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

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

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

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

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

– Adam Monnette, American Red Cross

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

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

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

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

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

– Kylie Bowlds, Lutheran Services in America

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

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

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

– Tyla Gross, Community Renewal Society

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

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

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

– Philip Bolton, The Bridge Teen Center

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

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

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

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

– Essence Roberson, Kheprw

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

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

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

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

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

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

– Justine Dorsey, Concordia Place

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

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

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

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

– Isabelle Kalil, The Bridge Teen Center

Since my last blog post, my time here at the Bridge has remained busy, and it is hard to believe that I only have two more weeks of work left. In the past weeks, I have been able to start planning the fall volunteer appreciation event, attend a behind-the-scenes field trip to a local church, and assist in training volunteers. I have also continued to help with volunteer events and student programs, and I even had the chance to lead a few of my own, something that previously would have scared me.

While most volunteer groups will only come for two or three hours, there was a group a few weeks ago that dedicated six hours of their day for three days in a row to serving at the Bridge. This was a group of fifteen hardworking high school students and five dedicated chaperones. On one of the days, we took a half hour out of the day to do a worship session outside. During this time, we talked about why we are here and what work we are called to do. The founder of the Bridge mentioned a bible verse that became our motto for the week: “and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb. 12:1). Throughout the rest of the week, we talked about how not all of us are necessarily called to ministry or non-profit work, but we still all have races to run that are still important, and that we can run our races as we are; we do not need to change who we are or wait for a specific time in our lives. That week, their race was to sort clothes to serve the community, and by the end of it, the group had sorted over 700 bags of donations, which is enough to fund programs for thirty-nine students for a year. This made me think about what my race is. Some people know exactly what they are called to do and what their purpose is, but I have always been someone interested in so many things I could never choose what exactly I want to do with my future. Recently, however, I have begun to accept that this is okay, and that for now, my race is to continue to learn about myself as I finish my internship a nd my final year of school. And while running through life blind can be scary, I have learned that eventually I will reach the finish line.

While I do not know where exactly life will be taking me, I still have some important takeaways from my time at the Bridge. I have determined that one of the most rewarding aspects of my internship has been able to connect people with the opportunity to serve their community. Service has always been an important aspect of my life, so it has been very impactful to help people make it a part of theirs. Additionally, my time here has made me think about the role of service in my future. Many of the volunteers I have interacted with take time out of their busy lives every week to serve at the Bridge, and it has made me realize that helping your community does not need to be a full-time job or a week-long event; it is something almost everyone can do. So despite still not knowing what exactly my calling and purpose in society is, I still plan to keep on running my race and see where life takes me.

– Sophia Panfil, The Bridge Teen Center

I find it difficult to believe that my time here at the Grünewald Guild is coming to a close. Over the past two months I have met such incredible people! There is a magic to this sacred ground. The people, hands-down, have been the greatest part of my summer. The staff and rotating volunteers are such a joy to work with. We approach our weekly duties with humanistic focus. The directors do not micromanage or nitpick, rather everything is a conversation, a dialogue, and we are truly a team. In one of our last weeks a participant noted that the tone of the community was set by the way the staff interacts with one another. This brings up another facet of my Guild experience that is so rewarding. I get to take part in and see the way the community dynamic emerges each week. I’ve gotten to meet people from all over the country, to form a community that is intergenerational, vulnerable, and expressive. Most of all, it has been exciting to meet the masters of their various crafts and see how they go about teaching veterans to the Guild as well as first time participants like myself.

Arguably, the most important, and obvious, lesson I have learned from this summer is that ALL work has dignity. While I have always been an advocate for this sentiment, it was not until I found myself feeling as though I was not doing enough nor doing anything of substance that I was shaken in my understanding of work/labor. My major duties here at the Guild include hospitality and facility upkeep. I prepare lodgings for participants, tend to bathrooms, take shifts on the dish team, and do yardwork around the grounds to ensure that all who visit are able to feel secure and experience the magic that I have found in the Guild. Thanks to the trio of directors, I began to take pride in the work I was doing. I was helping to build security in both shelter and food so that people felt comfortable and secure enough to enter into a creative process. I seemed to stumble through the summer feeling that I wasn’t doing enough or that I should be doing more, but was always met by innumerable praises from the staff and participants.

The more Guild–centric lesson that I have learned is the value of the neutral zone. In our lives, both as individuals and organizations, we are traveling in an endless cycle of beginnings and endings. Here, that change is understood by a new hierarchical era. The Guild is slowly exiting the recovery stages of losing both their founders and experiencing a global pandemic. The three directors are brand new, and are working with those who have been around for decades to try and understand the next beginning, the next phase of life here at the Grünewald Guild. All summer we have been observing and encouraging rest in this neutral zone, the time between an ending and a beginning. It took me nearly my entire time here to realize that I, myself, am floating in a neutral zone. And truthfully, there’s nothing wrong with that. It is necessary to mourn the loss of an ending, and open your arms to the opportunity of a beginning. That is the ultimate lesson I am bringing away from my summer experience here. While my calling and purpose are still fuzzy, I can at least acknowledge where I am in the cycle.

I am beyond grateful for the experience I have had over these two months. I want to thank everyone for the contributions they’ve made to my summer. The most powerful goodbye was when my final week of participants, programming week five, held a moment of prayer and blessing over Natalie and I as we begin our journeys back to the Midwest and into our senior year. It was so moving and that is a feeling, a memory, that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

– Katie Endres, Grünewald Guild

Since the last time we spoke, a lot has happened. Another first Friday has come and gone. This time, the interns decided to establish a dress code: fancy. This might have been one of my best-dressed nights of the whole summer. Sporting a striped brown tie, my evening pearls, a black mini dress, and the most important item, sunglasses. Fancy indeed! For this first Friday, I was a map hander outer, the first face that people see for the night. I also was a gallery attendant for the underground and hank and dollys. 

This internship is bringing out skills that I didn’t know I had. One example is that I was tasked with sewing tote bags. Why would possibly be asked to do that you may be thinking? The answer is that we have tons of extra vinyl from the billboard that hangs proudly on 16th street and that Joana Taft asked for it to be done. Simple as that. There are lots of difficulties that come with using vinyl as fabric, and not knowing how to sew anything more advanced than a pillowcase. This was a skill that I had always desired to expand upon but didn’t think I would be doing so this summer. I put my problem-solving skills to the test with this project. Every time I would get my tote-making supplies out, there would be some sort of snag Pins would break because of the thickness of the vinyl, an ever-changing pattern, and a bobbin that just wouldn’t stay bobbed. Every time I had one of these problems I felt like screaming but instead had to sit and logically work through things. Eventually, I got the hang of things and was slowly but surely becoming a one-woman factory. The Pecks, some dear friends, and contributors of the Harrison Center came to visit for one of our intern lunches. Their son is the namesake of one of our galleries, Speck Gallery. Anyways, I was able to gift these two some totes and it was a really special moment for me. 

I’ve started to get sad about the end of the summer. There are lots of things that I have yet to do and goodbyes I don’t particularly want to say. Still, there is more to look forward to in these last weeks. One of my favorite musicians, Clairo, is coming to Indianapolis on the 31st. I managed to snag tickets with one of my favorite friends and some of my fellow wonderful interns. Even though this will be my second time this year seeing her live, I may be even more excited than last time. Two days later, I’m seeing Charli XCX on her birthday. I think being in the city has soothed my musical soul. Back at Valpo, there aren’t many close opportunities to see live music. You either drive to Indianapolis or Chicago, which sometimes isn’t reasonable for a college student. Here, I’ve been able to skate downtown in 15 minutes and go to a little jazz club. I have also been able to work on some music and perform of my own here. Being able to sit down and work on a song and present it to my peers has been a treat. Mg, our extremely talented music intern and I get to do some performances next week. We have been working on harmonies for the show. 

My goal for the end of the summer is to wrap up all the things that I have been working on cleanly. To do research is nothing if it can’t be accessible to others to learn from. It will be really special to see what all the other interns are finishing up as well, although bittersweet I’m sure.

Just as quickly as the first day of Lutheran Summer Music arrived, so did the last day. The morning started off exceptionally rainy, initially making it a gloomy move-out day for LSM students and their families. I spent most of the morning preparing for medication check-out and packing up some of my own belongings as well. Knowing that this would be the last day of LSM, I felt a multitude of emotions: excitement to go home and spend time with my family, fatigue, and general worry about how the day would go. I thought that saying goodbye to students and their families would be a quick process, but I was happily mistaken.

As I met with each student and their families, some of them expressed appreciation that I had not anticipated. One parent expressed gratitude for the time that I spent caring for their student. Another parent wrote me a letter thanking me for my care. Along with the smiles and the many thank-yous that I received from parents, I also received kind feedback from the students that I assisted throughout the past month at LSM. On the way out of the conference room that medication check-out was stationed in, a student paused and said that they looked forward to seeing me next year. Another student asked me if I would be the Health Counselor again next year and said that I was very kind. All of these statements resonated with me.

Although I entered this position with the intent of providing the highest level of care that I could for these students, I did not expect recognition for this. I intended for the month that I spent with LSM to be dedicated to the support of student health and well-being. It is in the job description, yes – but beyond that, it was my way of displaying what I think healthcare is: compassion, care, and taking the time to ask if someone is okay, or, my favorite question, “is there anything that I can do to help you right now?” Despite this, I felt disconnected from the result of my efforts until I received feedback confirming that I helped to provide a healthy, safe environment for the LSM community. I realized that I was doing the work that I had wanted to do, but had been too busy worrying endlessly that I did not have the capability to do it.

Throughout the duration of my internship with CAPS, I also worried about finding my calling. In fact, I recall feeling behind because I could not identify what my calling was. I even felt that it was possible I couldn’t find it. However, I eventually understood that I would not be able to understand my calling and purpose if I was worrying so much about what it should be. In all honesty, I still cannot explain what my calling or purpose is, but I can confidently tell you that it involves the profession of Nursing, or the caring profession. My calling involves assisting others so that they can feel like their best selves, even if they are experiencing a difficult or shocking health situation. Although I was lost and unsure at most times, my calling placed me exactly where I needed to be.

If it is possible for you today, I want to encourage you to allow yourself the time to reflect on the hard work that you are doing – and allow yourself to celebrate it. And if you are feeling lost or disconnected from your calling, I will also include a verse that continues to help me through my own uncertainty: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6.

– Isabella Dietrich, Lutheran Summer Music

Since my last blog post the workload at Kheprw for me has increased. Since we last talked I’ve been assigned to a couple of projects, one of those tasks is reaching out to partnered organizations to assist with business and guest speaking for the Alkemy space, which is an entrepreneur incubator space that builds community wealth in under-resourced communities of color by supporting entrepreneurs. One of the many reasons for this space to exist is, because of the racial wealth gap that exists between people of color and caucasians, for example in 2015 in Indianapolis: 10% of white people lived in poverty, compared to 26.3% of people of color; Unemployment was 5.3% for white people and 10% for people of color; the median hourly wage for white people was $22/hour and $16/hour for people of color. A way in which Alkhemy is planning to address this is by investing in under-resourced entrepreneurs. They are raising $1 million to launch the entrepreneurship hub at 38th and Illinois which will support 40 entrepreneurs over two years, providing 12 months of training, mentorship, technical assistance and financial resources. Through opening this space and existing, it’s going to allow individuals to stop working for those larger conglomerate companies and afford them the opportunity to accumulate wealth both fiscally and through community. 

Another task they have tasked me with is coming up with a plan to reach out to cooperative communities which is “an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned and democratically-controlled enterprise”. Cooperatives are democratically owned by their members, with each member having one vote in electing the board of directors. I’m tasked with reaching out across the greater Indianapolis area and as well as across the country, and having them teach us how there’s specifically works and coming up with a blueprint along with other members of Kheprw to see how we could possibly develop our own.     

To say that my workload has increased I feel would be the understatement of the century, but I’m enjoying being able to put on a new hat every day,  as someone who aspires to one day own his own business and open a school to address the pressing concerns plaguing the educational system it’s a great learning experience to have all these different task, because I’m not thinking the same in each different role and they’re challenging me to think critically as well as creatively with each different project assignment.

As my experience with Kheprw is winding down and coming to a close I‘ve been able to do a lot of reflecting. In particular how coming down to the porch has had such a positive effect on me. This setting or “coming on down to the porch ” as we like to call it in our communication cohort as I mentioned in my last blog post is my favorite part of my internship, because you learn so many new things about people everyday. You also learn how individuals think as well, for instance the other day we were talking about Fear of Black Consciousness which is a book we’ve recently been reading and in the book we talked about chapter 11 titled the Blues and one of my colleagues said the chapter made him think less about how black music is consumed and more about how it’s produced. How do we perceive the world in relation to ourselves? They went on to say that “The consumption has twisted how the art is produced. People consume it for the aesthetic and not the meaning.” I just found that interesting to see how the chapter made him think and also really reevaluate how we as balck people perceive ourselves.

– Isaiah Roach, Kheprw

Lately, I’ve been thinking about an article I read by Steve de Gruchy, an author specializing in theology, ethics, and philosophy. The title is “Dealing with Our Own Sewage: Spirituality and Ethics in the Sustainability Agenda.” The primary purpose of the article is to emphasize the severity of the freshwater crisis, and how everyone must do their part to live more sustainably. One phrase from de Gruchy’s article keeps echoing in my mind: We all live downstream. So, how does this relate to my CAPS fellowship?

When recognizing that we all live downstream, one will realize that our decisions have resounding effects everywhere. Our choices do not affect just us– there are people “downstream” who will experience the ramifications of our actions. In his article, de Gruchy specifically uses this metaphor to describe water pollution. Earthly resources are finite; if we pollute the water here, it will eventually make its way to someone else, who now does not have clean water. The reality is that the ones most affected by water pollution are the disenfranchised and marginalized. It is easy to turn a blind eye when you, yourself, do not experience the consequences. Currently, in my life, I am seeing this metaphor everywhere I look.

The state of our planet, both environmentally and socially, has been stirring a rather hopeless feeling in me. Being a white woman in a developed country, I am relatively “upstream.” Not every day do I have to face all of the crises in the world– and there are many. So that we are on the same page, here are a few: the mass shooting epidemic, the climate crisis, animal genocide in agriculture, world hunger, war, the freshwater shortage, inflation, infectious disease, and the refugee crisis. That is a lot for a 21-year-old girl to face; however, that is the problem– most of us do not face it. We turn a blind eye, brush it off, and move on. We post a “I stand with Ukraine” tweet and then go take a nap.

Now, what I am not saying is that we all need to rise up and fix these issues all at once. That is impossible. What I am saying is that we cannot succumb to cognitive dissonance anymore. We all live downstream– so all of these issues? They’ll make their way to us. David Korten, an author and former Harvard professor, puts it like this: “we live on a spaceship, not an ocean liner. A spaceship has no lifeboat. Its occupants either prosper or perish together.” These statements may induce panic, but de Gruchy’s article does not end with a doomsday perspective. He doesn’t turn a brush off the issues either, though (that would be very ironic). He says this: “ [we have] the responsibility to tend one’s garden, respect both the neighbor and the stranger, and deal with one’s own sh*t.”

Again– what does this have to do with my CAPS fellowship? The American Red Cross is known for their humanitarian efforts. It is easy to feel like you’re not doing enough when you’re watching the work of such a large organization. What I learned from the de Gruchy article is this: it takes the efforts of many, not just one. The American Red Cross does amazing things, and I am just one piece of the puzzle. Even still, I am an important piece. To be complete, a puzzle needs all of the pieces. This is true in my fellowship, but also of the world. It is easy for me to beat myself up that I’m not doing enough. One person can’t do everything though– as de Gruchy said, we just need to deal with our own sh*t.

I’m having a great time with my internship, by the way.

– Victoria Cammarano, American Red Cross

This past month at the Guild has been full of amazing opportunities and wonderful people. It has been so exciting to have our first three weeks of programming and meet so many new people. The beauty of the Guild is the connections and community that forms over just a week. While many participants have been coming to the Guild for years, some participants, like myself are brand new. The community that forms between old-timers, newcomers, and staff, is truly a wonder to be a part of. The Guild is able to facilitate open and engaging conversations through art and our matins and vespers services that invite guests and staff to be open and vulnerable with one another. The best part of the Guild is getting to interact with and get to know so many incredible people from different walks of life. It is so wonderful to listen to people’s stories and see their creative process throughout the week and be able to participate in celebrating their process and completed projects at the end of the week.

My work here still includes setting spaces to be ready for each group of participants, creating much needed informational flyers and handouts, and occasionally getting to cook breakfast and lunch for the cohorts. This past week I was also fortunate enough to take one of the many classes that the Guild offers. The class was called Mud and Sunlight, it was a class that explored two mediums, pottery and photography. This was a wonderful experience, not only being able to be creative and have fun in an art class, but also to understand the participants point of view better, which can help to inform some of the work that I do. This can mean finding ways to make the experience more enjoyable for participants or realize that something is not working the way that we thought it would. Part of what is so wonderful about the Guild, is that every aspect of work and life here, is a creative process that never ends. Much like life, this organization is growing and changing, and is in itself, living and breathing. There is a lot of work that goes into maintaining a living thing, especially a living organization, but that work is made easier by the people who come to the Guild and fill the dining hall with their stories and the studio spaces with their creativity and each room with their spirit and energy. They are the reason that this place is able to continue, and I find myself so grateful to not only witness this, but to be an active member in shaping this part of the Guild’s history. I am beyond proud of the work that I have and continue to put into the Guild, and never for one second do I feel that it goes unappreciated. The Guild is a place that celebrates even the smallest of victories and accomplishments, a place where everyone is celebrated for showing up and existing, for bringing life and spirit to every corner.

– Natalie Gut, Grunewald Guild

In search of a project to undertake in my first couple of weeks, I was offered an opportunity that would prove to test my patience, endurance, and willingness to reflect and grow. I was given the project of running two market stands for farmer’s markets. It was an endeavor I had to build from the ground up, and I could feel the pressure increase day to day as I worked out numerous details and handled an array of tasks all at once. I had been given no formula, no formal training, and no real instruction other than: get it done. Despite this, the support I received from Kheprw members was infinitely comforting and motivating. Whether it be a supportive conversation, or a quick and helpful reply to a question I needed answered, everyone wanted the project to succeed, and that was integral to its success. The process did not come without its challenges; I had to find a way to focus on the present, and be at peace with my capabilities from day to day. But, with a group of people there to help me, I was able to grow in this space and discover my strengths.

The markets themselves have been a wonderful experience. We have partnered with local farms and gardens to deliver fresh produce to customers. But, rather than being transactional, these markets are focused on the people themselves: providing quality produce to help support downtown Indianapolis’s residents. As an environmental science major, I greatly value seeing the social side to environmental issues such as food deserts. At the end of the day, these are social issues; therefore, they require community-based solutions. This has expanded my understanding of how food efforts directly impact local areas, and has given me a greater appreciation for local efforts. With every small interaction a difference is being made. And, I hope I can continue to work with this in mind. Whether I do research, work with a nonprofit, or find myself in an entirely different sector, I will not forget to see the people being impacted.

From this experience, I’ve learned a lot about managing details and how to prioritize. And I’ve learned to recognize my own abilities. Just as important, though, I’ve come to appreciate and value collaboration. Without the support of Kheprw members, I would have felt overwhelmed and incapable. Instead, I’ve been encouraged to face the obstacles while recognizing my own strengths. This, in turn, has greatly improved my confidence in myself and encouraged me to pursue leadership opportunities in the future. Whatever my future career looks like, I know that I will continue to pursue community. The greatest impact on my experience thus far has been the relationships I’ve built with people. Whether it’s helping a community or becoming a part of one, I have come to recognize the value of this type of work. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much of my experience this summer has been connected to people. But, now, I realize that this is because of the value these people see in community, a value I plan on carrying with me.

– Emily Fletcher, Kheprw

Since my last blog post, my internship has picked up a lot–not that it wasn’t busy before, however I can officially say that my training period is over. Now, my work days are packed with meetings with participants that I am leading and my independent work has really taken off. Honestly, I love it. When the work day ends, I do not want to leave. Not only this, but sometimes I do not feel like I should–the work is never done and all of it is urgent. I think that this is the challenge of human rights work, that, among other things, you are entrusted with the pressing matters of many people to help them find solutions to the best of your ability and yet, somehow, hit pause at 5 pm. How can you attend to the rest of your life knowing that their needs continue?  Since getting to know my participants better, I find that I am very cognizant of this when I leave work. What are they doing now? How are they managing without the food stamps that were delayed? Or how are they handling the stress of impending parole expiration and not knowing how they file for asylum? How are they handling the loneliness this evening–will they make it through the night?
It has been really eye opening and I am in constant awe of these individuals. Every participant I have met and engaged with has astonished me with their strength and the unfathomable things they have gone through–the fact that they are here and standing is a miracle in and of itself. The fact that I might be able to help them, or at least help hold the weight of their story, is a true honor. It is also scary though. There are a number of examples recently in which I am unable to find solutions and I am deeply aware of how this failure affects the lives of the people we serve. While I get to go home each night and “clock out,” they live with the reality and the consequences of a job undone or a system that is broken. I want so desperately to find a solution or for something, for once, to finally go their way, but at times I am worried that I won’t be able to. Enter the hard lesson I am learning about human rights work: limited time, funds, and resources means that the work, which is never done, sometimes cannot even be finished and there are real costs to that. This is really scary and disheartening. 

All this to say, since coming to my internship and really getting involved with participants I am learning that I deeply love this work–I love talking with participants and doing whatever I can to help. I am shocked at how little I have been cognizant of their circumstances before now and find that, being aware now, my life cannot be the same. I would like to pursue this work as my profession, but I am also scared because I know a lot of disappointment awaits and I run the risk of failing–and people being harmed in the process. I have always been an idealist so this hard reality is not something I am really reckoned with–it is not something I want to accept. I am learning though that there are times where I can’t do everything and I need to accept that–do my part and fight to make the system better, but be prepared to lean on those I am close to and work with to process and work through those times where I cannot. While I don’t have an answer for this, I can say with certainty that this frustration makes me convinced that this is the work I want to do.

– Katharina Depenthal, Heartland Alliance Health

“The only consistent thing in this world is the presence of change.” My three years at Valpo have demonstrated the truth in this adage, which happens to be one of my grandfather’s favorites. I have seen how each new semester brings with it a host of changes: I encounter new concepts, new people, new experiences. Although I am grateful for the variety of each semester, I often find myself getting used to the pattern of change in college life. However, I’ll occasionally encounter an experience that I know from the beginning will alter me as a person in a major way. This summer, that experience was my CAPS internship at The Bridge Teen Center.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from an internship, having never done one before, but I was looking forward to working as a Media and Program Intern at The Bridge. I love photography and in the course of studying for my Digital Media minor I had become interested in brand marketing. I knew the Media Intern position would be perfect for me because I would get to photograph Bridge students during the weekly programs and use those photos to tell The Bridge’s story on social media. On top of that, as a Program Intern, I would get to participate in putting on the programs. After the first couple of days of my time at The Bridge, I realized that this internship was going to be far more fun, interesting, and educational than I could have imagined. 

I’m enjoying this internship because it’s given me the opportunity to come out of my shell as a portrait photographer. I’ve never really been comfortable photographing people, unless I’m taking pictures of family (as an introvert, I’ve preferred to photograph landscapes or glassware). Now that I am photographing at The Bridge, I have the motivation to get over this personal hump. With social media deadlines that need to be met, there’s no time to put off taking photos of the students. While long-distance photos that encompass the whole room are nice, it is the close-up portraits of happy students participating in the program that generate positive engagement on social media. To get such photos, I have to directly approach each student and ask them if I can take a picture of them. Although I still sometimes get apprehensive when I ask students for a photograph, I am now much more comfortable with doing so than I was at the beginning of the internship. I didn’t initially expect this to be an outcome of the internship, but I am nonetheless grateful to have had this opportunity to develop into a more confident artist and person.

I have also enjoyed working as a Program Intern because actively working with the students reminds me of the reasons I chose to take this internship. Whether I’m helping out with a hangout program in the game room or when I’m leading a garden program, I always see the students forging connections with one another or cultivating old friendships. It is easy for me to get caught up in the world of program recap posts on Instagram or sponsorship shoutouts on Facebook, but actively working with students as a Program Intern reminds me of what this is all about: providing a safe place where students can engage with others and develop as individuals. I feel that I am truly getting the best of both worlds when it comes to interning at The Bridge.

In short, my internship at The Bridge has been amazing so far. I have the chance to work alongside a staff of truly stellar individuals, I get to work with some really awesome students, and I get to engage with my interests of photography and brand marketing. I can’t really express just how grateful I am to be able to participate in such an amazing community.

– Philip Bolton, The Bridge Teen Center

This summer, I am blessed with the opportunity to be an intern at Community Renewal Society (CRS), a faith-based social services organization in Chicago that addresses systemic and structural social justice issues. Given that the organization works remotely due to the pandemic, I complete my work from home. I am a part of CRS’ Social Media Team and my tasks largely consist of posting content written and published by CRS and from outside sources, such as news outlets, to the organization’s social media platforms and website. In doing so, I have gained experience thinking and acting quickly on my feet as events do not always have an outlined schedule for when they happen, and therefore, the news may need to be shared with urgency. As a quieter person, I have been given a voice to amplify the injustices that occur in everyday life, especially those imposed on the poor, convicted, and those of color, by posting content on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

In addition to keeping CRS member congregations and followers updated on both historical and current information, I have attended multiple virtual meetings, each with a unique topic and a diverse group of people from a variety of backgrounds, locations, and careers. For example, I participated in discussions on economic justice, racial justice, the architecture of prisons, grantmaking, philanthropy, leadership, and more. These meetings are a way for me to keep in touch with CRS’ other teams such as the Policy & Organizing Committee, the Police Accountability & Criminal Justice Issue Team, the Economic Justice Issue Team, and also nonprofit organizations including Chicago Women in Philanthropy. For each panel, webinar, or conversation I am involved in (whether talking with others or simply listening and learning), I type detailed notes to refer back to and remember the messages and wisdom brought forward. One of the main projects that the Social Media Team is in the process of completing is reformatting the CRS website. For this project, my responsibility is to use a fresh set of eyes in order to provide input and recommendations. Along with this project, I assist in drafting newsletter articles and database clean-up.  

So far, my internship experience at Community Renewal Society has been enriching and illuminating. By joining the staff at CRS, I have entered into a space that allows for education, communication, and change around social justice issues with individuals passionate about helping others and making communities, and the world, a better, equitable place. I even met a Bayard Rustin Fellow! Too, each day at CRS, I expand my knowledge of the discourse surrounding the criminal justice system and inequality, and I connect this to what I have learned in my past political science and sociology courses. When reflecting on my calling and purpose in society, I have a refined understanding of the different forms that activism and advocacy can take and which forms suit me better than others. I feel that I am one step closer to fulfilling my goal of being someone who zealously and successfully fights for people’s rights. I am fortunate to have the chance to carry out CRS’ mission of bringing the truth to light about various policies and legislation and breaking race and class barriers, as well as my own mission to serve those who are marginalized and to bring reform.

– Tyla Gross, Community Renewal Society

“Calling and Purpose”… That’s the big question that everyone ultimately hopes to find, and that is exactly why it is one of the hardest questions to answer. For years I would talk about what I believe my calling is meant to be; I would share my dreams of wanting a nonprofit for minority youth while being a computer science major and business minor. Even though it may have seemed as if I was confident in my purpose I would secretly think to myself that it didn’t make sense. There were days I would sit and contemplate all the different scenarios or obstacles I could possibly encounter. Are my dreams too big or not big enough? Can I actually manifest these concepts into reality? What will it take to make it happen? Am I the right person to pursue this ambitious goal? My thoughts were starting to become overwhelming and paralyzed me from having any traction. My time at Kheprw has reminded me of not only my capabilities but also why I have this dream.

The Kheprw Institute (KI) is a nonprofit that values people in every community. KI is an organization that is committed to bringing about change that leads to empowered self-reliant and self-determining communities. At Kheprw we aim to create a more just, equitable, human-centered world by nurturing youth and young adults. KI works to support youth and young adults in becoming leaders, critical thinkers, and doers. As an intern at Kheprw, my role is democratizing data. I work with a team of people and ultimately we are a central hub for the organization. We are connected with every person, every program, and every project at Kheprw. Each person on the team has specific projects, programs, and people that we interact with directly, we play an integral role throughout the entire organization. I primarily work on three different projects. The largest project is creating a platform catered to entrepreneurs. We hope to create a platform that will provide resources and networks to promote the success and growth of entrepreneurs and small businesses as easily as possible. While I haven’t been able to directly interact with or impact minority youth I have been able to combine two of the three aspects of my dream – business and computer science.

The past few months at Kheprw has reminded me of every experience that I have personally encountered or witnessed that helped inspire my dream and exactly how much I love all three of these things. As a young woman of color from the city of Chicago I can attest to how impactful it would have been for me to have anything like what I hope to create one day. Staying focused and understanding our purpose can be a challenge, and honestly I believe it is supposed to be. The challenges and doubts we face when searching for our purpose are what brings us closer to finding it. Thanks to the projects I am working on, the people I have met, and the Kheprw institute itself I am continuously learning more about what my purpose will require of me.

– Essence Roberson, Kheprw

CAPS Fellows Program has been an experience unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Aside from it being a non-profit organization, it’s honestly one of the best experiences of personal growth I’ve ever been a part of. My experience through the CAPS Fellows Program has provided an enriching experience in what actually happens on a day-to-day basis at a non-profit as well as a business. So far this experience has been one that has really made me start to self-assess how I go about getting things accomplished. A friend of mine by the name of Lem Cartman has a quote that he always says and it really resonates with me because it’s true. It goes, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at start to change.” Throughout this experience, I’ve learned a lot about myself. I love to listen and learn about people’s different experiences and how they think, before this internship I was always trying to be the first person heard in the room. What this particular experience has taught me is that it’s okay to not have something to say on certain topics. No one expects you to be all-knowing , what you know is what you know. 

Aside from the personal growth that has been taking place over this summer I have also had a blast developing relationships at my internship. The work has been more than sufficient, but a big surprise I was not expecting was finding joy in conversing with my fellow colleagues. One way that I’ve been able to foster these relationships is by going to the “porch” which is an actual porch where one of the founders of the Kheprw Institute, Imhotep Adisa, uses the space to hold conversation amongst his employees that both promote intellectual growth and build leadership abilities amongst young individuals. The porch acts as a bridge between the young and the seasoned veterans of the Kheprw Cohort, and allows everyone to express their opinions in an open space freed from judgment. This is probably my favorite part of my internship so far, because the people are so great, but also the topic of discussion we get into here and the wide variety of opinions that exist in this space as well as it pertains to the different age groups that meet on the porch.  

I work for the Kheprw Institute which is a non-profit organization based in Indianapolis that works to create a more just, equitable, human-centered world by nurturing youth and young adults to be leaders, critical thinkers and doers who see the people in any community as the most valuable assets and are committed to working with community assets to bring about change that leads to empowered self-reliant and self-determining communities. So far this summer I have served as the Person of Contact (POC) for the recoverable loan fund program that assists young minority entrepreneurs in whatever stage of the business process they’re currently in. So far this has been an eye opening experience in that it has allowed me to see the ins and outs of what it means to get a business off the ground, but also has allowed me to see what it means to have a thriving business that not only makes money, but adds value to the community in some way shape or form.

– Isaiah Roach, Kheprw