Wooh, let me breath out and relax for a second; it’s been almost 2 weeks since I began my CAPS fellowship with Heartland Alliance’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) and each day has been a new, challenging, but most importantly exciting adventure. Let me retrace a few of steps to the beginning and get a running start (get ready for some running metaphors!) into some of the experience and takeaways that I’ve already experienced in my first two weeks as a CAPS Fellow.
 
 
First and foremost, what exactly have I been doing? Since you’ve taken the time to read this blog I feel you’re entitled to know what I’ve been up to, so let me explain. My primary role as an intern in the YFS division of Heartland Alliance is to work with other interns and staff to plan, coordinate and finally carry out “Summer Program”; a 6 week long day camp for newly settled refugee children ages 8-14 that runs from the beginning of July through the middle of August. So then it would follow that the month of June is sort of like a warm-up for when the race actually begins at the beginning of July. However, this warm-up is more like one of those warm-ups where you’ve decided to try something new every step of the way, and at first it seems like, “woah this is really scary!” and you don’t know what to do, but then you look around and realize that everyone around you is super awesome and passionate, loves the work that they’re doing, and genuinely wants to make the world a better place. Pretty much right away you settle in and think “man this is going to be a great run” and you start to feel comfortable excited in a really great new environment. That’s what working in YFS is like.
 
 
Currently YFS has a set of tasks we need to complete before Summer Program begins that range from organizing our supplies, creating binders for each of the locations where we pick up students, reaching out to families about participating, and everywhere in between. One of the big things I’ve taken out of this experience already is that in order to plan such a major event, like our summer program, is that there’s a whole lot of behind the scenes work that nobody realizes is absolutely vital for having a successful program. For example, as I’m writing this I’ve just finished a day where I spent a great deal of time reaching out to local restaurants and grocery stores for summer program snack donations (absolutely crucial to keep costs down as a non-profit) and talking with bus companies about transportation for one of our field trips during the program. What I’ve come to take away from all of this is that in order create something truly great, like our Summer Program will undoubtedly be, you’ve got to put the time in during training to have a winning product.
 
 

Running metaphors and pseudo-sports reference aside, there are a few things that have really struck me about this sort of really purposeful work that I’ve entered into. One, at the end of the day, when 5:00 rolls around, and the work day ends, it’s not at all the end of the day for the families coming through our office. While I get to go home at the end of the day to hangout and watch Netflix, the families who we work with don’t get to just check out from what happened during the day, because while this might just our work, it’s their whole lives. That’s the kind of thought that when it hits you makes you start to appreciate the incredible importance and purpose of this sort of work. Second, the people who work at Heartland Alliance, and organizations like it, are truly amazing human beings. Being surrounded by people who everyday live out the values of leadership and service is inspiring and really drives you to work harder and do good things. Lastly, pre-school children are absolutely adorable. Okay, everyone know that, but still. After spending just a few hours in the preschool room a few days okay I’ve had kids running up to me at my desk, with the biggest smiles, yelling “teacher, teacher”, and I think you can get the picture, it’s a pretty great feeling.
 
 

I think that’s where I’ll leave it for this time. I am super excited to continue my summer with Heartland Alliance’s Youth and Family Services, and I look forward to checking back in once we’ve started the race that is Summer Program. (Of course I was going to leave you with one more running metaphor!)

A few things I have learned as I start my CAPS Fellowship in Maryland:

1. I am capable of driving 13 hours straight.

2. Being a tourist in Washington, D.C. for a day and a half is exhausting. There is simply just too much to see and do that you ultimately cannot fit it into that kind of time frame. Good thing I have all summer to metro down to D.C. and explore!

3. Moving into a cottage provided by The Village at Rockville (TVAR) is exciting! You also get very creative when 3 girls get ready in a home with ONE bathroom.

4. Sometimes starting the washing machine is not as easy as pushing a button and you have to get creative with that as well (had to let the washer figure out its attitude first….).

5. When 3 girls walk into a restaurant looking utterly confused and clearly are first timers you just might get free bagel bites and a big piece of chocolate cake.

6. Attending a Welcome Cookout at your supervisor’s house the night before orientation with 4 other interns really puts butterflies at ease and shows you just how gracious and kind the staff are that you will be working with and for throughout the summer.

 
 
While some of those things are comical, moving out East for the summer has really allowed me to grow as a young adult (and that’s just been in the first week of living out here) and also excites me for my future professional career and the opportunities I have and will be given.

 
 

I started working in the office at TVAR on June 5^th so I have officially been in Maryland for one week. In this first week I have had the opportunity to attend two full days of orientation, learning much more about National Lutheran Communities and Services and the mission and values the organization functions by. NLCS’s mission of customer service focused care for residents at the community and constantly exploring new ways of further impacting and improving the surrounding community is inspiring. It motivates me to jump into projects and use my skills and knowledge to help them reach the goals they have set.

 
 
This past week, I have met numerous members of the leadership team both from corporate and also internally at The Village at Rockville. They are all so wonderful and so eager to assist me with projects and show me the ropes of the organization. I am starting to meet many of the residents who live in the community.

 
 
The favorite part of my day is walking upstairs and visiting with the residents on the memory care floor. There is so much history, wisdom, and stories that I lookforward to hearing from all the residents while I am here.

 

This summer I will have many opportunities both in nursing administration and in nursing care that each day will be full of learning and growing, and I am eager to reflect on those opportunities at the end of these 8 weeks in MD.

The Precision Medicine Initiative, am I a doctor? No, I’m a CAPS Fellow. My first few weeks interning at Venn Strategies have been many things. It has been challenging, informative, exhausting, and so much more. I have found myself working on issues that truly matter to the betterment of our society. One of these projects is the Precisions Medicine Initiative. The Precision Medicine Initiative is a program started under the Obama administration. It is designed to expand the scope of medical testing to traditionally underrepresented communities to design new treatments that take into account gender, ethnicity, and environment. The PMI has already changed the way in which certain cancers are treated. But what about me? I have never attended medical school, let alone been exposed to precision medicine. My role has been to help in a different way. I have been assigned to the team that has helped to roll out the Mobile Engagement Unit. The Mobile Engagement Unit is a bus that has been modified into a mobile testing center that will be driving around the country to get people involved in research for the project. A bulk of my work has been preparing logistics as the MEU will be traveling starting its trek across the country in August.

The CAPS Fellowship has given me the opportunity to explore the diverse nature of the DC area. My roommates have developed a plan to eat at a restaurant representing a different part of the world every Friday night. As I write this blog I am quite full after our Ethiopian food extravaganza. In the future we plan on sampling Sri Lankan, Vietnamese, and Mongolian, just to name a few. This an opportunity that is unique to Washington DC. Outside of London or New York, it is difficult to find such a diverse group of foreign diaspora living in one place.

These two experiences are a mere sampling of the activities I have taken part in during my first few weeks in Washington that have facilitated the introspective nature of CAPS. I have found myself reflecting deeply on what my future will look like. For a long time I did not know whether I would pursue something in the non-profit sector or something business related. I had always held the two as distinctly different. I have seen through CAPS and my time that Venn Strategies that despite the fact that is not a non-profit, the work we do is changing the lives of those in America the better. There is a phrase written on one of the walls in the office that says, “act like the work you do matters, it does.” This phrase describes how I feel when I go into work every day. Whether it is helping the Precision Medicine Initiative or researching infrastructure improvement, I have learned that work in policy can truly be fulfilling work and give a purpose for getting out of bed each day. I look forward to the rest of my time at Venn Strategies and the rest of the CAPS Fellowship.

I wandered through the stairways and hallways of the center, I was given the task to find three things that stand out to me in the Harrison Center for the Arts from my supervisor. Art hangs on every wall; while, materials and supplies are stacked and ready to be turned into something new. It is a creative’s dream.
 
 

The building itself is old and shows its past through many periods of renovation and additions. Rooms vary from cinder block to brick to limestone. As one room is utilized for gallery or event space, the next will be an artist’s den filled with their work and supplies. There are old wood floors that transition to concrete with paint marks showing marks of the artists here. It feels like a maze in which each corner leads to something new. However, the building serves the purpose to house the artist’s space and their work as well as give a space for the community to gather and be inspired by art. The art covers the walls and amplifies the variety of textures and materials within this place. I sit in front of a painted copper piece while I recall the pieces I passed made with oil paint, beeswax, collage, wood, and more. These textures of the building and the art develop a sense of collectivity. It is a place where different talents and stories combine to create the atmosphere of the center.
 
 

It’s evident that this buildings has delivered a place that many artists find the freedom to create, the ability to try new things, and have instant feedback from the large community within the center. They art can be hung in any open space. The floors can get messy, and whimsical additions can be added to the cracks (as little wire men are found around the center helping ‘fix’ it up).

 
 

You can walk through this place and feel inspired, challenged by new ideas, and joyful because of all that surrounds you.

 
 

This place has developed into a center for continuous production and creation, and I have gotten the chance to experience and partake in this activity. Working here, you do not stay on one consistent assignment, as there are many going on at one time. In my first two weeks I have researched the history of pea shake houses and mortuaries to see their roles in a neighborhood that we are working in. I have interviewed an artist and resident of the community to hear his stories of the place. I have written blog posts and done more research finding clever ways of bringing art into neighborhoods. Eight other interns have arrived at the Harrison Center since I came, and we each are finding our place in the beautiful commotion of this place.

 
 

We have worked together to create a wall of butterflies with the neighborhood’s hopes and dreams written on them. This coming week we are planning to make yarn and leaf luminaires outdoors in another neighborhood. These project may seem simple, but they have connected us with these neighborhoods and have made people curious. And these are only several parts of my internship! It has already taught me so much and has given me an incredible community in which I get to work. I am very excited for whatever the next months have in store for me and this place!

 

 

-Regan Weber

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fully packed car that went from Fort Wayne to Rockville. The first two things that occurred to me when signing up for this blog were: 1) I really should sign up to do this blog at the same time my roommate does her blog so that I remember to do so! and 2) This blog follows my first week… that’ll be easy. I can talk about all the things I that I have learned.           The first point was perfect because I nearly forgot, and the second point was more difficult than I originally thought. It’s not because I haven’t learned anything, but because I have learned so much.  I have been inundated with information.  This information is both overwhelming and also thrilling.  I have felt the rush of wanting to dig into my project as well as the… “where do I even start?” feeling.  As one of the three fellows residing at The Village at Rockville (TVAR), the experience has already proven to be the start of an incredible fellowship. We have the privilege of living on the campus in one of the independent living cottages. Not only does that make for a great conversation starter, but ironically, two former CAPS fellows live across the street from us as well. We have been abundantly welcomed to the community. Not only have we had a chance to try out the local favorite eating spots, but we are also being exposed to a growing community that is taking steps to expand and flourish.           Our first week has been jam packed with things to get us oriented and acquainted with the community.  We completed a two day new staff orientation. We learned policies, safety, and what it means to be a team member at this organization. The rest of the week has been spent with Jason Gottschalk, the executive director, and Cyndi Walters, the COO, and many other members of the TVAR family.  The meetings we have attended have allowed us to meet and  get to know other leaders as well as introduce us to potential projects.  We have spent downtime researching various projects in order to hone in on the one or two that interests us the most.  We have also spent a great deal of time exploring the building and getting our bearings! Katie, Michelle, and I at Billy Goat Trail.           Outside of the office, my cottage-mates and I have encountered many of what we refer to as: “cottage lessons”.  Basically, they are pretty much life lessons we have come across as we adjust to living in Maryland. Some of these lessons are funny stories such as putting clothes in the dryer first as opposed to the washer.    Others are slightly more serious like visiting the minute clinic at the local CVS which is open 7 days a week.  This came in handy after an encounter with poison ivy.  Katie, Michelle, and I know that there are probably a thousand more cottage lessons we will encounter before our time here comes to a close.         The excitement I have for the upcoming adventures in both Rockville and D.C. is immeasurable.  We are set up for a summer of career growth, learning, leadership, great food, and memories.  I’ve never been so thrilled to be part of such an inspiring organization.   A picture of the scenery we saw while hiking.

It’s already been a whirlwind time here in Indianapolis. From moving in during the biggest racing weekend known to man (the Indy 500 for those who are not car inclined) to starting my internship with Charitable Allies to learning the logistics of this beautiful, vibrant city, it’s been a challenge. What I was not expecting, though, was the largely impactful beginning to my time in Mooresville, the town that currently houses Charitable Allies. CA is itself a nonprofit law firm that represents nonprofit organizations through not only the formation process but also educational and administrative support, training, and legal services. Charitable Allies works to see nonprofits through various obstacles whether that is simply filing for tax-exempt status, working better with their board of directors, or being present in court for various legal needs.
 
 

When I first arrived at my internship, I was tasked with updating the website for not only Charitable Allies but also for my site supervisor’s other firm. This firm in particular focuses on Adoption law, interstate and international. Within the first week of me being in the office, an international adoption case blew up and my supervisor was flying to the east coast to participate in an emergency hearing. It was incredible. I was watching him and our office’s paralegal furiously finish all of the required paperwork in order to help the client.
 
 

Through this hectic situation, I realized just how fast paced real time can be. In the working world, things have to get done in an instant and they have to be done correctly. There is no margin of error in the law and Charitable Allies and the work that they are doing has shown this to me. I hear legal jargon thrown around like it’s water cooler talk and I watch the printer spit out hundreds of sheets of paper per one case. Working with a group that splits their time between the nonprofit sector and the adoption law world has shown me just how important it is to be versatile in the world of law. Of course a firm itself tends to focus on one, maybe two different types of law, but as an individual it is imperative to be ready for whatever is thrown at you.
 
 

My supervisor woke up that morning not knowing that he would have to file emergency paperwork with a court in a different state; he probably expected to wake up and grab a cup of coffee before heading into the office. This is what I mean by being versatile. Cases can move at the speed of light, similar to the way life can. One second you’re prepared to do one thing and the next second you’re accomplishing something you never thought possible. If CAPS has taught me anything so far, it’s to be completely open minded to anything that an internship may throw at you. Even if you are not directly doing the work, just watching the others in the office tackle a situation far larger than themselves can be a learning experience. Taking the time to truly analyze and pay attention to your surroundings in an office space can change the way you look at the world around you.

I started my college career at Valparaiso University as a Spanish and Secondary Education major, but through the various experiences I’ve had over the last four years, I’ve discovered a calling to teach English to speakers of other languages. I’ve spent years in TESOL and education classes and countless hours in the classroom working with elementary and middle school English learners, so a CAPS fellowship in this field seemed like a logical next step in learning to apply what I’ve learned in the “real world”. This summer, my internship in Chicago with the English Language Training department of Heartland Alliance’s Refugee and Immigrant Community Services will give me a glimpse of another branch of what I am now exploring as my vocation.
 
 

Over the past five days, I have learned about assisting in adult English classes, filing paperwork, inputting data, testing new participants, and making coffee. Assisting with English classes is how I spend the biggest chunk of my day, and it is the best overall description of what I do, but making the coffee is arguably my most important task, depending on whom you ask. All jokes aside though, it is nice to feel like I am contributing to this organization. I enjoy data input and find filing to be relaxing, and the tasks will save my supervisor and the other English teachers a few hours of their time. Besides learning about my daily responsibilities, the experiences I have had at Heartland have already taught me more about myself than I expected this early on in the summer.
 
 

The position I am in now is much more relaxed than what I experienced as a student teacher. Students come and go from class as needed to go to appointments and get one-on-one help from tutors, and they frequently speak to one another in their native languages during class. While this commotion was hard for me to adjust to during my first few hours of observations, I have come to appreciate the environment in ELT classes. I have learned to go with the flow of this new style of classroom, and it works well for the participants. The students and teachers all enjoy themselves during class, and the students are there because they want to learn! They frequently express their thanks to me, the teachers, and the other volunteers at the end of a lesson, which is a welcome change from most high school students’ attitudes.
 
 

I have also learned to be much more outgoing and friendly! Well, I’m working on it. The environment that Heartland employees create in the office is similar to the atmosphere that exists in the classrooms. Coworkers always greet one another with a smile and by name. It is so refreshing to be in such a positive place every day. Even as a relative newcomer, I can tell that the people there really care about what they do. I can only hope that by the end of the summer, I will have adopted this passionate and welcoming attitude. I may be teaching English lessons, but the people I interact with every day are teaching me to be a better person.

As the first CAPS Fellow to officially start her placement, I am already entering my third week at my placement site. I work at Heartland Alliance Refugee and Immigrant Community Services under their Resettlement & Placement department in Chicago, which works with refugees and immigrants during their first 90 days in the country. I entered the experience 3 weeks ago both excited and nervous to work with a population I have never worked with before, and in not knowing completely what to expect, I tried my best to keep my mind open.
 
 
On day 1, I was already diving in head-first. Within the first half hour, I was on my way to visiting a refugee’s home with my supervisor to make sure they felt properly accommodated. By day 4, I was conducting these home visits on my own, without supervision. The general pace and dynamic of the office seems to be “Do first, learn after.” My supervisor would send me on errands with the refugees – such as applying for food stamps and social security cards, obtaining a State ID, and teaching them the public transit routes – with little to no prior instruction, and then sit down with me to debrief and teach me the process. Hands-on is my favorite way to learn, and I love not having to sit at a desk all day, but even the people most fit for this kind of work would find it overwhelming at first. I’ll spend three hours with a Syrian refugee family resolving their State ID processing issues at the DMV and be greeted at the door upon my return by a young Burmese man who needs to be taken to the bank immediately to open a bank account. Most of my tasks are stacked directly on top of each other, and they sometimes even overlap.
 
 
The fast pace is definitely overwhelming at first, yet the most difficult aspect of this position, I’ve learned, is the language barrier. Refugees come to us speaking languages I’ve never even heard of before starting at Heartland: Rohingya, Tigrinya, Oromo, and so on. We have translators available in the office and over the phone, but speaking through a translator in itself is an art form that takes practice. Even speaking English now takes much more thought and deliberation; I must make sure I am speaking clearly and slowly enough for a refugee who speaks little English to understand, and I have to catch myself from using American figures of speech that they may not recognize. It has definitely reinforced the fact that having foreign language experience is crucial in this field (I suppose it’s common sense, but now I’ve experienced it first-hand). I’m trying to learn common words and phrases in each major language used by our participants, and I plan to take some foreign language classes as electives when I start graduate school in the fall.
 
 
Despite all of the overwhelming pace, stress, and sometimes frustration of the position, I come home every evening feeling a sense of fulfillment. All of my energy may be spent, but I know I spent it on directly helping and supporting a population that needs it desperately, especially in the current political climate. I think back to the many heartwarming experiences I’ve had so far – when an Eritrean refugee considered me enough of a friend to share with me his poetry and songs about his horrible experiences before escaping, when a Syrian woman tried to teach me Arabic and spent the whole train ride home telling me about Ramadan while her husband took my hand and smiled in gratitude for my company, when a Burmese family invited me to sit on their only couch and offer me hospitality while the 4-year-old daughter shouted the English words she knew with a smile – that make it all worth it. I know I have a purpose to dedicate my life in service to God’s most vulnerable children, and although I’m not convinced that this exact line of work is for me, I know that this summer, I am doing the work God has called me to do. I look forward to all of the growing and learning yet to come. Now that I am (finally) not alone in the city anymore and almost all of the other Chicago CAPS Fellows have arrived, I am excited to do that growing and learning alongside a community of peers that truly feel like home. Here’s to an amazing rest of the summer!

Two Saturday’s ago, I left the comfort of my home (and bed) to make the trek to Indianapolis to start at ArtMix—a new, albeit short, chapter in my emerging adult life. While I was sad to cut my time short with friends and family, I was extremely excited to get going on this new adventure. At this point, we have likely all moved ourselves in or out of a space at least once—not the most fun part of the experience. Nevertheless, I packed the next nine weeks into one car and headed south. I am extremely fortunate that my parents and two best friends were spirited and supportive enough to help move me in; that made the transition much easier. From there, I said my goodbyes and looked around at what is now my space for the next nine weeks.
 
 

As quickly as I found myself moved into the apartment, my roommate Kate moved in. A few days later, my third roommate Regan joined us. If there is anything I have learned in the past week, it is that this experience would be drastically incomplete without people to come home and vent to. Whether it be about a terrible night’s sleep, first-day jitters, or exciting accomplishments, my roommates are proving to be vital resources in my reflection process. It may be our unique and laid-back dynamic, but I consider myself living with friends rather than having roommates. We give each other an open space to say everything there is to say about our days—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and quickly found genuine solace in having people who listen and engage.
 
 

On top of all of this, there is also a social component to the experience that cannot be overlooked. While I am here to embark on a new professional journey, I am also simultaneously and inseparably creating a social life with my roommates and with Indianapolis itself. I will say that the transition from small town to city is not a necessarily easy one—it’s surprisingly easy for the logistics of parking and one-ways and finding a grocery store to put a damper on diving into a city’s culture. As I reflect on the obstacles I have encountered trying to make Indy my place, I realize it is more an illustration of the growth I have yet to do as a person rather than the limitations of Indianapolis itself.
 
 

My first week at ArtMix has been relatively eventful; I have learned quite a great deal about the organization, the upcoming events and future plans, and the staff. One of my first tasks was to memorize the company’s mission: ArtMix transforms the lives of people with disabilities through the creation of art. This is, in a nut shell, what the organization does. Beneath that umbrella, there are many programs, events, and opportunities ArtMix organizes that helps them optimize their commitment to that mission. ArtMix provides community art classes, paid internships to young adults of all abilities that work on vocational skills through the production of art, and more. A large part of what I have been working on so far deals with outreach and development, including designing advertisements for an upcoming fundraiser, cross-checking donor and email lists, and placing phone calls to previous attendees at fundraisers to elicit their continued support. Through these tasks I have already gotten a large taste for what it means to be a nonprofit, from fundraising to community development to directly engaging with those we serve. I’m also getting the opportunity to be surrounded by art and artists every day, which I am so grateful for! There is a lot coming up quickly at my internship, but the staff is very supportive of myself and everyone around them, so I’m confident the coming weeks will be equally as rewarding as they are challenging–that’s the goal!

Last Thursday I completed my final day at The Village at Rockville (TVAR), packed my bags and traveled back to the Midwest. As hard as it was to leave Washington DC, I had always known there would be an end to this summer opportunity. In my short stint of twenty-one years of life, it seems as though there is always a beginning and an end. Within a year I will finish my undergraduate degree at Valparaiso University and take part in an entire new beginning. When I reflect on my summer experience, my time at TVAR was not defined by the beginning or the end but rather by continuous movement of time between those two points. My time at TVAR was like a train, whatever I tried to do, time was always moving towards the finish line. My summer was defined by many small successes and failures that compose my overarching experience. Those little successes and failures will soon become, last week’s successes and failures, last month’s successes and failures, and last year’s successes and failures. The movement of life will continue and that is why I believe with each success or failure should come a more ambitious goal. Whats next? Life will continue to move past this summer opportunity but the individuals, successes, and failures from this summer, have guided me to set new more ambitious goals for my life and vocation.

On a different note, I have realized the value of the CAPS program to Valparaiso University. During my first three years at Valparaiso University I often found myself questioning if the university truly backed its focus on calling and vocation. I found it hard to find organizations and groups of students who were motivated to seek the place where passion meets purpose. Yet, The Institute of Leadership and Service shattered those previous feelings as I found myself involved in meaningful work, reflect-ins, and the opportunity to have an alumni mentor. The CAPS program provided the bridge for me to explore my passions and calling in life. I attended networking events in DC, participated in community discussion at the McCain Institute and established lifelong connections. This summer has been the first time I have felt like I am truly fulfilling my college expectations. Throughout my internship I have constantly found myself asking “why not”? Whether it has been asking the CEO of NLCS a difficult question or walking into a networking event full of strangers, the moment I began to doubt my ability, I asked myself that simple question. The journey outside of my comfort zone has been accompanied by success and also some failures. Failures that have inspired me to take the next step, do the extra work, or maybe something as simple as making a stranger smile.

Before I traveled out to Washington DC, I was set on being a physician and that goal has not changed. Rather obtaining the status as a physician is no longer the finish line but a new beginning in the future to establish new, more ambitious goals, building on the experiences at TVAR and Valparaiso University.

 

In the rise of technology firms and innovation in Silicon Valley, there is one thing that consistently drives these companies. These companies want to change the world with their product, but they want to make money, through differentiation. What appears different and innovative about us that would make you spend the extra money. While there may have been problems with connectivity, networking at the turn of the century, the solutions were brought upon by competitively driven businesses. Blackberry was nearly put out of business by the likes of Apple. While the effort was to change the way business is done, success and making money was the driving force, and therefore Blackberry was left in the dust.

 

In my last couple weeks at United Way of LaPorte County, I was exposed to the opposite of that. While on the surface, it’s easy to understand the difference between for-profits and non-profits, this exposure taught me the foundational differences between the two.

 

In three-pronged approach, UWLPC wants to help in the areas of income, health, and education. UWLPC isn’t the only group trying to solve these problems in LaPorte County. This is a good thing but there can be setbacks. If certain people are using both UWLPC as well as another service, such as a shelter or a counseling center, they may receive some of the same information and it may be inefficient to the user. Thus, collaboration is necessary. I was able to be a part of a couple of meetings that involved ways to unify efforts to help house the homeless, employ the unemployed, etc. In the for-profit world, there is little to no collaboration as it is all about the success of your brand. While in the non-profit world brand success is important, it is more important to solve the issues. Getting exposed to this help me really understand foundational differences between the for-profit and non-profit industry.

 

Working at Forest Manor Multi-Service Center this summer has taught me so much and definitely affirmed the idea that every experience is a good one in that it can teach you something. And as leaders, servants and even human beings, if we’re not constantly learning then what’s the point? Through my time there, I learned that although parents paid a weekly fee for their child to attend camp, these fees did not cover all the many activities that the kids were involved in. So the organization applied for grants as well as had an entire host of donors to help supplement daily costs. Seeing all the good that an organization like this does, it was easy to see that they deserve as much funding as possible. So I one day hope to be involved in efforts that somehow helps non-profits to a greater degree in extending their outreach, whether this be through tax subsidies or more state/federal money being allocated towards these efforts. I feel that when a community has such a positive connection to an organization like Forest Manor, it needs to be given room to flourish and grow.

 
Being a camp counselor/ teacher also allowed me to bestow some of my knowledge gained at Valpo upon the little minds. For my theology course requirement at Valpo, I took “The African American Religious Experience” taught by Dr. Gregory Jones. While this course focused on religion in the African American community, it also provided many history lessons on influential African American figures. I was able to introduce a weekly Black History figure to my class which was pretty fun. We focused on figures such as Maya Angelou, Malcolm X, and Thurgood Marshall among others. I realized this was needed after a student mentioned Malcom X and the rest of the class had never heard of him. They only seemed to know about Dr. King, which to me was rather sad considering the entire class was African American. We also talked about various Indiana colleges just to get them in the mindset of going to college and making that a reality for them. It felt good to actually be able to teach them something considering I did not have a background in teaching.

 

Being involved in the CAPS Fellows program truly helped me realize that leading and service are not isolated entities not can they be performed alone. It was great to hear the other fellow’s experiences via Google Hangout and actually reflect upon what it is we all are trying to do. It really provides new perspective on servant leadership and how to belong to a cohort of fellow servants. This experience also forced me to humble myself. Often times it is easy to get caught up in the mindset that you’re such a great person for wanting to help others, but when working with children, I really saw that it’s not about that at all. I realized that some of those kids will remember me for years to come and the impact I left upon them-whether positive or negative. This really brings you down a notch and also helped me to focus on doing the best job I can do and always remember that serving is not about me at all, but those in need of help. I intend on continuing to experience as much as possible because I know it all can help me become the best servant leader if I know what to look for. The CAPS Fellow program has definitely enabled me with that.

To the Children of Horton’s Kids,

 

You have changed my life.

 

Every day you inspire me, you humble me, you frustrate me, you confound me, you encourage me, you challenge me, and you change me.  I will only be around for a season in your lifetime, but you will be an entire chapter in mine and I am grateful to know that the times I have had with you will be things I carry for the rest of my life.

The first day I met you all, I was terrified.  You try meeting some fifty some kids all at once– it’s terrifying.  In the following few weeks, as I got to know you better, I wondered if my place truly was among you all.  How could I meet you where you were at and provide you with anything?  The inadequacy I felt was stifling.  You all were so independent, so strong, and seemed like you had it all figured out.  It was incredibly intimidating to try to figure out the best way to serve you.  

Caring for you all the past few months is the most challenging and humbling experience of my life to date.  Every day your youth and innocence (despite the things you have grown up with and experienced — some of which has made you much, much older souls than I) holds a mirror up to my own heart.  It shows me how cynical and guarded my own heart has become over the years.  Every time we are together, we are learning from one another whether we both are aware of it or not.  It has made me conscious of softening my heart in efforts for you to avoid the same cynicism and hardening that my heart has experienced over the years.  You have reminded me how important it is to remain hopeful, how important it is to be grateful, and how important it is to continue to leave my heart open even if it’s for little, ordinary, everyday, miracles.  You are teaching me to love better, deeper, and without expecting anything in return.  

So on that note, I want to thank you.  Thank you for giving me something to look forward to, every day for the last three months.  Thank you for allowing me to serve you through smiles, arts, and crafts, and unexpected hugs.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your life from 2-6pm,  Monday through Thursday.  Thank you for challenging me and frustrating me and allowing me a glimpse into your lives.  Thank you for driving me nuts with requests for coloring pages and immediate dispersion in public places that gives me a heart attack (Maternal-instincts man).  Thank you for testing my patience so I grew to be more patient.  Thank you for challenging my thoughts on poverty stigmas and my understanding of underprivileged youth that previously only came from academia.  Thank you for humbling me with your friendship and good faith. Thank you for providing me with the experience of knowing each and every one of you.  

If I can instill anything into you all – it is that you matter.  You are significant and capable even when it feels like you are not.  You are both capable and able.  The biggest barrier will be yourself.  You have the power to make influential choices regarding your life; some won’t be easy and others will not be without consequences but learn from those decisions.  Each and every single one of you has the ability to rise above and beyond.  It’s not easy, Lord I promise you it might be one of the hardest things you ever do in your lifetime, but it is possible.  Remember that you are kind, you are capable, and you are important.

In this day and age, it is essential that you know you are important.  For almost two months straight I flipped on the news every morning and I read some horrific news about the racial bias in this country.  My thoughts immediately flip to you and I wonder what this society you and I are growing up in will mean for you.  I worry that the society we are surrounded by will get into your head first and that you will let the way things are dictate your path.  The way things are are not always how things should be.  This is why I want you to remember that you are important.  I want you to remember that your voice is important.  I can not guarantee who hears your voice but I can promise you someone will — your mother, your brother, your sister, your friend, your child, or even the staff of Horton’s Kids.  Someone will hear your voice.    

I want you also to remember that it is good to ask for help.  Take it from someone who is constantly learning just how hard asking for help is: asking for help is brave.  It’s brave to admit that you need someone other than yourself to assist you.  Whether it’s over homework or digging yourself out of the deepest, biggest hole you’ve ever found yourself in, asking for help is okay.  It is brave.  It is humbling.  But most of all, it is freeing.  It is freeing to ask someone to help you with whatever burden you are carrying, even if it is to give you a temporary rest.  

One final thing I want you to know, Children of Horton’s Kids, is that for every laugh, a smile shared, and hug exchanged, because of you, I am becoming a better me.  And my only wish is that every day, you try to become a better you.  There will be days you fail and on those days, I hope you forgive yourself… but continue to grow and continue to try, try, again.  

 

With love,

A Woman You Made Better

 

In an instant, the summer adventure I began 9 weeks ago, came to an end. Having an internship in Chicago has given me a lot of opportunities and experiences, that has no doubt changed me for the better.

As far as vocation goes, in these short 9 weeks, I have reaffirmed my passion for working in an international relations/service field. At the beginning of my internship, I didn’t know what to expect as I first entered into Heartland’s doors. I was excited to work with and help people from all over the world  but I was also anxious, as this was my first internship experience. I was able to help serve a population I had so little knowledge about beforehand and was able to grow more culturally competent while working with a population that most Americans do not come into contact with on a daily basis. Working with refugees and hearing their stories made me grateful for what I had while simultaneously giving me the drive to work harder in order to make the refugee’s resettlement here in the United States a little more comfortable.In the US, debates run rampant about immigration and refugee laws, but never does the legislators ever pay attention to the actual people themselves. This experience allowed me to see the humanness in the refugees and their situations that are often desensitized in the media.

Social wise, this summer in downtown Chicago allowed me to go on adventures and  make friends  that would not have been possible if it weren’t for CAPS.  When not working, my fellow Chicago CAPS-mates and I would explore Chicago. In this, we would go to music festivals, Karaoke in Chinatown and eat authentic Japanese Ramen on Chicago’s north side. Living in the city allowed me to see and experience neighborhoods I had never been to before. My CAPS-mates and I have went through alot of things both positive and negative, during these short 9 weeks but none of this would be possible if it were not for this program.

 

My time at Douglas Land Conservancy has come to an end, and with it, the summer of 2016.  As I now prepare to return to Valpo for my senior year, I have been thinking a lot about community.  When you are in college, it can at times appear fairly easy to find a community.  After all, you are living with your closest friends, and surrounded by students nearly every day.  You find those with like minded interests, and a community forms.  A consistent cautionary tale that I have heard echoed by nearly every graduate from Valpo over the past few years is that I cannot take for granted that community because when you move on from college, finding a community can be more challenging.  I have taken this advice to heart, and plan on maximizing every opportunity in front of me this upcoming school year.  My time at DLC, however, gave me a different kind of expectation for my time after Valpo.  Not only does DLC protect open space and wildlife habitats, it fosters and builds a sense of community.

One of my favorite aspects of DLC is the guided hike series that it puts on throughout the year.  Often these hikes focus on a certain aspect of the natural world, such as bird watching, local history, geological formations, scenic vistas, or wildflowers, just to name a few.  These hikes are lead by trained volunteers, often members of the local community who volunteer not only for DLC, but countless other organizations throughout the county.  The volunteers help make the hikes as successful as they are for each and every hiker.  Each hike can draw upwards of 50 people, all of whom are interested in the kind of work the DLC does on a daily basis.  I had the privilege of attending one of these guided hikes over the summer, which was a wildflower hike at Dawson Butte Open Space in Douglas County.  The hike was lead by two native plant masters, who know and can tell you anything you’d like to know about plants in Colorado.  There was a tremendous variety of people in attendance, ranging from retirees to young families to middle-aged professionals.  Each person had their own particular interest on the hike, but everyone was interested in conservation as a whole.  You met like minded people, and there was a sense of community.

DLC puts on guided hikes and other community-oriented events throughout the year in an effort to continue to build its relationship with the community at large.  In a conversation I had with one of my bosses, she emphasized the necessity for the greater Douglas County community to know about DLC and its mission.  If you truly care about the land you live and work on, and the environment you live in, DLC offers you a productive outlet for that passion.  You can volunteer and meet others with the same priorities as you.  And through that, a unique and special community forms.  DLC’s work serves not only to protect that land, but to build that community that is integral to our lives.