Author Archives: gracielapayan

All the Little Things Count

As this internship came to an end, I realized that this was just the beginning. This was just the beginning for me. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of this program. I have come to learn tons on and off the job from the Urban League, my mentor, and the conversations with other CAPS Fellows.

 

The opportunities given to me from developing the health care initiatives for the organization to working with Ms. Ola on the Federation of Block Clubs and the tenant council, to going to varies vendor events and representing the Urban League to getting to help clean up the 6th district of Gary have all been amazing experiences.

 

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General Health Pamphlets

When working on the health care initiatives I was a bit timid because of the importance of the project and with knowing the healthcare disparities that exists across different socioeconomic classes and races. For the first project, I created a general health pamphlet both in Spanish and English. Along with the healthcare pamphlet, I have also created a list of resources and health clinics spread throughout the region the Urban League serves. Moreover, as I was looking for more ways to help the community and make the resources be sustainable, I bumped into the Colgate Total Bright Smiles program. I wrote a grant and now hoping for a package of 300+ toothbrushes and toothpaste packs for kids! Lets keep our fingers crossed! I am thankful for being handed such responsibility of a project. Because of that, I was able to learn about my own potential and expand the resources the organization provides to help the community.

 

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Clean Up Day in Gary

Getting to help clean up the 6th district of Gary was definitely insightful. As my internship carried on I got to know Gary a bit more. Through this experience I learned from community members and their frustrations along with their determination to improve their neighborhoods both young and elders. Throughout the day we set out from a church to the streets to clean up yards of vacant homes. The most saddening part to me was when I found out that people from other towns were dumping their garbage and used tires on vacant homes. That itself disgusted me to know people would do such a thing. Instead of helping clean up and maintaining it, people were creating more problems. The clean up group consisted of a youth catholic group from all across northwest Indiana along with community members, police, councilmen, city workers and the mayor! The day was filled with bugs, garbage bags, meaningful conversations, learning, and loads of fun!

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Ms. Ola Morris and myself outside of the office

After this internship I got a bit more of understanding of people who live in deep poverty through the services provided and getting to know community members. The need is so much, and the Urban League does what it can with what it has to help who ever they can. It has been mind blowing to see the amount of work four people in the organization can do alongside with the handful of volunteers that they have. It has been a privilege to work with this organization and to learn from each individual. With this internship, I have learned more about myself and about the type of work I want to do in the future. There is a lot of work to be done. We need to not only help our communities, but also help our neighboring communities. No matter how big or how small, all work is significant and makes a big difference.

This is Only the Beginning!

I am now four weeks into the fellowship, or half way through! Yikes! Time has gone by way too fast, but I am now in the groove of how the Urban League office works and have gotten a good grip of my projects.

 

Since day one at the office, I have been thrown in and given work to do, because there is a lot to get done, which I truly enjoy. After going over the major projects I would be working on, I was a bit intimidated! My supervisors wanted me to develop the organization’s healthcare initiatives and translate most of the informational forms with their services and newsletters to Spanish. In addition, they have me working with Ms. Ola Morris, the coordinator of The Federation of Block Clubs, and organization branched from Urban League formed by community members to improve their neighborhoods. On top of that, they also want me to reach out to the Latino community and create a strong relationship and provide all the services the Urban League provides, to Spanish-speaking community members.

 

Thus far, I have very much enjoyed my time here at the Urban League. They have allowed room for professional and personal growth! I have been able to go out to the community at a few different events. The first one I got to go to was Gary’s Recycling event with Ms. Ola. It was definitely fun to go out and speak with the community members and let them know what types of services the office provides. Besides outings for events, at the office I have been kept extremely busy with all the small projects I have going on. I have officially finished the first general health pamphlet and on to creating others! And this is only the beginning! (:

Gary Recycling Event

Aside from the projects, the people we get to work with at the office are awesome people! They have been very welcoming and helpful with me at all times. I have learned a lot from my supervisors, from how to better communicate with people and make connections to how their non-for profit is run. Moreover, working with Ms. Ola one-on-one has been awesome! Ms. Ola is a wonderful person to work with whom I have learned so much from.

 

With these next few weeks left, I hope to continue learning and contributing to the organization positively who greatly impacts the community and improving the lives of individuals directly and indirectly. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and I excited for what is to come!