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

During my time in DC I have found a favorite pizza place, as one always should when living in a new place. Situated perfectly on the route to the Lincoln memorial, &Pizza is the ideal pick-me-up after a long day of sightseeing and easily found when wanting to meet a new friend for dinner. It’s also a chipotle-style pizza place, meaning that you’re able to customize your pizza from the sauce to the drizzle on top and an excellent size for dinner plus leftovers. I’ve found myself going often when with others and it was the first place I ate when moving in for the summer. Like &Pizza, my time as a CAPS fellow has been very customizable both in and out of the workspace. I have been able to choose whether to live at home or move to a big city, to work with child welfare or senior services, to have one roommate or three in my apartment, and how to engage with the CAPS community and with communities here in Washington DC. 

The one decision I was most excited about making was working with Lutheran Services in America as my CAPS fellowship. I remember my interview fondly. I immediately felt welcomed and that I would have the opportunity to explore different sectors within LSA and be able to learn along the way. This rang true throughout my internship, as each person I interacted with at work welcomed me with warm smiles and encouraging comments. 

A lot about this summer left me with more questions than answers about my future and even about what the rest of my time at Valpo will be like. I have questions like, do I want to go grad school and when? What do I study after undergrad? Where do I want my networks to be? Where should I live to cultivate these networks? What jobs do I want to look for after my undergraduate degree? However, my time at Lutheran Services in America has shown me that being within a supportive work environment is one of my most important bases for my future. To be supported and able to receive constructive feedback among colleagues is essential to a successful organization. 

Another thing I’ve learned through my experiences this summer is the importance of community and networks. When arriving in DC, I knew I still wanted to be involved with my faith life even when away from home and the Valpo community. So, I joined a local church and was able to spend the summer making connections with young adults around the nation’s capital. Some of them were young professionals who had lived here for several years and some were summer interns like me. By listening to their stories and journeys I was able to learn valuable advice while creating relationships that will hopefully last beyond a summer. I was able to get an inside look on what living in the capital is like when it’s more than just a few weeks. I also learned the struggles and joys of other internships and working environments which will inevitably help shape my professional path in the future. 

Traveling to a new city is one of my favorite things to do. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out where to go, planning itineraries, and observing the distinct culture of the new place. So, needless to say, I was elated to get the chance to stay in Austin, Texas for three weeks as part of my internship with Water to Thrive. Before arriving, I spent time researching and learning about what Austin was like and all of the activities to-do. I have learned when traveling that it is better not to hold tight to expectations, and to come into a new place with as open a mind as possible. Of course, it is impossible to have no preconceived ideas of what a new place will be like, but it has helped me to truly enjoy a new place.

Keeping an open mind while traveling has also translated into starting my internship. When starting anything new, it is easy to have an idea of what it will be like. This could be either extreme excitement or dread, or something in-between. For me, a fresh graduate, the transitioning time between college and “the real world” has been different to what I thought. Yet, it has shown me how I have no control over specifics, but I do have control over what I do and how I think about it. For example, even though I may not be able to understand traffic or the weather, I can adjust my attitude about it. For example, even when it begins to down-pour while paddle boarding, I can keep a cheery attitude and recognize that the rain was actually helpful in cooling me down after being in 90 degree Texas weather. This is just a small silly example, but the same is true as I continue to work through my internship. 

Water to Thrive does amazing work in building sustainable water wells in rural East Africa, which is the kind of work I am extremely passionate about. It is hard to find an organization that cares so deeply about truly changing lives, and not just creating band-aid fixes to massive global issues. It is also difficult to find an organization working on international aid that does not allow donors to go and physically help with the work. I think this well-intentioned help can often cause more hurt, and works to boost the ego of Americans who travel across the globe to help with a cause. Donors may visit the sites, but they are not allowed to help with building the wells themselves. Thus, at Water to Thrive, the work here in Austin is mostly to achieve funding so that local communities in Africa can build and establish their wells. After taking many classes on how to serve global communities well, I was ecstatic to learn about how Water to Thrive effectively makes a difference in the world without playing into the white-savior trope. Of course the role of the donor is important, but what is most important is the community being served. This is what caught my attention when I first learned about Water to Thrive. 

My role as an intern is to begin establishing corporate partnerships with local businesses— something I have never really done before. I knew it would be a challenge on both a large scale especially post-2020 since so many businesses have struggled financially. However, I also knew it would be challenging on a personal scale since I have had to teach myself about how businesses work and how to make a corporate business feasible. Something I subconsciously expected, however, was that businesses would be extremely receptive and responsive to my pitch. Why wouldn’t they want to support a cause that is so meaningful? Although I always try to come into new situations with few high expectations, I found that I do sometimes have the idea that everyone cares deeply about global causes. In my role, which has been mostly research, outreach, and some designing, it has been difficult to decipher the interest level of those that I am reaching out to. 

Last week, I was able to tag along with Kim and Morgan in asking for specific donations to local businesses for Water to Thrive’s silent auction. In this in-person situation, I was able to finally see the generous spirit of business owners and managers. It was encouraging to hear people’s intentions and excitement over our mission. Austin seems like a very generous city, it is one that has different initiatives to help community members. Most businesses already have some sort of philanthropic endeavor, and it is easy to see why Austin is the fastest growing city in North America.

So, for me, even though my work is not directly with those that Water to Thrive is serving, I have to remind myself that the mission is greater than my own small tasks. Discouragement is part of working for a non-profit, simply because of the unknown nature of where funding will come from. Yet, conversely, there is great excitement and joy in seeing the generosity and willingness to give in these particularly hard times. Being in the office where I get to see images of joy of those in rural communities receiving water, has also helped me in maintaining my passion for my work. 

My own frustration and joy has been part of the beauty of this summer. Challenges help me grow, and I can already see how my summer at Water to Thrive has impacted me and exposed the kind of work that I enjoy. It is easy to get caught up in the small inconveniences of my life here— a lack of response, a wrong bus, an unexpected rainstorm— and yet, these are the things that make this experience so unique. I have the chance to take these small problems and change my perspective. Instead of inconveniences they are an opportunity for a follow up, for more sight-seeing, and for the chance to see a rainbow.

My time at LINC Ministries is quickly dwindling; I am feeling very downhearted towards this memorable chapter in my life ending. I have felt incredibly humbled to be both a CAPS Fellow and an intern for my dream nonprofit. This month I have started a project that has differentiated from the rest of my internship tasks. I have had the privilege of kickstarting a LINC Ministries project called Root to Rise. Saint Philip is a Lutheran church nestled in between the neighborhoods of Logan Square and Rogers Park of Chicago. This region is overflowing with diversity; many of the residents are from different countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. The church has an abandoned Early Childhood Center which has been closed for three years now. At one point, learning was cultivated inside these walls for young children through the hands of passionate teachers, however, it is now a desolate and somber building. Thankfully, starting in the fall, the building will be transformed into a cultural arts and community center for families and children in the area. During the day the community center will house a workspace for residents to come and spend time in. During the evening, the building will become an afterschool program for students. It is crucial that these immigrant students have a place to congregate at night because they are unfortunately susceptible to becoming vulnerable to gang-related encounters. The children will be given the opportunity to express themselves individually and culturally during their time at Root to Rise. Classes such as dance, art, yoga, and other similar activities will be offered for the students. These classes will allow the students to learn more about their abilities as well as the abilities of others who may be different from them. This building will soon encourage hope for this flourishing community– the seed will be planted, the roots will firmly create a foundation, and the fellowship will rise.

In the meantime, I have been preparing Saint Philip for this impending project. Currently, the building has been used as a dumping ground for Saint Philip’s items; my job has been to organize and clear out these items. I have found myself in Chicago’s unpredictable summer days; I experienced 90 degree weather in that unairconditioned building and a brisk 60 degree day, preparing the building for renovations. I filled up over thirty trash bins, swept for two hours, hosted two curb alerts, and donated items. I have accumulated sweat and dirt, gained a new knowledge of social work, thanks to Brene Brown’s podcasts, and walked in with far too many iced matcha lattes.

In all seriousness, I have enjoyed the opportunities and challenges that have come out of this project. I have had the privilege of connecting with the community through hosting curb alerts and community meetings. The curb alerts that we hosted at Saint Philip were a joy; residents of the community were able to come out, grab free items, and learn about the upcoming project at Saint Philip. It was encouraging to meet so many community members and learn about their stories. My boss and I were able to develop relationships and make connections for the future. I learned that with any opportunity comes many challenges. Clearing out Saint Philip was not easy; a lot of the time, my thoughts felt clouded and my body felt weak from all of the physical toil. I did enjoy the stillness that came with the building though, I found myself dreaming of the potential of it. What allowed me to keep going was the dreamt up visualization of my end goal. I knew that this cultural arts and community center would not be able to exist without the clearing of the building. I knew that I had a responsibility to fulfill, for the community. Through this experience, I was able to learn that hard work always pays off; nonprofit work is not always pretty but the end result is what makes it worth it. It took strong discipline to work on one project continually, but I am so glad that I kept with it. I hope to come back to Root to Rise years from now and see the impact that it has had on the community. I know in my heart that every long day spent at this building will soon produce fruitful fellowship for a community in need.

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

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

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

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

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

Writing this, I find myself over halfway through my internship at BallotReady. It is hard to believe! There is much left to do, but there has been so much I have learned since my last entry. BallotReady provides a wide variety of learning opportunities. Recently, we were introduced to entering officeholder media pages into TAFT Satellite, BallotReady’s database created by their engineering team. In addition, our data team supervisors have been hosting Excel and SQL “jams” or learning sessions. SQL is the programming language used within their databases. As a Global Service major, I have not had much experience with programming and databases. Therefore, these training sessions have been very helpful for me in expanding my set of hard skills as well as boosting my confidence in using them. We have also had the opportunity to watch and participate in lunch and learn sessions every week; thus far, my favorite was a lunch and learn on hot cheetos. There are also future plans for career panels with fellow coworkers which I really look forward to because I admire the BallotReady team.

The social aspects of my internship have been extremely beneficial as well, despite our remote work. We recently had a virtual company retreat which allowed for reflecting on the organization’s progress this year, possible improvements, and for cross-company bonding opportunities. I was surprised and pleased that my intern cohort and I were included. Just by being included, we were able to better our relationships and efficiency as a team. We expressed goals and desires to collaborate together more throughout our journey outside of our weekly intern games event and daily check-ins. From there, we have all made efforts to engage more with one another. I have been overjoyed to learn more from my peers and to develop our friendships. Furthermore, the retreat was an educational experience to see the inner workings of a business and how its people make it evolve. BallotReady’s team is filled with creative young people with inspiring motivation, outside-the-box thinking, and great communication skills. 

Moving forward, I will continue to work on my intern minor where I help the Director of People and Operations consolidate their HR resources. We also will be starting projects on confirming early voting drop box locations and updating normalized positions data. Additionally, my supervisors on the data team have been offering to help me with job preparation before the internship ends. I am the only intern they currently have that has graduated so I greatly appreciate their efforts to guide and support me in my future endeavors.

As I enter the final month of my internship, I will be beginning my hunt for a full-time job. It is a scary time of transition that lies ahead. However, BallotReady has prepared me for entering the workforce and comforts me that they will be here to support me along the way. Through this internship, I have learned that I do not need to limit myself to nonprofit organizations; I can find meaningful work, great teams, and serve others in a variety of ways. I have also seen what it is like to work with an organization that values its employees well-being and how smoothly an organization can run as a community and not a hierarchy. BallotReady inspires me to go out into the world as a leader and person of service that upholds these practices and values. I look forward to learning more from them in this final month and then seeing where they take me into the future.

Ingenuity: The quality of being clever, original, and inventive. While I’d like to believe that I’ve always been clever, I can definitely say that my time so far working with Ingenuity Inc. has grown my skills in every definition of the word. 

Ingenuity is a nonprofit organization that connects arts partners with Chicago Public Schools, as well as collecting and providing data on inequality and disparities throughout the system. As an intern with the Partnership and Learning department, I have been working on forging the connection between partners and the ever changing requirements of CPS. This year, the annual event for new partners has been revamped to include two other organizations: Communities In Schools of Chicago and the Chicago Literacy Alliance. My role has been a smattering of different tasks: finding speakers, creating social media posts, writing scripts, organizing the gist of the conference, and getting out of my comfort zone.

Something that has been a big challenge for me is battling imposter syndrome. My coworkers, supervisors, and the other interns I’m working with often feel head and shoulders above me in both skill and experience. I’ve found myself feeling meek and choosing not to participate in meetings rather than share my voice. Everyone I work with has been great with encouraging and congratulating me for the work I’ve put in, but it’s taken a while to see it myself. Today I sent out a newsletter I had created to over 5,000 people. That was a moment that put things into perspective and made me realize the impact of the work I’ve been doing. Would anyone who got that email ever know it was written by an intern with an inferiority complex? No, but that’s the highlight of it. They’ll never know, but I will, and that’s something for me to be proud of. 

This summer has been filled with a lot of personal challenges. I can only hope that my next month of being a CAPS fellow wont continue that trend. While I’ve been feeling pretty heartbroken and alone, the kindness and flexibility of my supervisors has allowed me to take time for myself and grow in ways that, while not related to my work performance, are necessary for my own growth. I have been leaning on introspection and the importance of reflection that is constantly promoted by ILAS to pull my thoughts out of myself and back into my work.

I’ve picked up a job working weekends at the American Girl Place. It’s not a job that I would normally gravitate towards, but it has allowed me to work with so many kids and watch their eyes light up with the joy of a new toy or experience. These interactions have been so special for me. Ingenuity’s purpose is to provide children, especially those in underserved communities, with access to the arts so that they can experience the joy of discovering a new passion. My work with Ingenuity is not only fulfilling for my current self and future career goals, but for the kid in me, the terrible clarinet player, mediocre soprano, and aspiring poet who had so many giggles and proudest accomplishments spurred from the arts.

My first experience in Austin Texas was sleeping on top of my luggage at the Austin International Airport. After 5 long hours of flying and 4 hours of layover, I eventually made it to Texas where I soon realized nothing was open yet and I had to stay at the airport until 9 in the morning. Thankfully, I had my book and lots of delicious coffee to get me through it.

Checking into my apartment was fairly easy and went very smoothly. What I did not expect was a roommate. Do not get me wrong, I was happy to have a roommate; however, it would have been nice to know beforehand instead of thinking I walked into the wrong apartment room. All that considered, my roommate Dani is a really nice person who has helped me experience what it is like to live in Austin Texas.

On June 3rd, I had my first official day in the Water to Thrive office. I learned so much about my other coworkers and what it is like to work for this nonprofit as a CAPS fellow. I also learned more about the organization in general.

Water to Thrive is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that works directly with East Africa to supply clean water to the rural areas. This was interesting to me because it brought up so many questions that I did not know I had. For instance, I wondered about funding for the projects and the organization, how the wells are maintained, how well locations are decided on and what goes into the training for the implementation of these wells? Learning the answers to these questions is all a part of my projects this summer and I am very ecstatic that I get the privilege to work side-by-side with this wonderful group of people while experiencing the amazing city of Austin.

From the projects that I have been working on I have learned communication skills, how to create various kinds of graphics and posts, project plan proposals and what it takes to keep a nonprofit organization going. I have also learned and experienced what it is like to live in a different state essentially on my own. All of these skills and experiences are things that I want to continue working on because it will help benefit me in my future career as a healthcare leader. As well as help me find my place that I want to be a part of.

All things considered, I would not change the experiences I have had so far because all of them, even the challenging ones, have impacted who I am and who I want to become. I have had to adapt to a completely different city and figure out my own way to live here. As mentioned at the beginning, I may have had a bit of a rough start but in the end it has made me stronger and more confident in myself.

My friends and I have a running theory that moving to a new city should perfectly encapsulate the feeling you get when listening to the album 1989 by Taylor Swift. In this album, Swift is upbeat, bold, and seemingly unphased about her move from Nashville, TN to an apartment all by herself (and her cats), in New York City. While I was pretty sure that I would feel a bit more nervous about moving to a city alone, I knew that this internship would be a growing experience that only comes along once in a lifetime. 

 With a burst of confidence, I found myself testing our 1989 theory through the CAPS program, in my dream city. After a whirlwind of goodbyes and some (admittedly frantic) packing, I found myself settling down in a comfy apartment on the outskirts of Washington DC. While the pandemic has made my internship with Lutheran Services in America virtual, I have still been able to learn a great deal from this internship site in the few short weeks that I have been here. The first lesson? Outlook. This one came as a surprise, as I have almost religiously used Google for all of my school, work, and home needs for as long as I’ve known how to work a computer. After just a few hiccups (and missed messages in Microsoft Teams), I was well on my way to diving into projects and learning what a (virtual) office setting looks like. 

To my delight, I am able to continue past work of a former CAPS Fellow during my time with Lutheran Services in America. I’ve begun research on racial equity data within the nonprofit world and continuing to research LSA’s member organizations for the same type of data. I have also been able to learn more about how nonprofits can work together to combat the systems that hurt the people they serve. I’ve particularly enjoyed learning about aging adult facilities and how they help aging adults in rural populations. 

While I’ve enjoyed this work, it’s also led me to consider my calling for the future. In having a lively conversation with my CAPS mentor, I found that more often than not, our paths in life aren’t as straightforward as they seem. In fact, the further I get in my studies, the less I know what I want to do with my career and life path. Luckily, CAPS has allowed me to explore one of the many options that my degree leads me to. Nonprofit work can be difficult, frustrating, and can be either focused on day to day life or the big picture. LSA allows for me to see both sides of this work, experiencing conversations with those doing the nitty gritty ground work. The people who are constantly putting out fires while simultaneously making the world a better place. On the other hand, LSA takes the non profit staff and gives opportunities to focus on the bigger picture and direction of their work. This has led to more and deeper conversations around race and racism, reaching out to typically ignored populations, and creating a safer space for those who need help. Overall, I feel grateful for the different opportunities LSA has given me and allowed me to explore on my own. It has given the flexibility of a learning environment while still showing how to be productive in a work environment. 

Leading up to my first week at BallotReady, I felt concerned about being good enough. I have more soft skills than hard skills. I have a passion for politics, but I felt like an amateur. I quickly learned that there was no need to be so worried. In my first week, I met with my cohort of other interns, both data and engineering, and had meet-and-greets with the whole BallotReady staff. I instantly felt welcome despite the remote setting BallotReady is working in. It was a breath of fresh air to work with and be led by young people who are motivated by and interested in similar things.

Thus far, as a data intern, I have primarily been aiding BallotReady’s Data Team in researching current officeholders across the U.S. as the organization seeks to expand their product to more of a year-round service, not just during election cycles. Data interns also get signed on to other projects like researching voter registration requirements in each state. It is really exciting to me to know that our work is contributing to informed voting for fellow citizens. I was so impressed with my supervisor who exemplified just how important this work is; she told us how she spent an hour exploring Google Maps to find accurate directions to and the address of a polling place in a trailer. It was used by ten voters who, without her directions and hard work, would not have found their polling station to vote. Starting next week, I will be taking up my intern minor project. I will be working with the Director of People and Operations to consolidate their HR information into a new database system. I look forward to continuing to expand my horizons, building my skill set, and furthering my relationships with my supervisors and peers.

In my fourth week on the team, I find myself becoming more confident in my hard skills and I now know that my involvement with civic engagement is what is important, not being an expert. I also truly value the diversity and inclusion practiced at BallotReady. I feel comfortable being myself with my coworkers, communicating and asking questions, and trying new things. One of my goals as a CAPS Fellow is to narrow down what it is that I want to do and what type of roles fit me best. For the past few years, as a Valpo student and Global Service major, I had always thought working at a nonprofit in some sort of capacity was the answer for me. However, with just four weeks as a graduate and BallotReady intern under my belt, I see that there is so much more out there for me. This may sound like the opposite of my aforementioned goal, but it has been extremely insightful to me.