For the last three summers, I worked as a camp counselor at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Center. I loved the work I did – I loved running around the hundreds of acres of land with the campers, seeing their smiling faces, and knowing that I was making a difference in each and every one of their lives. So working in an office in Washington, D.C. this summer is a very different experience, yet I know that this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

The United Methodist Building, where LSA’s office is located.

I am currently working with Lutheran Services in America (LSA) as a Marketing and Development intern. LSA is an umbrella agency for Lutheran service organizations around the country. They have over 300 members who they support in a variety of ways. I am the kind of person who thrives when she’s busy, and when I told my supervisors that they grinned and said, “well then you’re going to fit right in here!”

They weren’t kidding! I’ve been with LSA for three weeks now, and I have yet to find myself bored or looking for something to occupy me. In terms of Development, I am working with my supervisor, Debbie, on donor analysis and fundraising strategy. This means that I am looking at our donors from this last fiscal year and I’m comparing them with donors from the last five years to try and find patterns and understand why people give to LSA. I’ve never done anything like this before, but I find it fascinating. This is one of my long-term projects that will last for most of my time with LSA.

In terms of Marketing, I have a lot of smaller tasks, most of which revolve around social media. As of this week, I am officially running all of LSA’s social media platforms. This has turned out to be really interesting work! It’s not just casually making a post when LSA does something interesting – there’s a strategy behind it. I’m learning how to make posts that get people’s interest, how to word my posts to match the “LSA language”, and how to plan out a social media calendar so we know can properly schedule when to post about different events or highlight some of our members. For example, the White House Conference on Aging (WHCOA) is coming up. This is a conference that only happens once every ten years, and since a large portion of LSA’s members are involved with senior care, LSA has made it a priority to publicize and interact with our members about this event. Due to this, we have planed out a variety of different social media posts regarding the WHCOA, including sharing information about the conference itself, how to be involved virtually, and different senior services stories from our members.

“Our nation is at it’s best when everyone has a seat at the table and can share in prosperity.” – Secretary Castro, speaking at “Opportunity in Urban America” at the Urban Institute

Outside of these projects, there are also a variety of minor long-term projects different people from the office have assigned to me. These are things that aren’t necessarily priorities, but would be really helpful to have completed by the time I leave. This leaves me with a lot of different items on my plate, which requires me to really utilize the time management skills I’ve been cultivating these last few years at Valpo. I’m certainly busy, and I love every second of it! This placement is giving me an opportunity to view service differently. I’ve done a lot of “hands-on” service over the years, and now I have the opportunity to learn about the service that is necessary in order for the hands-on service to be possible.

One of the things I love most about this internship, though, is how supportive the staff are. They had CAPS Fellows last year, so they are familiar with the program and they want me to get the most out of my internship and my experience in Washington, D.C. They are always letting me know about opportunities to go listen to a panel discussion or attend a lecture. Last week they sent me to listen to HUD Secretary Julian Castro speak at the Urban Institute about “Opportunity in Urban American” and what the Department of Housing and Urban Development would be doing in the next 50 years. He is an incredible speaker, and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to listen to him!

A rainbow flag waving in front of the Supreme Court following the Same-Sex Marriage announcement.

One thing I am sure to never forget about this experience is that LSA gave me the opportunity to be a part of history. Our office is located across the street from the Supreme Court, and when they ruled on same-sex marriage yesterday, my supervisor told the other LSA intern and myself to go outside and be a part of the celebration. I’ve never experienced anything that compares to the joy of the people who were rejoicing in front of the Supreme Court just minutes after the announcement. It was truly incredible.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where I am meant to be this summer, and I am so grateful to the CAPS program and to LSA for providing me with these never-ending incredible opportunities.

A photo of myself in the crowd in front of the Supreme Court just minutes after the Same-Sex Marriage announcement.

A senior living complex, whether it be independent living, assisted living, or a nursing home, serves to help the elderly live out their final days in peace and comfort.   As an intern at Wittenberg Village in Crown Point, IN, I am getting a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to achieve this mission. Wittenberg creates a community by incorporating all three living models on the same campus.  Starting on the first day, I shadowed my highly experienced supervisor as he introduced me to both the staff and the residents.  I traveled to the company headquarters, preferably called the “ministry center”, in Arlington Heights, IL to sit in on a budget meeting and meet the executives.  Since then, I have shadowed and worked on projects for the various department heads.  For example, I have helped reorganize the filing system in medical records, conducted government-mandated cognitive function questionnaires to residents for social services, and followed the culinary director for a day.  My work days are usually open-ended and flexible, allowing me to also attend resident programs.  I sat in on a bible study led by the campus chaplain and rode on a bus trip through the countryside, stopping at Dairy Queen along the way.  I have also attended resident council meetings and spent time chatting with residents to learn about issues they face and about their Wittenberg experience.

While these activities can be done on any given day, I am lucky to witness two major events that sporadically occur.  First, some of Wittenberg’s staff has reached out to the Teamsters to assist them in unionizing.  I have been able to sit in on some union discussions (although most are so confidential I cannot attend) and have learned about unions from the perspective of management.  Since my supervisor has rarely dealt with unions, he said it was an excellent learning opportunity for me.   Second, a complaint was filed by the family of a resident, so inspectors from the Indiana Department of Public Health were sent to conduct a complaint survey.  My supervisor, wanting to set an example of how to treat inspectors, introduced me to them as he would if they were professional contacts.  I sat in on a meeting between staff and inspectors that served as a collection of evidence, covering everything from the incident that occurred to how reporting procedures were followed.  Wittenberg received a minor citation, for which my supervisor was required to write a plan of correction for the state.  Throughout this process, my supervisor and I talked frequently about the role of inspectors, the nature of inspections, and how to prepare a facility to deal with these challenges.

My experience has been challenging, but I’ve also had fun, too.  Two weeks ago, I enjoyed the staff picnic.  I attended an open house for a local competitor that served as a cocktail party.  Musicians, martinis, and endless food helped to showcase their lavish senior accommodations.  Last Wednesday, my supervisor took me to Chicago to tour another Lutheran Life Community, and we went out for dinner afterwards upon our return to Indiana.  He regularly sails with a group of friends on Lake Michigan and has invited to take me sailing as they train for the Mackinac Race.  I’ll be sure to tell you about it in my next post!

To graduating from Valpo and settling back into my hometown of Aurora, Illinois – this past month has been a whirl-wind and I’ve been trying my best to get used to my post-grad life and my fellowship with the League of United Latin American Citizens in the local council in Aurora, Illinois. The president of the local council and my supervisor and mentor, Art Velasquez, who, despite being 80 years old, continues to be a fearless leader and champion for the rights of the Latino community in Aurora. Since first meeting and getting to know each other Art told me “mi’ja, we’re going to put you to work” [mi’ja roughly translates to ‘my daughter’ and is used as a term of endearment in the Latina/o community]. In getting to know his story and the various forms of discrimination and barriers he has faced and overcome, Art has mentored and inspired me to believe in the work that I want to accomplish in our community and beyond. At times, it can feel like the world is crashing down and there is absolutely nothing that I can do to make my community better. Art reminds me that it’s okay to have bad days but that better days will come, if you keep your head up and keep fighting. Art always says, “la lucha sigue” [the fight continues].

Jesus and I at the LULAC of Illinois State Convention in Little Village, Chicago, IL.

Every day is different and brings something new, which I love. I have met with several different agencies in the area such as the Quad County Urban League, Family Focus, various local politicians and school board members and superintendents. I have had the opportunity to attend the LULAC State Convention in Chicago and meet up with my good friend and CAPS Fellow, Jesus Payan, who is also working with LULAC for the summer. It was great to see a familiar face and work with an amazing friend in a professional setting. We both spoke of how our experiences working with the Office of Multicultural Programs at Valpo and serving as executive board members for LIVE (Latinos in Valparaiso for Excellence) has greatly prepared us for our roles in working for LULAC. Not only that, Jesus and I had the opportunity to attend the Illinois School Board Meeting in Oswego, Illinois on June 17th, where “regressive proration” was discussed. “Regressive proration” occurs when money is cut from low-income school districts and students rather than those with less low-income students. Education is a key focus for LULAC and the Latina/o community and it was imperative we attend and stress how the practice of “regressive proration” is affecting Illinois students, particularly those of African-American and Latina/o descent.

The Illinois School Board Meeting at Oswego East High School in Oswego, IL.

Next week, I will begin working with West Aurora School District 129 in helping organize their annual “Parent University.” Hopefully, I will have the opportunity to facilitate a workshop for parents of high school students on different resources that are available to them in the district and community, discuss higher education and/or financial aid.

I am excited to continue my work with LULAC this summer! I might have the possibility of traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah for the LULAC National Convention, which I know Jesus is going to attend. Hopefully, everything works out and I am able to go!

Coming back to Aurora has made me realize that I am privileged in so many ways. Unlike my parents and many in my community, I am a U.S. citizen and a college graduate and I am afforded the many privileges and rights that come with it. I know that there is a lot expected out of me because of that and that’s okay. The pressure is on and I only hope that I can deliver and help my community to the best of my abilities.

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

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

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

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

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

From the beginning, I have been immersed in an atmosphere of learning and hands-on work. For those of you who do not know, I am originally from LaPorte County, so this opportunity is quite special to me. I have been taking part in numerous discussions related to United Way, as well as group collaboration within the community to create a team to hit on key issues that are afflicting our area. This organization is looking into how they fund others, by working to collaborate on three key issues, that seemingly do have a great deal of overlap: Health, Education, and Financial Stability. We are looking to incorporate both public and the private sector to ensure that we cover all of our bases and encompass all of our community’s needs for change.

One neat feature of being in my home community, is that I am able to lean on people whom I have met while growing up. Allowing the organization to expand and make new connections with people that were otherwise uninvolved with the United Way. I am hoping that using these connections with government officials will help us to expand on our mission to reach all demographics of LaPorte County.

With that, I have been doing a great deal of research to examine how other communities have gone about making large scale changes for the better. One area that has stood out to me is that of Tupelo, Mississippi. I learned how one writer from the local paper was able to convince business owners that if they wanted to see profits rise, they needed to invest in the lowest/poorest people to build a stronger community. It is more about changing the culture of a community than just throwing money at something. I was able to attend an event entitled “Toxic Charities”, where the main take-aways were that we should be enabling people to better themselves, rather than enabling them to become entitled or in a constant state of need. Robert Lupton was the keynote speaker, who has been doing work in urban Atlanta for most of his adult life. He as been at the forefront of changing communities with basic need changes – such as helping to bring in grocery stores, rather than just convenience stores that are generally more expensive, with little to no fresh food for consumers to purchase. I have also been researching different types of software that we would be able to use to track changes to our set goals for each of the three areas that the United Way is trying to aid. I have also taken part in the creation of a community garden in LaPorte, in an area that has a need for fresh, healthy food because they are in a food desert. I have attached a few pictures below: one of the garden, and another of the filming of the documentary that we have made to capture the process that the United Way went through to make the garden possible. Comment below if you have questions!

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Being someone who is naturally nocturnal, (especially in the summertime) the first day of my internship at EMPOWER began with me cringing as my alarm assaulted my sleeping ears. When I finally got around, ate some breakfast, and headed out for the day, I realized this was a routine I could get used to. The morning air was warm, yet refreshing, and my walk to work was a nice way to start my day.

When I got to the office I met up with my co-fellow, Faith, and we sat down with our bosses Heather and Kaye as they told us what they wanted us to work on during our time there. Faith and I are working on a project where we are researching different youth development programs throughout the country in order to see how effective that type of programming is, and then design our own program. The first question we had was, what is youth development?

The idea behind youth development is that a committee of teenagers (typically middle of high school) work together with community leaders in order to design programming meant for teens. The idea here being that if teenagers design programming for their own age demographic, it will be more effective and appealing to their peers. I was anxious to get started, because it sounded like this might be hard to find research on.

Boy was I wrong.

Right away I found multiple case studies and files that showed youth development programming from all around the country. From New York to Alabama it seemed like every state department had made multiple youth development programming efforts, and it was so exciting to start connecting the dots with what the most successful programs had in common.

The thing that was the most exciting for me was the amount of trust and freedom Heather and Kaye put into me and Faith. They were/are always open to our questions, but for the most part we are free to work on our own and in whatever ways we see fit in order to research and design this program. I loved being able to just put in some earbuds, buckle down, and start sifting through the multiple pages of research I had found.

As we continue our research, Faith and I have weekly meetings with Heather and Kaye in order to make sure we’re all on the same page and finding what information they would like us to find. It’s nice to have supervisors that allow us so much freedom, but also communicate effectively so that we always know what they expect from us.

One of the other great things about the beginning of my internship is that it had really opened my eyes to youth development programming. I’ve had discussion with my mom and my friends in the Army who all use multiple youth development programs in their jobs. My mother, being a social worker, leads many youth development programs that help foster children make the conditions in foster homes better for other kids. My friends in the Army work with youth development committees in elementary schools to educate kids about hard work and physical fitness.

So far things have been off to a great start at EMPOWER. My research is enlightening in its own right, but the discussions and conversations I’ve had with some of my friends and family as a result of my work is even more rewarding as I learn more about the world I live and work in. I can only see greater things on the horizon for this summer.

As a creature of habit and routine, moving to a brand new city and starting a new internship was a lot to take in all at once. Somewhat lost, and a lot a bit nervous, I stumbled into our apartment complex here in Washington D.C. and was instantly blown away by our amazing surroundings. I most certainly was not in Indiana anymore.

I approached my first day at my internship with the care of someone fearful of a bomb exploding out from under them. But, as I began to become more comfortable at my new desk and talk to some of the my new colleagues, I realized how great of an experience this summer will be. The Federation of State Humanities council not only has a great work environment, it also does wonderful work around the country.

When I first started at FSHC two weeks ago, I knew the bare bones idea of the organization and what they accomplished. There are 56 councils around the country, with one in each state and territory, including D.C.. However, these 56 councils are responsible for thousands of humanities programs that reach citizens from every corner of their state. With this new information, it dawned on me that I was working at a place not only connected to other humanities councils around the country, but I was actually working to promote and provide humanities education to people across America.

Armed with this better understanding of my work, I feel a deeper connection to my job and the projects I am accomplishing. I cannot wait to see where this summer takes me and to learn more about working in the nonprofit sector. As I settle into my internship and life in D.C., I look forward to all of the great experiences my roommates and I will have this summer.

Traveling is a passion of mine. I have been to the capital of six countries, but I had never been to Washington, DC before this summer. It just felt wrong. And now I know why. I have already fallen in love with this city, with everything from the glimmering skyscrapers to the mouth-watering food trucks to the streets bursting with life.

As hectic and professional as the city is, one must find time to relax and enjoy the little things. Sometimes that means going to the park one Friday with your coworkers to pet puppies. Even disregarding our puppy outing, I have had a wonderful time working for World Food Program (WFP) USA.

I wasn’t sure what to expect being an intern at a United Nations associated organization. It seemed intimidating, but I knew it’d be a great experience. And even though it’s only been two weeks, it already has been. Specifically, I work with climate smart agriculture; with the changing climate, smallholder or subsistence farmers need to adapt. WFP USA helps bring climate smart technology to these farmers. A part of my job has been to research what is known about climate change agriculture, what other organizations are doing, and what WFP USA is doing. Previously, my knowledge about climate change agriculture was limited, but now I feel like I have something to contribute to the team. I even have my first blog on their website: http://wfpusa.org/blog/world-environment-day-wfp-talks-about-going-green

Another part of my job is to attend events related to climate change, agriculture, or food security. One event I attended was the Atlantic Council and EU discussion for Climate Diplomacy Day called “Climate Security: The Next ‘Battle Ground’?” Among the speakers were H.E. Gérard Araud, Ambassador of France to the United States; H.E. David O’Sullivan, Ambassador of the European Union to the US; and the Hon. Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor to the International Security Program. They emphasized the importance and hazards of climate change. A changing climate is a threat to food security, human security, and national security.This panel was a great opportunity to hear experts share their knowledge and express their views.

These past two weeks have flown by, but I have loved every minute of it. Even when it’s pouring or blistering outside, there is a museum to escape to or friends to complain with. I am definitely looking forward to what the rest of my summer holds.

I’m not sure if my CAPS placement could have been a better fit! I am currently interning at the Urban League of Northwest Indiana and it has provided me with great opportunities, even though I have only been here a few weeks. As soon as I arrived, they put me to work. Since then, I have always been busy, which I like.

Luckily for me, I have been given meaningful work every day this summer. I have helped people build or update resumes and look for jobs, practice their interview skills, and improve their professionalism through dress and speaking. These are things that those in college may take for granted because we have resources such as our university’s Career Center, academic advisers, or mentors to help us with these processes but are so important for ANYONE who is looking for work, especially if they have been out of work for a while. I have had people call to thank the Urban League for the help they have given them because it resulted in their getting a job. It is very rewarding to know that the work that I am doing is really helping people and not just clerical work. It’s amazing to be able to see the results of your work right in front of you.

It has only been three weeks, but I have already gotten the opportunity to travel for the office and be out in the community. Our first trip was to good old Valparaiso University. We took some students from a local high school to the University through the College Readiness program. They were able to get information about the college application process more generally, as well as information about VU and they got the chance to see the campus and its various resources. For two of the three students, this was the first time they had visited a college campus so this was more than just an excuse to get out of the house. As a first generation college student, I can attest to how important it is to get as much information about college as possible but how difficult that can also be. At first, the students seemed nervous but as the trip went on, they were talking with each other, asking lots of questions, and very appreciative for being able to take the trip. They especially loved the smoothies at Freshens. 🙂 At the end of the trip, we took a tree under Merlin, which my supervisors loved! I think they had the MOST fun out of all of us! That is one of the best things about this office/its atmosphere. The administration’s willingness to laugh and enjoy experiences with you is so cool. It makes me feel like I am actually part of this office, rather than a temporary employee. It’s amazing how quickly they have welcomed us…it makes it so much easier to do my job!

Chilling out under Merlin 🙂

Today (Thursday) was  another busy day. I wasn’t in the office at all because I had a grant writing seminar to attend and a diversity training seminar that afternoon. Grant writing was something that I had mentioned in my interview with the UL as an interest I have because of my interest in working in grassrooot organizations/non-profits. I was shocked that she remembered that about me but I guess it’s true that you should be careful of what you say because you’ll never know what people may remember about you! My supervisor arranged for me to be able to attend the seminar so that I could better understand how the grant writing process works and better assist my boss with the grants the UL writes. While working at the UL, I have been able to proof read grants but more so in terms of grammar and punctuation. I’m glad I will be able to contribute more than just minor corrections going forth.

The afternoon was very fun and interactive. They hosted a diversity training workshop at a local business and it was a lot of fun. The employees were really interested in what Dr. Allen and Ms. Holmes were talking about and surprised to see how more alike they are to one another than different. This is something new that the UL has started doing, so I am excited to see what other organizations ask for help and how we can help make NWI a better, more welcoming place to live and work.

It’s a little hard to remember all of the things that I get to do, but there is truly never a dull moment in the office. I am so lucky to have the opportunity to work with an organization that works so diligently improve the lives of people throughout the region, despite having a small staff. I’ve been able to see the problems my community and the surrounding communities face and see real progress being made to address those issues. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store!

Rocío Pulido and Jesús Payán at LULAC of IL State Convention

The first day at LULAC of IL in Cicero was full of surprises. I learned about the history of the oldest Hispanic serving institute in the nation dating back to 1929. As I sat in the office of only one staff member, Blanca Vargas, I felt the presence of autonomy and definitely one-on-one mentorship. I knew that I would be in good hands because I would be working directly with the Deputy State Director of LULAC of IL.

However, as we go over the constitution and bylaws of LULAC, she throws a curve ball at me. Blanca mentions that the following day we are both going to present a financial literacy seminar to elementary parents in Spanish. My heart dropped! I was worried and anxious because of what was requested of me on the first day. I had less than 24 hours to prepare myself. It was crunch time again, as if it were finals week. And on top of that, she said we would be heading out to Navy Pier to attend a Chicago Public School college fair. The worriedness slowly began to fade away as she comforted me that she would be leading the seminar. It was amazing to know that I would be meeting motivated individuals that are down for the cause and ready for action. And that is exactly how it went the following day! I meet college representatives that came from all over the nation and connected with many young adults preparing for their own journey through college.

After that, Blanca and I worked together to organize the LULAC of IL State Convention that was held in the Instituto de Progreso in Little Village. It was a weeklong process of creating the agenda and making sure councils around Illinois were informed of the convention because elections for state positions were also going to take place. Also, I knew Rocio Pulido is a CAPS fellow working with LULAC in Aurora, IL. So, I contacted her, and was extremely excited to know that she will be attending the conference too.

When we saw each other at the conference, it brought back old (not that old) memories of when we were both undergraduates attending conferences that had transformed our lives and molded us both into the successful and social justice life-long learners that we are today. However, this time was different. We were the ones helping others reach their goals by organizing such conferences like the ones we attended.

I am looking forward to regrouping with Rocio at the National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah., and continue transforming lives and being transformed. I hope to continue learning valuable things from Blanca, LULAC, and the community.

It’s hard to believe, but this week marks the end of my fourth week at Concordia Place. Concordia Place is “vibrant nonprofit with proactive solutions to key social needs” whose “focus is growth and opportunity through economically inclusive early childhood, teen leadership and senior wellness programs” located in northern Chicago in the Avondale neighborhood.

Outside the Resource Center (where my office is)

I knew right from my interview that I would like to work at Concordia, but I didn’t realize how much I would love it. I am working with the Advancement team (or the A-team as we like to call ourselves) doing a fair amount of different things which all are super exciting for me. I’m helping with their social media for the summer (so if you’re interested in what they’re doing check them out on Facebook here or on Twitter here) as well as entering donor related data and grant foundation research. We also just had a major fundraising event where we raised over $129,000 for Concordia place with a silent auction, live auction, and casino night. While I’ve helped with large fundraisers before, I’ve never helped with a single event that has raised that amount of money, and it was eye-opening to see just how much work goes into making everything run smoothly.

A view from the event

While I enjoy the work I’m doing, as it’s the kind of work I would like to be doing in my future career, it’s really the people and the work they’re doing that have made the experience as great as it has been for me. Every single person has welcomed me with open arms, and they are so willing to let me ask whatever questions I want. Also, the work Concordia does is just amazing. The school building is separate from the resource center, but every time we go in to interact with the kids or talk to one of the schoolteachers, I am amazed by the quality of the classrooms and how every single kid seems to love being there. I love seeing the plants that the teens grow to make their soaps and other products that they then sell. (If you want to here more about that program, here’s a video that explains it in more detail.) The seniors come a few days a week to do yoga. Concordia seems to always have people doing something, and you can almost always hear the kids playing outside.

I think what has really impacted me the most is seeing the work at Concordia, and what is going on in Chicago. I’m living at home this summer, so I commute into the city everyday. The commute is long, but it’s also where I’ve learned just how important the work Concordia does is. Every morning, I get on the train with a bunch of middle class workers who commute into the city all year long. Most of them are in business suits. We all get off the train together, and walk through downtown on our way to various companies and L stops. Everyday, I walk by people who are homeless. I see people on the L who have had rough lives. Every day that I get off at my stop on the Blue Line, I walk past the same four men who seem to live under the I-90/94 overpass. And then I get to Concordia. Where kids are constantly laughing and learning and given opportunities that they may not have otherwise. Concordia served 750 children, teens, and seniors last year. About 70% of those they serve are low income, and almost 70% are minorities. In their 2014 annual report, they state: “We strengthen the community by fostering individual growth and opportunity for all: children receive quality care on a sliding tuition scale; teens realize their full potential by developing leadership skills; adults become more engaged in our society through English as a Second Language classes; and seniors stay connected, active and independent.”

I’ve gone on service trips to serve those who are less fortunate than I am, but I have always been left unsatisfied because I have only helped them for a week. Every day that I walk by these people I am saddened by what their circumstances are. But then I come to Concordia, and my hope for the world is restored. Concordia works to better people’s lives, and to prevent what could happen. They want to help the community grow stronger, and I am proud to be their intern for the summer.

Nearing completion of my third week at Legacy Foundation, it’s nice to pause and reflect on the first portion of my internship as a CAPS Fellow. Prior to starting, I wasn’t particularly knowledgeable of Legacy’s work; in fact, my understanding of community foundations was fairly nonexistent. Thankfully, I’ve learned quite a bit so far.
As my internship focuses on grant-making research and evaluation, my first project dealt with restructuring Legacy’s grant report form. I quickly discovered that grant reporting is a very critical component of the grant process, and must therefore be structured well in order to accurately measure outcomes. After researching several key questions that other foundations ask on their forms, I soon developed questions that Legacy could use. In addition to typical qualitative questions, Legacy seeks to evaluate specific data pertaining to grant effectiveness; in other words, quantitative questions must be incorporated in this process. Though the value of this grant reporting change has yet to be determined, it will hopefully prove more informative to both grantees and Legacy as the grant process will be better examined.
I’ve also enjoyed internally observing Legacy and noticing similarities to topics discussed in my courses at VU. As a Philanthropic Leadership and Service minor, I’ve taken fantastic courses that concentrated on past and present issues in philanthropy. While it’s great conversing in class about these subjects, my learning is heightened through taking part in these experiences. I truly realized the difference between outcomes and outputs, as this is an essential part of grant reporting. I also noticed that money is always a burden to nonprofits, reporting to the Board takes a great amount of effort, and there are dozens of fantastic organizations in this area doing awesome things.
Another neat component of Legacy is its location in Merrillville. By administering grants and scholarships to Lake County organizations and residents, Legacy pursues great opportunities to invest in this community. As a Valpo student, it’s nice to see more of Northwest Indiana and the neat collaborations that are taking place here. Not to mention that Chick-fil-A spontaneously dropped off free mini chicken sandwiches to our staff today for lunch (yes, I am smiling as I write this).
I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to be part of the 2015 CAPS cohort, as this internship has already proved insightful and thought-provoking. I look forward to continued learning at Legacy, as well as stories from other Fellows.

Throughout my first week working at the extremely friendly corporate office of National Lutheran Communities and Services, I have had the chance to get to know many of my coworkers. Of everyone I have established a relationship with, the person I have come to know most and the deepest relationship I have formed is with my supervisor Dan.

Dan has many phrases and acronyms that he uses consistently, both in meetings and in daily conversations. Everyone playfully calls them “Dan-isms.” One phrase that he has said multiple times since we have joined his team, whether to us interns, his coworkers, or in business meetings with other high level executives is that he has the greatest job description of anyone; he gets paid to dream.

As the Chief Strategist Officer of NLCS, a rapidly expanding nonprofit organization owning three nursing communities and building a fourth, Dan certainly has a lot to dream about. Yet, it is not only his huge dreams that make Dan such a compelling person, it is his willingness and enthusiasm to share his wisdom. Recently on a business trip to one of the aforementioned nursing communities, a two and a half hour drive, we were afforded the opportunity to learn more of his stories, share some laughs, and of course listen to the James Taylor Pandora station.

On our drive back to the corporate office after visiting the nursing community and attending various business meetings, I do not remember how, but our conversation shifted to the topic of faith. I was very surprised when Dan stated bluntly, “ I don’t go to church anymore. I don’t need someone telling me what my relationship with my God needs to look like, I don’t have time for that. Yet, my faith and relationship with my God has never been stronger.

Years ago, when Bishop Gene, a good friend of his, asked what he wanted to get out of his faith, Dan responded that he wanted faith like his daughter who would do a backwards trust fall into his arms. He would let her come inches from the floor, yet she would not flinch, knowing her father would catch her.

As we talked, Dan told us more about his faith. He recalled how when he was going through the necessary steps to become a member of the Roman Catholic Church, in order to have a Catholic wedding with his then fiancée, he attended a prayer retreat. While on the retreat, Bishop Gene instructed the group to close their eyes, as he would lead them through a type of meditation and prayer.

Bishop Gene told the group to visualize a room they would want to be in at that very moment. Dan, an avid sailor and lover of the water, visualized himself in a room on a beach, “It was bright and all the windows were open so you could feel the ocean breeze,” he recounted. The bishop then told the group to visualize God entering the room.

“Suddenly, the room got much brighter, but it wasn’t so bright that it hurt your eyes. I walked toward God, turned around, and fell. I hit the floor. I stood back up fell again, not afraid I would hit the floor again and God caught me. Suddenly I opened my eyes, Bishop Gene was looking at me dead in the eye and asked, ‘Did He catch you?’”

Dan was so struck that he left the group and went for a walk. The piece of advice that he gave us from that experience is what will stick with me for a long time. He said, “You have to really trust in someone to fall once, hit the floor, then fall again.”

What a beautiful way to express faith and how true this is in my life! I am reminded of moments in my life when I have felt like I have fallen, waiting for God to catch me, and have hit the floor. My first year in college, past leadership positions undertaken, and a disappointing result on a test, these are all moments in which I have hit the floor.

Dan’s story has given me the perspective that perhaps when I fall, I need to dust myself off, stand up, then courageously fall again. This internship is another great example of falling. I am certainly not an expert in business or in healthcare services and sometimes I feel like I am falling. Perhaps God will not catch me the first time, but perhaps that first fall is an invitation by Him to stand back up, fall again, trusting this time he will catch me.

Another Dan-ism rings true after his story, “You never know when something you say may connect with someone else.”

I’ve been an intern at EMPOWER Porter county for a little over two weeks now and I feel like I’ve already really gotten in the groove of things. My desk is equipped with everything I could possibly need (pens, sticky notes, stapler, paper clips, WhiteOut, and, of course, granola bars). While EMPOWER Porter County was my first pick for an internship this summer, I was slightly bummed that I’d be in Valpo all summer. I was born and raised, and am still being educated in this town. When I got to the office, however, all of my fears disappeared.

The EMPOWER Porter County office is tucked right downtown at the corner of Franklin and Jefferson in a office building. So I got to stay in my hometown and still get the slightly city vibe that I thought I’d be missing out on. Sure, downtown Valpo is no Chicago or DC, but it’s probably as close as I’d personally enjoy. I love being able to take the elevator down to the first floor and walk down the street to grab coffee or lunch. Sometimes, when my brain is mush halfway through the day, I’ll take a stroll around the block and feel completely recharged. Okay, so I’ve explained how wonderful the office and surroundings are, but what about the actual work? Is it possible that it’s just as good? Yes!

The first day at EMPOWER, my supervisors Heather and Kaye told my fellow intern, Mychal, and me a little more about the organization. Then, they said that we’d be working on the new youth initiative and to get researching! I’m pretty sure I spent the first two days looking up the entirely wrong things but after many questions and conversations with my supervisor, I started to understand what my task was. It took me a while to figure out how to organize all of the research and information I’d gathered into something that I could work with. For whatever reason, even though I’m glued to my phone like everyone else, I can’t work with electronic copies. When I write out lists or take notes, I have to use a pen and paper. That way I know where it is and can add notes wherever I want. Therefore, I decided to start printing out all of my research and bits and pieces of different curricula for programs similar to what we want ours to be. I went through the hundreds of papers and put them into folders (yes, real folders) organizing them into different elements of our curriculum. That is when I really started to feel like I knew what I was doing and how to do it. Since then, I have been writing a curriculum and developing a program. Meeting with my supervisors is extremely helpful because they can tell me when to scale back or put me in a different direction. I’m very grateful for their guidance and encouragement. Also, even though I was terrified the first two days, I think it was good that they just let me “dig in” at first and try to figure it out on my own (and realize that I need to just ask!).

I’m very excited to continue developing the program and working with community leaders to better our community and promote the positive development in youth

.  My desk and part of the office. Isn’t it adorable!?

So it’s been a while since my internship ended, but I wanted to give myself enough time to really reflect before I posted my final blog.  When I finished my internship at the beginning of August, I spent a few weeks vacationing before going home to help my sister go off to college and to pack for another semester at Valpo.

Now that I’m back on campus and settled in, I’m realizing how differently I look at this town now that I’ve spent a summer getting to know all the people who make this city the amazing community it is.

Before my summer with EMPOWER Porter County, my experience with Valpo was limited to the university itself. I was pretty thoroughly entrenched in the logistics of university life, and never spent much time off campus. Since my hometown is fairly large and commercial as well, the concept of being involved in a city community wasn’t something that had ever really occurred to me.

But since being back on campus, I’ve been asked by so many people to describe my summer, and what I’ve found is that my friends are just as surprised as I am by how attached I’ve become to this town and all the people I met through EMPOWER who make all of Valpo’s community programming possible.

Professionally speaking, working with a startup organization like EMPOWER was incredibly rewarding for me this summer. I got to have a significant impact on the direction of the organization, from crafting their mission and vision statements to handling their marketing and social media presence and even to assisting with event planning. It was a fantastic experience that allowed me some really incredible opportunities.

But more important than the professional experience, I think, was the amazing connection and appreciation I was able to develop for city planning and community programming in the course of my time with EMPOWER. I was introduced to people from all sorts of committees and programs this summer- representatives from the park district, the director of the Valparaiso YMCA, the principals of various middle and high schools throughout the county- people who play an active role in shaping the way a community environment functions. There’s so much work that’s accomplished in a city setting by people who do it purely of their own volition, who simply are passionate about growing their community and providing a safe and healthy environment for their citizens. It’s a truly amazing thing to witness, and an inspiring show of dedication to service.

I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to engage in so many ways with Valparaiso as a town this summer, through all of the connections that Heather and Kaye at EMPOWER helped me to build. I can only hope that one day I will become as productive a member of a community as Heather and Kaye are here in Valpo!

Love,

Abby

Thursday, August 31st, marked the last day of my internship with the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The nine weeks I spent with that organization had been a whirlwind of with plenty of ups and luckily, only a few downs. Finishing the laborious history project for the organization was a major high. Not only did I feel accomplished having sorted through 20+ boxes of files and documents, but it gave plenty of time for me to be outsourced to other projects that needed to be completed in a hurry.

I began to assist the Federation’s Communications Manager, Natalie Pak, in compiling a briefing book on each of the 57 state humanities councils to be presented to the new National Endowment for the Humanities’ Chair. Never again will I underestimate how difficult is to try and collect lots of information from lots of different people or how long it takes to edit and format 120 pages of text to look exactly the same while all having a similar tone of voice. I will say that while it difficult and formatting was just frankly annoying, I really did enjoy working on it. After reading through lots of history about the Federation and the state councils, it gave me the opportunity to really understand what these organizations are doing in 2014 and their plans for the future.

The National Humanities Conference’s online program was my final and most enjoyable project for the Federation. I found that giving a hand in designing a format and template for a program was a lot fun, and also a lot of hard work. Compiling a conference program while both in a crunch for time and waiting for outside information can be stressful, but it was amazing to see a majority of people in the Federation office come together and finish such a big project in only two weeks. I also became very much acquainted with Microsoft Word. I thought I knew Word pretty well before…now I really know just how useful (and inconvenient) it can be.

The buzz word for the CAPS Fellowship has been vocation. While I can’t say for certain that I’ve found mine at the Federation, I can say that I learned a number of important things about searching for vocation. I’ve learned that it’s almost always easier to figure out what isn’t your vocation than it is to find what is but more importantly, I learned that working in a position that isn’t part of your calling is still important because you never know what doors will opened or short experiences you’ll have that will lead you to your vocation.

Being in Washington D.C. for the summer was both wonderful and exhausting. I felt an obligation to go out and experience as much of D.C. as I could, and I’m happy I did. The two other CAPPS Fellows living in Arlington, Nate King and Caleb Rollins, and I went out every weekend to see the sights and learn the ins and outs of Washington. While my stay in the District seemed to end abruptly, Michigan was a sight for sore eyes. It was definitely time to come and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city…at least for a little while!

As I have wrapped up my internship at NLCS and The Village at Rockville, I can’t help but wonder where this is now going to guide my next year or so. The end of my wonderful internship also means the summer leading up to my senior year is also coming to a close. I cannot express how amazing this summer internship has been for me both personally and professionally. Professionally, I have learned so many hands-on skills that I know will be invaluable as I continue in my career. But some of the most important things I’ve learned are the personal aspects. I learned what it looks like to be a professional woman in a professional setting weather that be a clinical setting or more of an office setting. Getting this real world experience showed me both sides of what professionalism should and shouldn’t look like. I also experienced what great leadership can look like, again both clinically and on the business side. Not all leadership styles are the same, which I knew long before this summer, but I always enjoy seeing for myself the different styles and how they are interpreted by their peers, their subordinates, and their superiors. Being an outsider in many ways at The Village this summer, I got to see those interpretations from all angles.

I could continue on with all of the professional lessons I learned this summer that I cannot wait to show off when I enter that world full time, however I think the biggest take aways are on the personal side. No, I still don’t know what I want to do in a year when I’m finished with school. I do have a better idea though; I know what I don’t want to do. I know that the business and administrative side to nursing and healthcare is interesting and there are parts of it that I loved this summer and that I want to incorporate into whatever it is that I end up doing. But I have decided that it isn’t practical or the best use of my skills to start out in a position like that, or even in a long term care setting at all. I have decided I need to take a year or two or even three to just work, to gain more experiences like this one, particularly to hone in on my nursing skills. I have always known that the nursing profession is my calling and purpose. This summer’s experiences have solidified that even more. I have no doubt in what my calling is and in fact I’ve gained more confidence in it and in myself. Later down on the path of my career I could see myself doing something similar to those I worked with at The Village at Rockville, but I’ve realized something really important. My calling isn’t a set path. Dan Look, one of the officers at corporate made a wonderful analogy that has stuck with me. When you are sailing a boat you need to at least have an idea of what your final destination is so that you can map your course. Along the way though you might move a little off course, and as you refocus on that destination and how you need to redirect to get back there you might realize that your final destination has changed. I think I’ve decided where I’m headed, at least enough to get going!

One thing that has always drawn me to the non-profit world is just that: non-profit. I have always thought that there really would be no way that I could ever work at a for-profit company. When I thought of a for-profit company, the image of a large corporation simply there to make as much money as possible immediately came to mind, as well as any other related stereotypes that exist. That is why the idea of a non-profit organization sounded so appealing. In theory, such an organization exists to truly support and further whatever mission, goals, or vision that it holds. One can rest easier knowing that they are working for an organization that is trying to make the world a better place, in some way, shape, or form. But I have realized that even in a non-profit organization, the issue of money is still the most pressing issue in everyone’s mind. Instead of worrying about how performance affects profits, the concern becomes how performance reflects numbers, which in turn affects the funding that is received. At first, that upset me. But I realized that is simply the world we live in, and everyone must learn to work with that. Thus, a non-profit must learn to remain sustainable while also trying to stay true to the initial mission. This becomes even more difficult when the organization is directly linked to the ever-changing governmental rules and regulations. It can become disheartening, frustrating, and confusing. But what helps to combat this is people who are truly dedicated to the mission working within the organization

My supervisor at CWI is one of those people. Throughout the course of my internship, I have had the opportunity to work closely and directly with her. She is someone at CWI who wears many different hats, and similarly to me, likes to have “several irons in the fire.” We both like to believe that it increases our productivity. But among the many things that she does, she will often go above and beyond to help a person find a job, even when it seems that there is no hope of that person getting one. She is someone who truly is dedicated to the larger picture, and always keeps that in mind with everything that she does. Yet on top of that, she always remains realistic, and will always question whether or not something is pragmatic and will have a positive effect on the people that the organization is trying to serve. I have been fortunate to simply watch her work, and am often in awe of the things that she is able to do, and I hope that I have been able to soak up many of the skills and talents that she has.

When I reflect on my experiences at my internship, the organization as a whole, and the concept of Leadership and Service, I have realized that there are several questions one must ask themselves when going into a vocation. What am I truly good at doing? What do I enjoy doing? Is the work that I am doing making a positive impact on people’s lives (even if it is only a few lives)? Is the goal I have attainable? Does this work make me happy?

Lastly, I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone involved with the Institute of Leadership & Service for allowing me to have this experience, and for forcing me to reflect on what it truly means to Lead and Serve 🙂

Aaron

The Institute for Leadership and Service sends out a bimonthly e-newsletter, featuring Institute programs, events, and student activities. The most recent newsletter talks about the CAPS Fellows Program, the alumni mentors to the Fellows, and more… Continue reading →

I’ve heard before that people who express gratitude often tend to be happier than people who don’t.

There’s a YouTube video about it, so it must be true. Finishing up my time at LWR certainly gives me an

overwhelming feeling of gratitude. So, I would like to take a moment to thank everyone who made this

summer possible.

First, to everyone at the Institute of Leadership and Service, thank you for giving me this incredible

opportunity to serve as a CAPS Fellow this summer. A few special shout outs to Deb Garbukas for her

help and patience in planning my travel arrangements; Ali Devries for her reassurance and also her

careful and wonderful housing selection; and Elizabeth Lynn for her encouragement. Thank you to all of

you. Without your encouragement, patience, and careful planning I would have spent my summer on

Netflix, so needless to say I deeply appreciate everything you all have done to help all of us in the CAPS

Fellows program.

Second, I would like to thank all of my colleagues at Lutheran World Relief. With their guidance and

support, I was able to learn this summer from (in my opinion) the best of the best in the international

development community. It was a very busy summer, but from the bottom of my heart I appreciate the

opportunity to work at an organization where both the people and the mission are genuine. For my first

internship, the bar was certainly set very high.

Finally, a brief thank you to my parents, who were willing to let me move across the country for an

entire summer. I imagine as a parent it’s pretty stressful to have a kid who keeps wanting to move

somewhere she’s never been to spend time with people she’s never met, but that’s probably all part of

the job. In any case, if I was not armed with their love and support there’s no way I could’ve done it. So

many thanks to you, Mom and Dad.

And now it’s time to talk about what I learned this summer. I’ve noticed the other fellows have generally

boiled it down to 5 things they have learned, so I will follow their lead.

1. Sit at the table: As a young woman who is only halfway through my undergrad career, it was

at times really nerve-wracking to be in meetings with all of my highly educated, well-spoken

colleagues. Often, I would think to myself, “It doesn’t matter what I have to say”. But my boss,

Kate, was always ready to combat my willingness to stand on the sidelines and watch. At every

meeting she invited me to sit at the table, even if it meant my superiors had to stand. Now that

doesn’t necessarily mean that I had something to say at every meeting, or that the ideas I had

changed the nature of the organization. But I do believe it was an important lesson to learn

before I embark on my professional career. You have to count yourself in.

2. Business is a carefully constructed magic show: I say this with no cynicism, but one thing I’ve

learned this summer is that business is mostly an illusion. Nothing is ever “just” what it seems.

You aren’t “just” going to dinner, or a conference, or a meeting. The subtleties matter. Maybe

this is obvious to those in the business world, but I had no idea of the planning that went in

to seemingly simple encounters. One of my jobs here was to assist colleagues who would

be attending conferences out of state. I researched all of the guests we had names for, the

companies they worked for, if their companies had interests that overlapped with ours. A list

like this would also include a photo of the person attending and what a potential point of entry

for conversation might be. It’s quite the sleight of hand.

3. My computer is my best friend: My first week on the job, our staff was anticipating the arrival

of a colleague from Niger. He spoke English well, but was fluent in French. I expected to be

doing some work in French during my time at LWR, but I didn’t expect to be speaking French to

a fluent speaker on week one. Needless to say, my computer became my best friend for looking

up all kinds of vocabulary words we hadn’t gotten around to in French class, like climate smart

agriculture and animal husbandry.

4. My computer is my worst enemy: Even though I love the work LWR is doing, it really is

exhausting to sit at a computer for nearly 8 hours every day. Plus, our work environment is

generally very quiet so most conversations happen silently on Skype messaging. While my

computer was a great resource, it really made me realize how in the future I cannot pursue a

job where all I do is computer work. While I definitely don’t mind it for four or five hours, I need

something active and social to do during other parts of the day.

5. Nothing prepares you for the real world quite like the real world: While a college education

is certainly important and useful for the future, it definitely does not mean that your degree

endows you with the skills to find your calling and purpose in society (see what I did there?

). Even at that, calling and purpose is transient in itself. Even if people around the world were

free tomorrow of poverty, injustice, and human suffering I don’t believe anyone at LWR would

throw their hands in the air and say “Well, sweet! Glad I’ve fulfilled my purpose! Time for a

nap!” We are called and created to do and be many things. And the vocation we find isn’t one

place or one purpose, it’s always changing. So I think that as prepared as I felt to take on this

internship, what actually happened is that this internship prepared me for something else. After

this summer, I really feel proud of the person God called and created me to be and inspired to

use my particular strengths and gifts to make life better for someone else.

Thank you,
C