Hello, my name is Chris Gatlin. I am a rising senior at Valparaiso University. I am interning at the Kheprw Institute and my internship title is democratizing data intern over the summer. My internship has been a new experience for me since I’m staying in Indianapolis. I am originally from Chicago, Illinois. I really love the city and I am happy to have built a relationship with the people inside of my workplace. Though I have been homesick, staying in Indianapolis has allowed me to build the relationships and connections that I would have been unable to build if I would have done my internship remotely. And has allowed me to have a more enriching internship experience.

Throughout my internship, I have completed several tasks and learned a lot about a multitude of areas. I have helped create efficient data collecting tools for various Kheprw community events. I have been trained in a program called Salesforce. I have been able to work outside to help rejuvenate some farmland that Kheprw has purchased. Also, being able to manage IT ticket requests.

My internship has taught me a lot about the value of community. Kherpw helps take care of those in its community. They host summer camps for kids in the community over the summer, a community garden that residents can use, and also have a food share every Sunday where community members can come pick up free food. Kheprw is also a very different organization than typical non profit organizations. It is a grassroots organization. There is no typical office space, the organization is pretty much run out of houses inside of the community that Kheprw supports. They have a multitude of different people who are helping work at the organization. There is a great group of younger and older ages, some people with and without college degrees, multiple cultures, people with various interests, and those with various backgrounds. But despite that, the organization still feels like a close-knit community. This is an organization that I think you will be unable to find in any other place. I came into this internship with no preconceived beliefs or expectations but when I started to work at Kheprw my mind was still blown.

I feel throughout my experience it’s not only been about the work that I have done, but also the people I have met. I really enjoy being around the people that I work with. And I have been able to meet a multitude of interesting people. Being a part of this internship has helped me find my sense of purpose in life. I want to be a person that is able to build community for themselves and others, no matter the place that I go to. I want to be able to help build community in places that have a diverse population. A population where that is a multitude of culture, income levels, gender, age, etc. Kheprw is a place that I would like to continue to be involved in and support past my internship end date. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to have interned at Kheprw. It has been a life changing and eye opening experience.

– Chris Gatlin, Kheprw