves her community so much that she spends all of her time organizing events to help make it safer and welcoming. I’ve met Maddie, another intern, who spends tons of her time doing casework to help clients with their recovery in between classes and still somehow makes time to help me. I also met Kristen who, despite always being so busy, smiles so big while she works that you can’t help but to also smile. And there are so many more! Working with all of them has really lit a fire in me. The power of just being kind and welcoming can completely change the environment of a workplace. I know that while I work with them I will always have the space I need to grow and make mistakes–while still fostering that genuine love for the work itself. I’m not sure if they know the impact they have had on me just by being themselves, but I surely won’t forget it or them anytime soon. Someday, I hope to make the impact they have on me everyday for someone else.

– Tobias Hill, American Red Cross

I searched eagerly for a skyline as my GPS shouted directions at me. It said that I was about ten minutes out from the city. Growing up, visits to Chicago conditioned me to scan for skyscrapers to announce that our journey was nearly complete. Nearly 4 hours after leaving my family, friends, and familiar space, I arrived in Indianapolis. I didn’t know anything about the city outside of the arts scene. However, I would soon be thrust into Indy summer which was already well underway. My host family, the Pumphrey’s met me with open arms and welcomed me into their neighborhood with a tour. In the two weeks I got to spend with them, three kids and a dog, I felt received with open arms. 

I have done a lot of things since coming to the city, but by far the best thing about it is the instant sense of community. It may be because the Harrison Center is so community-oriented but the time it took me to feel welcomed and wanted was so short. Through the arts, the center can uplift and support its surroundings instead of working against them. My fellow interns are so creative and kind that it makes going to work that much better. Each person is working on different things, but there is also a lot of room for collaboration which I enjoy. It’s nice to be able to take initiative and start my own projects but then be able to get feedback and help with things. 

There are lots of projects that I am working on. The underlying large project that I will be a part of requires me to do a lot of research. I am assisting Nabil Ince, a musician that has been a part of the Harrison Center mission for years, with creating 5 songs about different sectors of black life in historically African American neighborhoods in Indianapolis. I will be assisting with some of the groundwork, talking to pillars of the community, asking questions, going out into the city, and uncovering the real connections between these different sections. I will also be hopefully assisting with some music-making! Songs that can uplift the community and provide positive and truthful messages are good for everyone. IMAF, Independent Music and Arts Festival is also happening this month so there is tons of prep that is going into that. I will be helping make volunteer shirts, set up, and more. This is the 21st year that the festival has been held! There is of course more but I’m out of words, for now, I’ll keep you all updated.

-Reese Foytik, Harrison Center

I have completed my first week here at The Grunewald Guild! This in itself is quite a feat. I arrived two days later than intended because of flight cancellations that left me stranded in the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. This unexpected obstacle was frustrating and filled me with uncertainty for the months ahead. Would I be behind at The Guild by arriving late? Was my checked bag lost to the void? Is this a bad omen for the summer? Now, I sit on the porch of River House where Natalie Gut, CAPS Fellow and friend, and I are staying for the summer. Our view of the turbulent Wenatchee River, thick, tall forests, and glorious mountains settle my nerves.

The Guild, like the environment it is placed in, maintains a balance between wild, unkempt chaos and serene moments of liveliness. The Guild is in transition. It, like the river that borders it, is flowing with change and new life. “What I love most about rivers is you can’t step in the same river twice,” Pocahontas (1995). The three co-directors, Julia, Kari, and Chance, started in April and will be experiencing a Guild summer for the first time like Natalie and me. They each bring a unique expertise and passion. Their leadership style is cooperative and values others’ input. This sacred space is deeply rooted in tradition, in history, in the past, much like the expansive forests that surround us. The challenge has become creating a fruitful ecosystem between the two powerful entities. Though with sharp edges, one can look to the shoreline to realize that this unification is possible. The mountains are symbolic of the challenges faced by The Guild staff. Challenges that feel insurmountable, until you turn around and see how each step of the hike has led you closer to the summit.

    Okay, okay, I’ll lay off the metaphor now and get into the details of my time here. As a general Communications major, I am seeing and experiencing many of my lessons being implemented in real-time. I’m experiencing an ideal version of leadership that I feel is seldom utilized. The directors are task-oriented and driven, but deeply value the humanity in work. We begin each day with a check-in of our priorities for the day as well as a reflection of our successes, challenges, and current headspace. We actively hold one another accountable for our tangible goals and self-care. These first two weeks are busy as we prepare for guests. We’ve been deep cleaning the art studios as well as stocking supplies for the miscellaneous mediums that will be taught this summer. I’ve begun to help with the social media schedule and rollout. This task will be a test of what I’ve learned over the past few years and I hope to increase interactions and help widen the scope of participants. Hospitality is a term that I think captures the general body of my work so far. Director Chance has quite an eye for detail and has provided me with a better understanding of presentation and guest accommodations. He, with Julia and Kari, have eased many of my fears upon entering this role. I was nervous that I “wouldn’t be enough” or that I “wouldn’t do enough” among other irrationalities. They have created a work environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and volunteering for new experiences. 

Since I am only one week in, I haven’t yet found the answers to my questions of calling and purpose. I know that at this mome nt my purpose is to serve The Guild by choreographing a successful summer of artistic expression, faith exploration, and community building. I must be satisfied with that response for now. Satisfied with the fact that my universal purpose and professional calling will not reveal themselves one week into a new experience. Hopefully, at the end of the summer when I check in with you again, I’ll have a more grand response.

– Katie Endres, Grunewald Guild

A little over two weeks ago, my internship with the Volunteer Recruitment department of the American Red Cross began. Time really flies– I already feel like a fully integrated member of the Volunteer Services team. Over the course of the past two weeks, I’ve taken the time to speak with as many members of the American Red Cross network as possible (whether in my department or not). The key lesson I’ve learned by listening to people’s stories is that the movies couldn’t be further from the truth; employment does not need to be a miserable, never-ending cycle of insipidity. Every person I’ve met has been full of life, and full of love for their position. I’ve really gained hope for my future these past two weeks, knowing that I am not doomed to de spise the career path I’ve chosen (and currently love). 

I have also learned about my versatility. In August, I will be beginning my graduate program in Physician Assistant Studies… This is a far cry from a Volunteer Recruitment internship. At first I was hesitant to make this leap, but now I am so glad I did. Working with the rest of the ARC team has shown me how to push my boundaries. In terms regarding to my calling, what I know is this: I can never do just one thing. This internship has really awakened my love for creating. So far, exercising my own imagination while generating marketing materials has been the highlight of my two weeks. Again, this is far from a career as a medical professional. Still, I know this creativity is not something I can give up. With the Volunteer Services team, I am seeing how I can apply my own passions to my work, and this does not need to stop when I enter the healthcare field. I’ve been thinking about how, when I am treating patients, I can apply these new marketing skills. I believe it would be a great benefit to create engaging, simple patient handouts regarding basic medical ailments, such as how to treat one’s own disease (diabetes, for example, or high blood pressure) at home. I think this would help the current medical predicament of patients forgetting most of what a healthcare professional tells them during their visit, which is no fault of their own. 

I’ve also seen how I flourish in a team environment. While that may seem a bit cliche, I mean it. Throughout my undergraduate career, I’ve always viewed myself as an independent learner and worker. As a freshman, I would view myself as shy. Now, as a graduate student, I would say the opposite is true. When in the Merrillville ARC office, I find myself losing time talking to the other employees. Everyone is so kind and energetic- I don’t want to leave to work on my projects! This is not something I would have done as a freshman in college. 

In summation, what I have learned is this: my calling is to have more than one calling. I am not a person destined to work a singular job. I want to be a healthcare professional after I graduate– but I also want to create. Marketing is something I truly enjoy, which I would have never thought of before this internship. Opening a bakery has been a dream of mine for years… so why can’t I do it? Creating my own edible art, while also creating campaigns to promote it: the dream!

There’s no reason why I can’t run my own business, or have a homestead. Why can’t I also pursue a career in creating patient education materials? Rescuing farmed animals from our barbaric, sadistic food system is another dream of mine. I’ve also written journal articles and research papers about this issue. 

So picture this: Victoria Cammarano, MPAS, PA-C. Owner of “Vegan Vic’s Bakery.” Founder of “One World Farmed Animal Sanctuary.” Writer and Author. Professor of Bioethics. Mother. Grandmother. 

I have a lot of work to do! I just hope I have enough time.

-Victoria Cammarano, American Red Cross