Outside of Community Hero Spotlight in Chicago.

This is my first blog post, and I have been contemplating how to describe my experience with The Chicago Reporter. This summer has been filled out with new opportunities. Over the past month, I have come to recognize how this experience will enable me to pursue my purpose and sense of calling by exposing me to novel insights and perspectives. The Chicago Reporter’s mission resonates with my passion for giving a voice to marginalized communities and promoting justice. Through this fellowship, I have enhanced my personal development by engaging with a wide range of topics, deepening my understanding of local issues that have far-reaching effects. An important objective of mine is to emphasize unjust matters and advocate for equality, even in small areas such as Chicago.

This fellowship has played a pivotal role in my personal growth through its diverse coverage, which has expanded my awareness of a multitude of issues. Last week, I finally had the chance to meet my supervisor in person as she asked me to attend one of the events in Chicago, which is the Community Hero Spotlight. Most of my work is remote, so I only sometimes have the chance to be in action. However, attending this event provided me with a valuable chance to engage with collaborative reporters and develop new ideas for my own piece. One of my current focuses is actively assisting in investigating the issue of wealth disparity in the Chicago area and reaching out to community members, mainly from the Black and Latino populations. Engaging with community members, learning about their experiences, and listening to their insights has been an enriching and fulfilling pursuit. Moreover, my investigation assistance on the wealth inequality report has helped me gain a better understanding of the challenges that community members from Black and Latin populations are encountering. I am eager to continue shedding light on crucial issues such as poverty, social inequality, racial discrimination, and gun violence. My hope is, through the guidance of my supervisor, I can develop my own piece that allows me to amplify equality so that I can contribute to the mission of the Chicago Reporter while proposing solutions to the community. I believe that this experience is helping me understand my calling better and will be a bridge for my future career. The Chicago Reporter experience has been extremely special because not only is it allowing me to gain professional growth, but also, personally, it is connected with my sense of calling and my goals of highlighting injustice, spreading awareness, and cultivating empathy.

– Nour Alhajjeh, The Chicago Reporter

Through my time in REI development meetings and team member engagement meetings, I have appreciated Lutheran Services in America’s ability to utilize the strengths and weaknesses not only of those within their organization, but of their membership network. The LSA network consists of over 300 members all over the United States, and yet with such a big network, the goal is to make sure that each member gains and connects with LSA in a meaningful way, so as to emphasize the importance of intentional connection with the LSA network. In order to ensure members are getting enough out of the network, we have been working on the “Health and Housing” initiative. This has consisted of many one on one meetings with members of our housing collaborative to identify major projects in the pipeline, but also major stumbling blocks that people seem to be facing when it comes to implementing affordable housing. Through these meetings and conversations, LSA’s goal is to build a collaborative network that organizations and members can pull from for guidance and expertise, as well as pour into with their own shared experiences and knowledge. Several issues we identified through these one on ones were that there is limited public and private funding for members to pull from, and intense competition for LIHTC credits (Low Income Housing Tax Credit). Navigating funding limitations as well as the complexity of different local and state regulations and financing options has proved to be a common struggle of many of our members. With the knowledge of what their membership network is struggling with, LSA can thus facilitate nonprofit housing development expertise and technical guidance, as well as create a powerful national network through partners like LCEF or United Healthcare. LSA’s vicinity to capitol hill makes it a great place to advocate for change, and part of LSA’s mission is to be keenly aware of the issues their membership faces in order to assist with advocating for policies that support and drive the missions of their members.

In terms of challenges I have faced thus far, I faced a terminology barrier when interviewing for the Health and Housing initiative. There is so much to learn in terms of the different types of housing, funding, and what policies have been in place thus far and what are currently in the works, and I found myself uneducated on much of the terminology that pertains to this specific area. I found a solution through taking copious amounts of notes to go back to and look over, so that even if I didn’t fully grasp some concepts at the moment, I could figure out what they meant through detailed google searches.

I had a unique experience early on at LSA where I sat in on a meeting regarding LSA’s mission statement. Through this experience and with many others within LSA, something I have come to appreciate is their intentionality. In order to avoid diminishing the human dignity and respect of every individual, LSA strives to assure their diction serves this purpose. They explain their mission is to stand in the gap, rather than “save” individuals from their circumstances. LSA seeks to be a catalyst for change in creating a more equitable future for communities across the United States. Seeing and hearing them talk through their mission statement was extremely inspiring, especially early on in my internship, as I saw every member’s passion for their mission.

Two weeks ago, as I stopped to take a cool picture of Union Station, a young guy stopped to ask me what kind of work I did in DC. I (very briefly) explained the mission of LSA and explained that I had the opportunity to work there through a program at my school. He seemed impressed and said that my work sounded really fulfilling, with what seemed like wistfulness in his voice. I couldn’t help but reflect on how fulfillment in work was vital to me, but also how LSA is unique in that it doesn’t function like your typical non-profit. Rather than doing the hands-on work that might be considered more “fulfilling,” LSA seeks to empower, support, and connect the organizations that do the more hands-on work in order to create more positive outcomes for underserved communities and populations.

It’s really exciting to commute into DC, where people are buzzing with the latest news and “change is in the air,” but it’s also exciting because.. coffee 🙂 Ebenezers, a local coffee shop about a 10 minute walk from where I work, donates 100% of its profits to humanitarian local non-profits. The building was abandoned for 25 years before being bought by National Community Church that began its mission “Coffee with a Cause.” Being able to support businesses like this while being in DC is simply, awesome.

– Kylie Bowlds, Lutheran Services of America

What do I do?

For my CAPS Fellowship placement this summer I am working with City Service Mission as one of their City Hosts. As a City Host, my job is to welcome youth groups from across the country to Washington D.C., and serve as a guide and liaison for them during their time with us. On the first full day of their trip, I lead them on a prayer tour all throughout the city, where we discuss the impacts of phenomena such as gentrification, white flight, food insecurity/food deserts, and the intersectionality between each of those factors. As we go throughout the tour, we pray for the people of the city and for ourselves as we prepare our hearts for a week of service. Throughout the rest of the week, I take the groups to serve at several different non-profits in the city. At the end of each day, I lead them in a time of debriefing where we talk about what they’ve learned so far and how their outlooks on the city or on their own lives may have shifted.

Experience of my team

The information listed above is often really hard to swallow in a short amount of time, and is often overwhelming; however, having been a participant on trips with CSM before, and growing up in the surrounding area of Maryland, much of the information we cover is information I have been aware of for much of my life. This being said I did not experience too much of a shock this summer while we were learning everything we have to teach as staff. One of my co-workers had also been a participant at the DC location of CSM and lives nearby in Maryland as well so, he too was not too surprised by the information we trained over. Finally, our other co-worker had never been a CSM participant and grew up in Dallas, Texas so, all the information we had learned in training was brand new and a bit overwhelming for him. This led to very raw, insightful, and inspiring conversations with him as it relates to the racial, economic, and intersecting factors present in the district. Through this experience with my co-worker this summer, I have been able to, somewhat, re-live what it was like to first learn about the state of the district and rekindle the passion I have for this work.

Experience of our community partners

As summer has gone on, I have built personal relationships with the people who work for the organizations the CSM has as community partners. Some of these organizations include Martha’s Table, Seabury Age in Place, and the Garden Guild at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, to name a few. As I take groups to serve at these organizations, I introduce the groups to the organizations and vice versa before we begin working with them. This has become a very enjoyable part of my job as the groups are then able to see the relationship between CSM and our community partners, which makes for a much more enjoyable experience for everyone. The relationships I’ve built with the people at the non-profits are of great value to me. Many of them have helped me in personal ways during my stay in DC. Most importantly, my relationships with our community partners give me a great sense of pride for CSM because I often hear them say that they know they will have a good group of volunteers when they see one of us City Hosts walk in the door.

Experience of the youth

The most fulfilling aspect of my internship this summer has, without a doubt, been working with the youth that come in. So far, I’ve worked with ages 11 – 18, from New Jersey to Texas, and it has been an amazing experience to see all the different backgrounds they come from and the takeaways they go home with. A unique aspect of this work is that I not only get to experience a new youth group each week, but I also get to know and observe a new set of youth leaders each week as well. Given that youth ministry is the career field I plan on going into post-graduation, this is a very beneficial experience for me. From this experience so far, I have gained a new appreciation for youth ministry as well as new ways to engage the youth of today. All in all, this has been an amazing experience so far and I am greatly looking forward to the weeks I have left to come!

– Fox Wilmot, City Service Mission

This summer, I am privileged to have the opportunity of serving as a Communications and Development Intern with Community Renewal Society. CRS is a non-profit organization based in downtown Chicago that focuses on bringing together persons of faith and congregations to address the intersection of race and poverty. As a rising senior social work major, I took an interest in the mission of CRS through my previous internship at Porter County Prisoners and Community Together (PACT) and the courses provided by the Criminology department. In addition to my passion for criminal justice and prison reform, my background as a fifth-generation Japanese American compels me to speak up against acts of hate, help others heal from racial injustice, and fight for reparations for other communities marginalized by the United States government.

In addition to spending time editing the new website and sharing social media posts from CRS’s member congregations, I also have written original content for CRS in the form of blog articles and promos for the biweekly newsletter sent out to our subscribers. My first time demonstrating this skill came as a reflection for the Chicago Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability monthly public meeting. Also known as CCPSA, this commission was developed after the federal consent decree placed on the city of Chicago in 2019 after increasing reports of police brutality and the need to establish a community forum for ensuring police officers are held accountable for their crimes against civilians. The process of writing a reflection on this meeting was really insightful and impactful as it allowed me to learn more about the dynamics of police and community relations within Chicago and discover which policies and procedures would be most effective in establishing a path toward police accountability.

Overall, this experience and fellowship has helped me see social work in a new light. It’s a field that is dynamic, collaborative, and adaptable, which has given me the power to explore new approaches and challenge my previous misconceptions. I am eager to apply what I’ve learned and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I help as I continue my journey as a social worker and CAPS Fellow this summer.

– Katie Hill, Community Renewal Society

Surprising just how fast a month can go! In my earlier post, I had just finished working with a veterans event in which I got to see amazing people beating all kinds of adversity. In talking with everyone, they all seemed so happy to be pushing themselves to such a high bar and it felt really cool to see them as I was handing out water and sandwiches to people who wanted any.

Life did not slow down, as on the week of the 5th, the American Red Cross opened up a shelter in Merrillville to help with a condemned apartment building. It was open for a few days and not a lot of people used it, but the important thing is that the Red Cross was there ready to help people if they needed it.

The next week was less hectic: doing some admin work and planning to teach about fire safety were the name of the game. A lot easier of a time, but also some cooldown to process everything that was going on.

Mental clarity is something that people have been talking about for the past few years in greater detail. Making sure someone is able to be kind, caring, and compassionate, are all imperative traits that anyone working in the Red Cross should have if they have a client facing role. Doing bigger events can drain you both physically and emotionally, and when you can feel times that you need to rest, knowing where your emotional bandwidth is also important.

This break was perfect, because at the end of that week, there was an apartment complex that burned down in Elkhart and I want to help for the next few days doing both client facing work and learning about all the steps and plans that occur for funds and resources to move across the region. A lot of stuff goes on behind the scenes that people don’t think about unless it’s their job.

Overall, one of the best things I took out of this month’s experience is that learning and growth comes from two places: planned and spontaneous. Planned learning comes from things like going to class, studying, and taking a test. Spontaneous learning is something that you might now be ready to practice yet, but going out in the field and doing your best is something that always needs to happen. Applying those skills and seeing how they might not work as easily as you thought is always something that is a great experience to learn.

– Adam Monnette, American Red Cross

It has been over a month since I started interning at The Bridge Teen Center and I have loved this experience so far. I was drawn to The Bridge because of the work they do in the community they are a part of which happens to be the one I live in! The founder, Priscilla, felt called to make a place for teens in Orland Park and this summer, it celebrated its 13th birthday. The Bridge provides free programs for students in grades 7th-12th and the programs allow them to develop holistically in five ‘buckets’: community connections, educational support, everyday life, expressive arts, and mind/body. These programs allow students to learn more about themselves. There are also Friday Night Live programs which are every other Friday and these are where students can hangout and have fun throughout the entirety of The Bridge space. The first Friday event was the celebration of the 13th birthday of The Bridge!

Since my first day, there has always been something new happening around me. Tuesdays-Thursdays are the program days where students come to The Bridge to participate in programs that range from culinary and songwriting lessons to bracelet making and learning how to change a flat tire. There are volunteers and staff that run these programs who want the students to have fun while also learning something new. I have loved connecting with the volunteers, the staff, the other interns, the students, and even the parents since the start of my internship. Everyone has such a positive attitude and are there because they love what The Bridge provides.

This summer, I am able to be both the Human Resources and Program intern. Through this, I get to see the background on a nonprofit organization as well as interact with the students who come to the center. I have a few different projects on my plate which will surely keep me busy this summer. As the HR intern, I am helping plan our Fiesta brunch to celebrate the people who take time out of their busy days and choose to volunteer at The Bridge. Through this, I call local businesses to donate to us in order to give gifts to our volunteers. Something else I have enjoyed while being the HR intern is my responsibilities with the thrift store! The Bridge’s sister organization is the Bridge Thrift Store which brings in revenue to the center. The thrift store allows for volunteer groups to serve in the store for a form of ‘team bonding’ or if they need some form of service hours. This past week we had an insurance group come in of about 30 people and they sorted about 220 bags of clothing! Then as the Program intern, I am able to lead programs and I get to lead my first solo program which will be a karaoke program in July!

Before starting this internship, I was unsure on what I wanted to do in the future. I still am unsure but I feel like there is something here that is helping me figure things out and look internally at what my passions truly are. I look forward to the rest of my time here at The Bridge and hope to forge a path for myself for the future!

– Mikayla Flanagan, The Bridge Teen Center

It’s a busy time at Concordia Place! The 3rd Annual Golf Outing is under a month away, and I’ve enjoyed creating content all about it. The Annual Golf Outing happens each summer and is a fantastic fundraising event for Concordia Place. 

Participants can decide if they’d like to play as an individual or foursome, and their registration fees become funds for the organization. 

My latest project has consisted of making a series of raffle prize reveal posts. There are all sorts of exciting experiences, items and excursions raffle participants have the potential to win. My latest reveal post was for two Xtreme Xperience Full Throttle Passes. Xtreme Xperience is a company that offers all sorts of race track experiences and thrills. This Full Throttle package consists of unlimited in-car videos, digital photos, spectator pit passes and a t-shirt. 

To post the graphics I create, I use a website called Constant Contact. It makes my life a bit easier because rather than having to post on each social media platform (we use LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), I can post them all at once from the site. If there need to be differences in the captions, I have the option to separate them and tweak each individual platform’s post. This comes in handy when I want to add hashtags to the posts but need to remove them for Twitter so I don’t go over the character/word count. 

I have also been working on creating the trifold pamphlet that will be used at the golf outing. The trifold design can easily be slipped into the golfers’ caddies. It has information about Concordia Place, the schedule for the event, who the committee members are, photos, and logos of the sponsors. Shutterfly has been really useful for me because it gives me access to Concordia Place photos I can incorporate into materials and posts. As a remote intern, getting to look at the pictures has been helpful for me to gain a better grasp of what life at Concordia Place looks like since I haven’t been able to visit the site in-person. 

Other websites that I’m acclimating to are Grant Station and Every Action. Grant Station is a site that helps nonprofits look for grant opportunities and applications. Currently I’m taking a stab at building some grant writing skills. I’ve learned a lot about how each company/corporation has a different format and different requests about what to include in the letter you send them. Every Action is a site that is used to store information about donorship and has the ability to send and sort emails. This helps make sure that messages go to the right people and keeps track of information that better helps Concordia Place reach potential donors. 

In addition to creating posts and graphics, I’ve gotten the opportunity to sit in on meetings discussing DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion). I’ve really appreciated getting to see the process of developing DEI plans and what it looks like to see them in action within an organization. I look forward t o continuing to be part of the advancement team and seeing what we will accomplish in July!

– Maiah Deogracias, Concordia Place

This experience for me has truly been life-changing. I have met many wonderful people and have crafted memories that will last a lifetime. So far in this internship, I have received invaluable information and wisdom that I will carry into my future career in healthcare administration. On June 7th, I was able to participate in an engagement event in the Altgeld community in Chicago.  I was able to share information with children and parents about By the Hand Club for Kids and provide them with fruits and organic popsicles that were both delicious and nutritious. The children loved them! BTH is highly geared towards providing kids with nutritious food options and I am very blessed that I was able to be a part of serving them.

Another project I am working on is making sure that every child visits the dentist and eye doctor at least once a year. At BTH we must do our best to ensure that the students have a chance to become the healthiest and best versions of themselves. I have been tasked to call eye doctors and dentist offices to see if we, as in the after-school program can transport the students to get their annual checkups. I am happy that I can be placed in this position as I hope to be in the healthcare administrative role in my future career. 

My time at By the Hand has also consisted of aiding the team leaders in the after-school program. I have had the pleasure of being placed with 1st graders and I have enjoyed every second of it. All of the students are such a joy to be around and truly hold God close to their hearts and the program is faith-based and focused on the mind, body, and soul. It is fulfilling being able to be a helping hand to the team leaders and help lead games that the students have a blast playing. 

In addition to the internship, my supervisor thought that it would be a great idea to take all of the interns around Chicago to different historical sites to truly understand the environment that surrounds us. The first site that I visited was the Pullman National Historical Park. The park was named one of the first planned industrial communities in the United States and is significant for its influence on urban planning and design. It was fascinating to see all of the historic buildings and I had no clue that this existed. I am grateful to go on these educational field trips to learn more about history. We also were able to walk around the neighborhood and speak to different people that lived in the community. They are very knowledgeable about the community that they live in and you could tell that they love Pullman. 

Reflecting on my first month in the internship, I can gladly say that I have made the right decision in choosing BTH. I have been welcomed with open arms by the entire staff and genuinely treated like family. Everyone does strive to take each child by the hand every step of the way to help mold, shape and equip each with the tools they need to excel in life because the children are our future.

– Camille Jefferson, By the Hand Club for Kids

On my first day about a month ago, I was welcomed to HealthLinc by people with open arms and smiling faces who all had at least one thing in common: a passion for service. HealthLinc is a non-profit community health center with several clinic locations across northwest Indiana. HealthLinc provides quality, affordable healthcare through a variety of health services. While their services are for everyone, they mainly cater to underserved populations. They do this by identifying barriers between patients and their health such as finances or transportation and work to break down those barriers. Serving nearly 30,000 patients, HealthLinc’s impact is undeniable.

Although direct treatment of patients is helpful, disease prevention is more effective for population health, but is often overlooked. One of the ways HealthLinc is able to augment disease prevention is through grant-based programs. A couple of these projects that I am currently working with are Food as Medicine (FAM) and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM). Both programs aim to help patients who have been diagnosed with a chronic illness such as diabetes, hypertension, or obesity. Some of the root causes of these diseases include malnutrition and a poor diet. The Food as Medicine program identifies patients who have a chronic illness as a result of food insecurity.

We provide these patients a monthly food box, nutrition education, and any appliances they need to cook the food. The RPM program works hand-in-hand with Food as Medicine. Through this program, patients receive a monitoring device such as a blood pressure cuff for people with hypertension, or a glucometer for those with diabetes. This allows patients to track their levels daily, and also allows healthcare providers to see where the patients’ levels are.

Both of these programs have only been in progress for about a year, so new challenges are frequently arising. As the newest member of the FAM/RPM team, I am helping these programs adapt and overcome these challenges. One of the most pressing challenges is that we currently have one nurse to care for the 530 (and climbing) patients enrolled in the RPM program. I help our nurse monitor these patients by looking for out of range readings that might indicate risk of heart attack, stroke, or any other emergency. I also ensure patients are educated on how to use their device properly. With the Food as Medicine program, I have worked to locate food pantries near our different clinic locations that are capable of providing emergency meals to our patients who are waiting on their food box. I also assist with taking inventory of the appliances we are sending out to patients.

Being a part of this team at HealthLinc has been nothing short of a blessing. My co-workers inspire me with their dedication to service and their display of humble leadership.

They create a selfless and encouraging environment that creates the best ideas for the good of our patients. I am learning more each day about the best ways to improve community health and promote preventative medicine, but more importantly, I am seeing the impact it has on people in our own backyard. When people are given the resources to boost their physiological health, they are empowered to do what they have been called to do.

– Tytus Ragle, HealthLinc

Going to Girl Scout camp was always a special experience. In elementary school, we would pack up our cars after school let out and drive to one of the nearby Girl Scout-owned camps. We usually ended up in a creaky old cabin that we would try to convince one another was haunted, but I’m sure I was the only one who was ever actually scared by the ghost stories. Nevertheless, I have fond memories of hiking, doing crafts, and getting to spend time with my friends.

I hadn’t thought about Girl Scout camp in a long time, until I heard about Shirley Heinze Land Trust. When I found out that their headquarters are at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve in Valpo, I instantly had flashbacks to camping trips there with my troop. We stayed in various cabins on the property and loved hiking on the trails there. I was beyond excited to return to a place full of memories when I was matched with Shirley Heinze through the CAPS Fellowship!

As a policy engagement fellow for the land trust, I’ve been doing a lot of research on environmental policy. Admittedly, I’ve mainly focused on social welfare and education policies in my previous political science coursework, but I was excited to branch out and see what I could learn about the topic! Legislative decisions at all levels of government impact the environment, as we’ve seen with the Supreme Court’s recent Sackett v. EPA ruling. The decision reduces protections for wetlands under the Clean Water Act, so environmental groups across the country now must fight harder to conserve and restore these precious ecosystems. Ever-evolving policies make the work of land trusts and other non-governmental organizations across the nation incredibly important. 

So far, I’ve mainly been preparing internal briefs to keep the staff informed and updated on policies that may impact Shirley Heinze. We hope to eventually start working on a series of external briefs to educate the public on various topics such as land preservation, renewable energy and food access/production.

I’ve also had the opportunity to visit Twin Oaks Park for the River Forest School Food Program’s Summer Free-for-All Lunch & Learn. Shirley Hinze and other groups bring the “learn” part of the program by hosting an educational activity after the kids eat their lunches. I recently helped out for a “Watershed Day” in which the kids did fun activities that modeled how watersheds and erosion work. As aforementioned, I don’t know much about science, so it was as much a learning experience for me as it was for them!

Additionally, I’ve taken advantage of working on a nature preserve by going on hikes and eating lunch outside with some of my fellow interns. We all enjoy learning about the native plants and insects and truly appreciate getting to work on a nature preserve everyday. 

I’m looking forward to continuing my fellowship at Shirley Heinze and contributing to such an amazing organization. And now when someone asks me what I do here, I can just tell them to read this blog post.

– Grace Aurand, Shirley Heinze Land Trust

I’ve officially been working for Concordia Place for a couple weeks, and am already so grateful for this experience! One thing that I’ve really enjoyed so far has been seeing how all of my different past work experiences have transferred to this role. This position has truly involved applying a culmination of many of the skills I’ve gained within my work as a Communications Intern for Valpo’s Office of Admissions, Student Engagement Ambassador for Student Life, and Photographer for Integrated Marketing and Communications. 

Not only this, but as Director of Catering for Valpo Dance Marathon, much of my time was spent reaching out to restaurants and companies for potential donation requests. Now, within my work as an Advancement Intern for Concordia Place, I am reaching out to a variety of businesses to see if they may be interested in donating items for Concordia Place’s 3rd Annual Golf Outing which will take place this upcoming July. Not only will participants have a day full of fun, food and golf, but the donated merchandise and gift certificates from various sponsors will be part of the outing’s raffle. This helps a lot with day of fundraising! 

One thing in particular I have had a pleasure doing is providing input for Concordia Place’s social media. Just last week, I presented a short slideshow to my CAPS advisor about ideas of how to best utilize platforms such as Tik Tok, Youtube and Instagram. I also explained how Capcut, a video editing app, can be used to create quick and relatively easy videos, especially when it comes to keeping up with the latest Tik Tok trends. I am excited to see their online accounts grow and engagement increase! 

I’ve been so inspired the more I learn about Concordia Place’s missions and vision, and the impact that it has had on the Chicago community. I’ve gotten to know more about different programs that are offered, including the Teen Leadership program. This program offers teens a handful of different ways to develop their skills during their high school summer break. They can learn about anything from entrepreneurship to culinary activities and even sales and marketing practices by running their own skincare business. One of my favorite initiatives my advisor told me about was the home delivery program they started just a couple years ago, which involves dropping off necessary supplies for new parents right in their homes. This helps provide them with important things to take care of their babies like diapers. 

One thing unique about my CAPS experience is that it is completely remote. While I am sad that I miss some of the in-person events and more face-to-face interactions with my coworkers, something I have enjoyed recently has been working outside in the summer sun. I roll my yoga mat out on my patio, fill up my Starbucks tumbler with some lemon water and get to work! I cannot wait to continue my CAPS Fellowship and am so excited about my placement at Concordia Place! This is a professional experience, but I know I am developing so much holistically as an individual as well.

– Maiah Deogracias, Concordia Place

Going into the CAPS Fellowship, I was looking forward to something that would challenge me. There were lots of great options, however, after interviewing with Shannon from Heartland Alliance Health’s Care Coordination program and hearing about their mission and work, I knew that this experience would push my learning in a necessary direction. The field of social work is designed to uplift those most vulnerable in our society to achieve a sense of wellbeing, and I realized that I had never traveled much outside of my “bubble” of studying social work in Northwest Indiana to devoting care and time towards the needs of refugees and immigrants. As someone who aims to amplify diversity, equity, and inclusion, I felt that I still have a lot to learn about cross-cultural experiences. 

I was also hoping for more first-hand experience with social services, and with work designed to support others in navigating systems in the U.S. that were never really designed to accommodate everyone. I need to be an active ally, and a team that focuses on case management work for refugees and immigrants with a focus on mental health is a space for me to practice doing so- especially through a learners perspective, trauma informed lens, and strengths based model, which are emphasized on this team. 

I already have learned so much from this experience and from the team I have been working with. For one, the case workers at my site exemplify what it means to foster a positive team environment. Each of them come from different cultural backgrounds, most of them immigrants themselves, and each of the four of them speak more languages combined than I can count on two hands. They use these differences to work collaboratively as a team, and to support one another and a wide range of participants from all around the world. The people they serve are referred to as “participants,” as everyone involved in the program acts as a collaborator towards common goals, rather than contributing to a hierarchy of power. You get the feel through the everyday interactions of this team that their work is really a work of heart: they put in the effort because they know that it provides neighbors in their communities with tools and support through their challenges.

I will also mention that I somehow hadn’t given much consideration to the following prior to this experience: case managers work with participants so that they have what they need to maintain a good quality of life on their own. However, mental illness is often chronic and an ongoing part of a person’s whole life. Further, if you were born in the U.S. and native English-speaking, consider how confusing the programs that you or someone you know relies on are, such as the medical system, legal system, and public aid-and now imagine the layers of difficulty that would be added if you are new to the U.S. and English is not your first language. Especially given the trauma refugees and immigrants face, discrimination, and overall difficulty of navigating the U.S., the reality is that it is hard for participants in this program to reach the point of comfortably and confidently ending their services with the Care Coordination Team. Cases are typically longer here than is typical for social work, and this creates an added stressor for the program, as financial supporters for the nonprofit only will fund a case for a certain amount of time. 

I’m so lucky to be collaborating with such an incredible team this summer, and am feeling inspired and challenged by the team I have become a part of for the next few weeks. I can say that I am actively learning, both professionally and personally from my experiences. I am participating in activities such as shadowing professionals, hearing the stories of participants and their unfathomable resilience and challenge, performing administrative tasks, coordinating appointments and special events, accompanying participants, and staying curious as to how I can play a role in uplifting others.

– Cylia Srmek, Heartland Alliance Health

This summer I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve at the Grünewald Guild in Leavenworth, Washington. 

What initially drew me to the Guild was their emphasis on community. The Guild has been a central hub focused on community and fellowship even before it was founded by Richard and Liz Caemmerer. The Guild was built out of an old Grange Hall that was used as a place to host community events such as markets, dances, town hall meetings, and anything that had to do with the community as a whole. The Caemmerers bought the Grange Hall after it had been left abandoned and created a non-profit that focuses on the facilitation of community through art and faith practices. The Guild hosts various programs throughout the summer that align with this focus. Through my conversations with those who regularly visit the Guild, I come to realize how many lives the Guild, as well as the Caemmerer family, have touched and changed for the better. 

While I have been busy with various tasks that range from sorting yarn to scanning historical documents, I have had plenty of time to explore the nature that surrounds the Guild campus. A mile down from campus, right across the walking bridge, the small town of Plain resides. There are three main shops; a grocery store, a cafe, and a hardware store that is more reminiscent of a curiosity shop than a Lowes (they sell the best espresso that I have ever had, genuinely life-changing). I’ve visited Leavenworth which is a Bolivian-themed town that has wonderful “made in the cascade” ice cream. I have even been able to hang out at a campground by Lake Wenatchee that was infested with the most persistent mosquitoes I have ever encountered. 

One aspect of the Guild that I have found inspiring is the director’s portrayal of leadership. There are two co-directors that run the Guild, Julia Hubbard and Chance Voigt. They have their hands in everything from administrative duties to serving on dish team to gardening. Their leadership style is truly centered around service. They have a team mentality and consistently make sure that everyone feels supported and heard through weekly team check-ins. Their weekly check-ins with staff and volunteers allow for phenomenal communication. They aim to use everyone’s strengths while also pushing them to grow by giving them the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and try new things, continuously offering support as they go. I have the privilege of living at the Guild this summer which means I have had the opportunity to spend time with them both in professional as well as more leisurely settings. Having been around them in both settings, I have realized that there is an authenticity that comes with their leadership. They don’t change who they are depending on who they are interacting with, they stay consistently themselves. That is a trait I admire and hope to reflect in whatever professional environment I end up in the future. 

While my time at the Grünewald Guild has been short, I have already experienced an immense amount. I anticipate that once summer programming starts, I will begin to encounter firsthand the magic of the Guild.

– Erin Murphy, Grünewald Guild

The experience has already turned out to be one that I will never forget! Working with the American Red Cross has been nothing short of amazing and a lot of new knowledge! Did you know that the American Red Cross has five lines of service? They are Disaster Relief, or helping out after a home fire, tornado, or even hurricanes. Blood Services, which are blood drives and assisting hospitals with clean blood for transfusions. Service to the Armed Forces, or helping soldiers and their families. Training and Certification, or teaching classes like Hands-only CPR. And finally, International Services, or helping other countries with their Red Crosses, or going to countries that don’t have an established branch set up yet.

I have had the honor of being part of the Disaster Action Team, or DAT for short. This team is responsible for helping out with local disasters; mainly being home fires and tornados for Indiana. I had gone out and helped someone whose house had burned down early in the morning. The fact that a majority, if not all of their stuff had burned up and that their life was now in a whirlwind made me so surprised at how kind and straightforward this person was with us three responders. The idea of compassion and caring that the other two senior responders showed was amazing to see, and I hope that I can be even a fifth of their compassionate selves they were when they were helping this client.

This past weekend, I also got to work with another branch of the American Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces. Four of us woke up early Sunday morning to help assist with canteening and being a community partner with Leon’s Triathlon. Leon’s Triathlon is dedicated to allowing veterans with disabilities to compete in a triathlon. This experience was extremely humbling, as someone who has all parts of their body working, it was amazing watching people push themselves so hard to compete in this race with an arm or leg missing. It helped me put my problems and complaints into perspective. Whatever I am going through, it is nothing nearly as bad as losing an arm or leg and forcing yourself to live with a limb missing.

In the coming weeks, I also have the opportunity to help with teaching fire preparedness with two programs: the Prepare with Pedro hazard program, and the Pillowcase Project. Both of these help is K-2 and 3-5 respectively, about bringing information back home to family about how to be safe in case a fire starts in the home.

Every day at the office always has me excited to see what the plans are going to be, and to see who might need some extra help. Thanks again to both CAPS and the American Red Cross for allowing me to work in so many different aspects! I’m so excited to see what the rest of the summer holds!

– Adam Monnette, American Red Cross

I started my internship the week of May 22^nd and was instantly greeted with enthusiasm by all the people working at LSA (Lutheran Services in America). The first week I was doing everything remotely since I did not have keys or card access to the building yet, so I was doing most of my introductions and beginning work over zoom. Susan set me up with introductory meetings with every member of LSA and then encouraged me to get involved with projects based on my own personal interests. Instantly, I was given a ton of opportunities to engage with the various kinds of work LSA does.

The first thing I got to do was sit in on an interview between LSA and one of its members focused on providing a home care facility with a series of amenities on the ground floor and living units on the floors above it. LSA has over 200 members, mostly Lutheran, non-profit organizations across the states, and is currently interviewing those who are a part of the Health and Housing network to see what kind of projects are in the pipeline. Moreover, they want to hear about what issues and struggles members are facing to see if they can provide more support. LSA gauges what kind of resources and webinars it provides based on the needs of its members. I took notes on the meeting with the non-profit, and as we meet with more in the following weeks, I am compiling key themes and struggles across these organizations and developing a PowerPoint presentation summarizing them. I am also recreating the RAAN (Rural Aging Action Network) Newsletter and helping get that out to the members to keep them informed.

Another project I just completed was helping Susan with a Vaccine Initiative PowerPoint presentation she was giving to the CEO and VP. The purpose was to update them on the status of how LSA has assisted their members in getting the vaccine to communities who face a lot of barriers, whether they be financial, sociological, logistical., in getting to vaccine clinics. I worked with Chris, the head of Communications and developed a 6-month plan of how to get other members to apply for grants as well as keeping them connected to resources and toolkits LSA provides regarding vaccines. Throughout the following months, LSA will provide member profiles on their website and newsletters detailing the success of members who have received grants, hopefully encouraging other members to apply.

LSA assists in connecting their members to the resources, education, or grants they may need to get a project off the floor. When I went into the office last Thursday, I had another introduction to someone on the team who works on keeping members updated on what is going on in terms of public policy. One important thing when trying to provide resources and assist members is knowing what barriers they are facing, which involves knowing the policies in place, as well as tracking the status of legislation. Most of the policies they focus on involve the limitations of Medicare/Medicaid since that one is particularly relevant to their health and housing network, disability network, and CYF (Children, Youth, and Families).

One of the coolest and most unique parts of this internship has been getting to work on capitol hill, as well as utilizing public transportation to get into the office. Not only is it a more economically and environmentally friendly way to travel, but you get to see and interact with people who do this every day. Getting off at union station was a surreal experience, especially feeling like I am not exactly supposed to be there with the other businessmen and women who work at the Senators office or Capitol Building, but it’s an extremely cool experience.

– Kylie Bowlds, Lutheran Services in America

Over the summer, I’ve attended various online meetings with Community Renewal Society (CRS) staff as well as staff and volunteers from other organizations with a social justice focus. Although each of these meetings was important, there is one meeting in particular that stands out to me. This was a meeting that was hosted by CRS staff in light of recent acts of gun violence in Chicago. During this meeting, a coworker shared with all the meeting participants his gratitude for his breath and ability to be present at the meeting and in a space that welcomes conversation and change. I find that from this meeting and my internship overall, I also have a newly developed gratitude, not only for the blessing of breath but also for the opportunities CRS has provided me. I’ve recognized that while advocacy may be demanding at times, it is a privilege to be able to help others because not everyone who wishes to can. 

When thinking about the growth I’ve made since starting my internship, I believe that I am more confident in my thoughts and actions. From brainstorming sessions with my site supervisor and coworkers to writing posts and newsletter content to be published, I am starting to learn the value of my own voice. Yet, given the encouraging environment at CRS, I know that I can be firmer in my beliefs and values and how I uphold them. CRS challenges people to be better listeners, speakers, advocates, and activists, including myself. This being said, I know I have a lot more growth to do. CRS has taught me to fight for what is just and that even in times of despair, I can turn to others around me and my faith to find peace and hope; to heal, gather myself, and continue pushing for a better world. On this note, my fellowship has also posed the question to me “What does a better world look like?” For now, all I can say is that I am still searching for this answer! 

I cannot believe that my internship has come to a close and that my CAPS fellowship will additionally be completed by the end of this month. Time flew by! I can sincerely say that even though my official internship is over at CRS, this experience will stay with me forever. The people I have met, the skills I have gained, and the knowledge and lessons I have learned have impacted how I see myself, communities, and the world. I have been offered a position to remain on CRS’ Development and Communications Team this school year, which I have accepted, and I am excited about what I will further learn and the new possibilities for growth I will encounter. Too, I am eager to work on some tasks and projects that I started this summer but was not able to fully finish. I am starting again at CRS in the first week of the 2022 fall semester. Community Renewal Society, here I come (again)!

– Tyla Gross, Community Renewal Society

This has certainly been an amazing experience! I knew that the CAPS program was special, but I could never have foreseen just how much of an impact my time at The Bridge Teen Center would have on me. Now that I’m just one short week away from the end of my internship, I feel that this is an excellent time to reflect on what I’ve learned about myself as a person during the past three months.

Before I joined the CAPS program, I had never taken much time to think about what the words “calling” and “purpose” mean as they apply to my life and career. Having reflected on the work I’ve done at The Bridge, I have come to define “calling” as the external force that draws you toward a particular line of work and “purpose” as your internal driving force, i.e., the reason why you are drawn to a particular calling. I enjoy telling stories through my photographs and my writing, which led me to conclude that I might be called to be a storyteller in some capacity. However, I only had half of the full picture – I still didn’t know what my purpose, my “why,” might be. It was at our final group Reflect-In last week that I realized my purpose is rooted in a desire to help people understand the perspectives of others. I hope to use my storytelling to bring people into spheres outside of their own and, in doing so, help make them more understanding of those who are different from them. Looking back, I can see how my calling and purpose have been present in the work I do at The Bridge as a media intern. Having been a teenager myself, I know for a fact that communication between teens and their parents can have more than a few gaps. It is my hope that the photos I helped post on social media demonstrate to the parents just how much their kids’ creativity, education, and social lives benefit from the programs and activities at The Bridge. One of The Bridge’s strongest assets is its community and I believe it is of the utmost importance that the community – which includes donors along with parents  – sees that they are supporting an organization that is effecting significant change in the lives of these teens. I count it an honor and a privilege to have helped tell the story of such an amazing place as The Bridge

I have enjoyed my time in the CAPS Fellowship program very much. Not only has it afforded me the opportunity to meet some amazing people, but it has also given me new insights into myself as an individual. I am not sure how my sense of calling and purpose will change as I continue to learn and grow: it might undergo slight alterations, or it might turn into something completely different. I am not at all certain of what the future holds, but, thanks to my time as a CAPS fellow, I can now move into the unknown armed with confidence, hope, and a better sense of self.

– Philip Bolton, The Bridge Teen Center

Like many other students during the 2022 spring semester, I began wondering what my summer would look like. I started applying for internships and jobs, and I was offered a job I was more than content with. I was then advised by someone I value very much that I wasn’t living up to my full potential. Honestly, I was not happy about that; I had my summer planned and I was now being told that I needed a whole new plan. Nevertheless, after a lot of reflection both internally and externally I decided to put myself in an uncomfortable situation. I turned down the position and started applying for new opportunities. When I began my search I honestly had no idea which ones I would be accepted for or if I would receive any of them, but that’s not the confession… Truthfully I had not given much hope to the possibility of receiving something else and I was fine with that. Then in late February, I was offered two different opportunities in the span of a week. While I was thrilled I was also very confused. I knew these were two great opportunities that I would learn a lot from, but I had no idea how to choose the one that was right for me.

The two offers were very different roles and they provided me with different skills and experiences. I spent weeks meeting with different people I both trust and respect looking for advice. I spoke with friends, family, and both past and present professors/mentors, some of these individuals I have known for little under a year while others have known me my entire life. After talking to any and everyone that I could think of I was left probably more confused than when I started. Before I knew it April was ending and I had less than a month to make my final decision. I called my dad one last time and finally, I had my answer. I was not the most confident in my choice, but I knew that if I was going to accomplish anything I had to be confident in myself.

Now it is August and my CAPS Fellowship is coming to an end. However, my confession… CAPS is not the only thing that I am ending. As of August 12, not only will I have ended my CAPS Fellowship working for the Kheprw Institute in the democratizing data department, but I will also have ended my Robert F. Smith Internship working for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Pittsburgh Heinz History Center in the digitization department.

I will be the first to say this summer has not been easy, but it has been tremendously impactful. I have been able to work on countless different skills, learn from a wide range of respected leaders, engage in different projects that would benefit my career, and I did a little extra travel. As a black woman striving to start her own nonprofit to promote the development of minority youth, I feel there is great importance in knowing my history and understanding my culture. My experience working as a Robert F. Smith Intern has also allowed me to connect with so many different people of color from all over the world that also believes in our history and the possibilities that arise from knowing and understanding it. While the nonprofit is the ultimate career goal I am also striving to receive my degree in computer science with a concentration in business. Working at the Kheprw Institute has shown me a whole different connection between all of my passions ( entrepreneurship, youth, and computer science) and both of my career goals ( owning a nonprofit and being a computer scientist). This summer has been the first step to a brand new level and I can not wait to see where it takes me.

– Essence Roberson, Kheprw

As the summer comes to a close, it is now time to wrap up projects that I have been working on as an intern in the advancement department at Concordia Place. Since my last blog post, I have done a lot of short term projects and a couple of long term projects. One of the highlights from a short term project that I worked on was creating flyers for a gala that Concordia Place is having in November. While I was creating the flyers, I surprised myself because I didn’t think that making flyers would be something that I would enjoy. I actually put flyer making as the last thing for me to do on my to-do list, ironically. I had no idea that I would like it so much! I loved being creative and being able to create different looks to advertise the gala. 

Additionally, in relation to the gala, another task that I was assigned was to research different jazz groups and auctioneers in Chicago to perform at the gala. I also found this to be a fun task because I was able to look at a bunch of different bands and read reviews to see if they would be a good fit for the gala. 

As far as the long term projects, which I am still working on wrapping up, they have been very time consuming. As with any nonprofit organization, funding for programs and projects is a must. There are a lot of different foundations that offer grants and in-kind donations to nonprofits, and there are some foundations more suited to nonprofit organizations than others. One of my long term projects was to do an evaluation on all of the foundations and organizations that Concordia Place is requesting funding from. To do this, I researched all of the foundations and filled out prospect worksheets for each. In the prospect worksheets, there was information such as the foundation’s mission statement, who they give to, how much they give, their priority areas (such as education, human services, arts and culture, etc.), and how to apply for the grant.

As a part of the evaluation process, my job was to produce a list of foundations, based off of my research and the prospect worksheets, that I believed Concordia Place should continue applying to for grants, stop applying to, and foundations that the team should discuss whether or not to continue or discontinue applying for grants. With this long term project, I received the chance to head up a meeting about my findings and that was a great experience for me. 

Coordinating with the foundations evaluation project, I was able to create a grants status calendar for the 2023 fiscal year in Excel. That was a fun experience because I was able to use the excel skills that I learned from a class that I took this past semester in school and apply them to a real life situation. 

I have done a lot of short term projects in my internship throughout the summer and I appreciate the chance because what I was able to learn and experience was more than just fundraising for a nonprofit. I also appreciate the couple of long term projects that I have worked on because they taught me patience and consistency. A lot of times in life, I want things to be done quickly so that I can just get it over with and move on to the next thing. With the long term projects, I wasn’t able to do that because that wasn’t what they were designed for. I had to work to accomplish the task and not throw something feasible together just to say that it’s done. Patience and consistency; that is what I will take away from my time as an intern with Concordia Place.

– Justine Dorsey, Concordia Place

Being on such a student-driven team at The Bridge has encouraged me to be more intentional about my connections with students and take every opportunity to make a program more excellent and learn about the purpose of specific programs. Recently, I was able to volunteer to help with our Welding program where the students made steel farm animals while practicing their welding skills. As I was talking to the professional welders who came to volunteer for this program, we conversed about how important student exposure to skilled trades was and how teenage students do not get many opportunities to learn more about trades like welding, let alone get hands-on experience with it. This informed my connection with students during that program because I knew to encourage them that it was not about making the finished product perfect but that mistakes are needed to get better and that they can sign up for more programs like this in the future. Some students were hesitant to try a new thing like welding but as they listened to the volunteers’ instructions and creative analogies, they put their helmets on and got to feel what it was like to be a welder.

Recently, I assisted in a program where the students were making Bug Bite Balm. The lead volunteer incorporated a camping aspect into the themed program by asking questions about who went camping and where as well as sharing her recent experiences camping at various national parks. As the program continued, we realized that we were going to have a lot more time than expected left after the balm was made. I quickly recalled my own camp experience working at a summer camp last summer as well as my ministry experience in InterVarsity and started to teach the students at my table a hand coordination camp game that drew everyone’s attention. At first, they were hesitant and confused about learning this new game, but it quickly drew everyone’s attention and sparked a lot of laughter in the room. Soon enough, the lead volunteer asked me if I could teach the game to everyone and I joyfully drew everyone into a circle and caught their attention with this engaging game and a couple others for the rest of the time we had left. Afterwards, I was speaking with the lead volunteer and she was thankful for my help and ingenuity. I was able to tell her about how my camp experience, ministry experience, and teaching experience had trained me to be prepared for something like this. I was elated to be able to share a different side of myself with the students and volunteers while incorporating a camp theme into this program. After this, I essentially got recruited by the Bridge staff to be the “camp games intern” for the rest of the summer to fill in any gaps of time during programs.

In addition to this, there is a student at The Bridge who struggles with behavior and I made it a point to connect with him well. I wanted to make an impact, which started with simply playing a game of Uno with him and some of his friends during a more relaxed program intended for students to hang out and make social connections. I was able to get to know the students at the table more as the hangout program continued and I asked them all what their favorite part about The Bridge is. Hearing about their perspective and experience helped me see how much this facility and organization means to the students. They use The Bridge for a creative outlet, a place to learn new things, and a place to belong. Towards the end of the program, the student I had made a point to connect with asked me if I was coming to the Friday night program and was so excited to hear that I would be there. That made a difference because just by being open minded to who this student was and what they had to offer, I was able to truly connect with them and add one person to their list of positive influences.

Along with this, another highlight of my time at The Bridge includes my interaction with students at a Friday night program. During our Socks and Sandals themed Friday night, I was asked to help lead outside in The Patio area and teach students how to play a rubber duck game that led to some interactive student connection. Since the game was fairly simple, I made up some challenges for the students, kept a high score, and had students go against each other. During this time, I was able to keep an avid conversation with the students and I met a new student in particular who was at The Bridge for the first time. He was so excited to be at The Bridge, and I asked him if he was doing karaoke that night as one of the activities we had. He seemed hesitant and told me that he was considering it. I asked him what he would sing if he did try it and he was not quite sure but was thinking about it. I noticed he had a Star Wars shirt on and just by asking, came to know that he was a dedicated Star Wars researcher in his own time and got on his own well-deserved platform about it while playing this simple rubber duck game. I found out later during our debrief staff meeting that he not only signed up for karaoke but always came around to see when it was his turn to make sure he did not miss it and finished out the night with the last song, his version of “I’m Still Standing.” The Bridge staff that night was able to experience the joy of making a difference in students and how they perceive themselves and their own abilities and I was able to be a joint part of it that only works if everyone is dedicated to the students. Thankfully, this is the climate at The Bridge every day and everyone who works and volunteers models a heart of service and care for each and every student that walks through the doors.

– Isabelle Kalil, The Bridge Teen Center