Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences. Donte Gibbs, a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, is placed at Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI).

As the summer youth program coordinator at the Neighborhood Leadership Institute, I have my hands full. However, it is definitely rewarding to see the excitement of the young kids (8-14) that are participating in the summer program.

One of my duties is to oversee and implement the summer sports league for basketball. This week, we actually got the ball rolling (literally) with developing teams, team names, colors, etc.

This was a challenge, because you have to gain the trust of these young individuals and really be genuine about what you are doing. We are definitely moving forward!

This internship is helping me to develop my leadership skills - I have to think creatively of how things should operate and/or change. I’m also working with the summer tennis program with various tennis courts around the city. This is an internship like no other: some days I’m at Collinwood High School for the summer sports league, some I’m at the NLI office, some I’m at the tennis courts, and most of the time, I’m doing all three in a day and I enjoy it.

Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences. Seerat Bahniwal, a graduate student of Case Western Reserve University, has been placed at the Metropolitan Cleveland Consortium for STEM. 
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 Improving education for children is one of my passions as a student at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University. It’s also a focus of STEM, an educational program bringing science, technology, engineering and mathematics to the urban school systems of Ohio.

As a part of my internship with the Cleveland Foundation this summer, I’m working under the leadership of Ms. Sonya Pryor-Jones, executive director of the Metropolitan Cleveland Consortium for STEM OSLN-Cleveland Hub. This gives me the opportunity to meet, interview and converse with some of the students and educators at both Design Lab and MC2 STEM High Schools. A series of online articles will describe and help show how and why STEM programs impact the lives of urban students of Cleveland.

STEM schools and programs offer an innovative form of education where students are active learners. Students work on hands-on projects and have proactive involvement in the learning process. STEM schools have created a dynamic learning environment, where everyone is a teacher and everyone is a student. With its Project-Based learning approach, STEM schools encourage the students to find innovative, original and motivational ways of immersing themselves in the learning process. According to the people behind STEM, “STEM empowers students to become innovators and inventors, self-reliant and logical thinkers.”

This summer I will have the opportunity to tell stories of various students for whom MC2 STEM high schools and Design Lab have proven to be effective models of educating the future generations of doctors, engineers, fashion designers and biologists.

This series of stories will give readers a chance to look at this modern, ground-breaking, personalized learning environment where students not only listen to lectures but actually design solar panels, robots, yearbooks and become masters of their own learning.

Every two weeks I will be posting articles on the STEM HUB website to narrate the experiences of both the students and educators at both schools. As a student, I am extremely excited about this project and look forward to meeting the students and getting their perspective on the STEM education system and how it is helping them achieve their respective future ambitions. My first article was posted on the STEM HUB website on July 9th. Stay tuned for more.

Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences. Liam Martin, a junior at Taylor University, has been placed at ShoreBank Enterprise.

Our conversation went something like this.

“So, where are you working this summer?”
“I’m going to be at ShoreBank Enterprise.”
“Oh…Yeah, you look like you’d work at a bank.”

It was this seemingly innocuous statement in the midst of an otherwise beneficial and exciting first day of work that began a train of thought inside my head that went as follows:
1) Cool, I’m glad I wore this tie
2) What does that actually mean?
3) Why did that comment make me incredibly uncomfortable and mildly offended?
I’m one of 16 interns working with the Cleveland Foundation this summer. We are all working with different organizations funded and supported by the foundation, which is probably good because despite our shared desire to see Cleveland positively grow, we all have incredibly different gifts, weaknesses, interests and passions.

Over the past few weeks it’s been a personal joy to learn from differences we share, be challenged by our diversity of our perspectives, and be encouraged by the unique work we’re all doing throughout the city. But that conversation, the one about looking like a banker, got me thinking; are all our differences created equal?

Sometimes it’s quite frustrating to be the one studying business in a room full of social work, urban affairs and international justice majors. While my fellow interns are sharing stories about saving the world one city block at a time, I’m perceived as the one whose busy calculating how to make a profit off their work. It’s as if I walk through the door with one of those generic “Hello, my name is” nametags stuck on my shirt, only mine says “I’m the greedy crook that’s going to swindle nice people like you someday.”

It’s not that I blame people for sharing this sentiment; our society has done little to combat the stereotype of corporate culture rampant with greed, corruption, vanity and selfishness. And to clarify my earlier comments, my fellow interns have never once said anything like this to me, probably not even thought anything like this. I guess it’s just something I feel, something I think our culture has taught me to feel, even wants me to feel. But I think differently.

My work at ShoreBank Enterprise this summer has reinforced my core belief that the umbrella of business can do more than turn a profit; business can accomplish social good, and if we let it, can help change the world for the better.

ShoreBank Enterprise is a non-profit organization dedicated to business development in Northeast Ohio. Specifically, ShoreBank Enterprise provides term debt financing to small business in order to help make them more competitive and profitable. This often means working with struggling businesses previously denied traditional lines of credit, and working with them in order to become sustainable and ultimately profitable in order to create jobs, wealth, and become self-sufficient and an asset to the market.

As a result of my continual observations of the staff, who have all been incredibly generous to me with their time, energy and tutelage, I’ve realized something very important. This kind of work isn’t about financial statements or credit recommendations, quarterly results or annual profits.

This is about giving men and women the opportunity to provide for themselves and their families, an opportunity for the personal pride and community value that is work itself. It’s about more than a paycheck, more than a 9 to 5. This is about people’s lives, and helping them transition from the life they have to the life they want.  

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I do sort of look like a banker, and my internship this summer has taught me that someday I hope to look even more like one. Not the kind of banker that dresses in fancy three-piece suits or the kind of banker that looks like he’ll be brought before a congressional hearing anytime soon, but the kind of banker that uses his craft to share and create wealth, provide jobs, and help make his community a better, more vibrant, sustainable and beautiful place.

So if you’re reading this, and you’re the one with that sly smile and sarcastic wit who told me that I look like a banker, there’s have one thing I want to tell you: “Thank you.”

Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences.

Nicole Velasquez, a recent graduate of Clarion University in Pennsylvania, is placed at The City Club.

I count myself very fortunate to have the opportunity to be a part of the Cleveland Foundation summer internship.  I am placed with The City Club of Cleveland where I am exposed to all aspects of what the organization does. 

I have taken on a variety of tasks such as special program planning and building a social media plan, but perhaps the most exciting aspect of what I get to do at The City Club is partake in the programs themselves. 

Just the other day I sat in on a panel discussion about Cleveland’s newest and greatest chefs.  This was exciting for two reasons: first of all, there were delicious samples.  Secondly, and most importantly, I got a first-hand account of the Cleveland culinary landscape.  Each chef spoke with such passion: passion for food, passion for quality, local food that comes from our local farmers, and passion for the people of Cleveland and the state of Ohio.  Anyone sitting in the room that day was sure to walk away feeling a little bit prouder to be part of the Cleveland community; I know I did.  The thing is, this program and its contents are but one of many reasons to love this city.

Initially, when I first came to Cleveland with my parents several years ago, I wasn’t sure what I was going to find.  I wasn’t sure if I would even like it here.  Slowly, I became acclimated to area, and I began to discover what I initially thought of as sporadic treasures here and there.  It wasn’t until I graduated from college, moved back permanently and received an internship with the foundation that I realized how inaccurate my perceptions were.  I began my internship, and I was immediately awakened to the wealth of culture, innovation, activism and passion that resonates from this city on the lake.  It is only the third week of my nonprofit internship, and I have already been exposed to so much of what makes Cleveland such an amazing city.  I imagine I have only seen the tip of the iceberg, which is why I look forward to the many City Club forums ahead of me this summer.

The other day at a professional development seminar I was touched by a simple, yet profound statement made by a panel of community activists.  When asked why young Clevelanders should consider staying in Cleveland at a time when so many are leaving, someone replied, “Because right now we as Clevelander’s are in the unique position to define our destiny as a city, define what we want our community to be, and create it.”  How awesome is that?  This concept is so inspirational; to think about it gives me chills.  Of all the skills and experience I gain this summer, I believe it is this idea that may prove most valuable to me in the future. 

In conclusion, this summer is proving to be much more of a profound experience than I had initially anticipated.  I learn something new every single day, and I get to be part of Cleveland’s stellar nonprofit community.  I can’t wait to see what the next eight weeks have in store for me!

Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences.

Sarah Narkin, a junior at John Carroll University, is  placed at Voices for Ohio’s Children.

Founded and headquartered in Cleveland, Voices for Ohio’s Children is a non-partisan collaboration of individuals and organizations that advocate for children-focused public policy. In analyzing health, education, family, tax, and juvenile justice issues that effect children, Voices for Ohio’s Children provides advocacy for youth programs and legislation that most benefit our state’s children.

The primary methods through which Voices for Ohio’s Children staff accomplishes these goals is research, education of policymakers, facilitation of information sharing, and encouragement of general public support.

Unlike many other advocacy groups, the unique challenge faced by Voices for Ohio’s Children faces is to raise awareness among politicians and policymakers about the interests and developmental needs of a population that is unable to lobby or vote, but, nevertheless, suffer from issues such as unemployment, abuse, and poverty that affect the whole household. By ensuring that our society and legislators remain always mindful of the needs of children, Voices for Ohio’s Children hopes to ensure a positive future for Ohio.

Throughout the summer here, I will be handling logistics for meetings, updating portions of the website, writing letters for the eNewsletter, doing policy research, sending out press releases, etc. My primary and, perhaps, most interesting projects are to work on the Refund the Credit Campaign for working families and to outline the efficacy of American Recovery Act funding for human services through the creation of a book of anecdotal stories from agencies and individuals throughout the state.

Ultimately, however, it is my hope that my work at Voices for Ohio’s Children will provide valuable assistance to the organization in making a difference, no matter how small, in protecting and developing our greatest resource, children.

In early 2009, I shared with you the history of Cleveland’s commitment to providing comprehensive sexual health education for all our students — a partnership led by the Cleveland schools and fully backed by dozens of key leaders (City, County, foundations) and most importantly student and parents themselves. 

Early evaluation results of the program showed that when students receive medically accurate, age and culturally appropriate health education, they are better prepared to make smart, healthy decisions about their futures.

Since the release of that report in 2009, the District’s comprehensive health education efforts have continued.  Last year, over 12,000 students received comprehensive health education and 130 teachers were trained to deliver the evidence-based curriculum.   

I’m pleased to once again report that our community’s responsible sexual behavior program is making a difference.  And a measurable one at that.  Our partners at the AIDS Funding Collaborative and Philliber Research Associates released a follow-up evaluation on the third year of our K-12 Responsible Sexual Behavior Initiative (2008-2009). 

Among the highlights of the 2008/2009 school year evaluation:

• Students showed statistically significant improvements in overall knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavioral intent across the three curricula included in the evaluation;
• The topic students in grades 1-3 most frequently reported they learned about was good touch/bad touch, while high school students were as likely to name abstinence as they were to name safer sex as the most important lesson learned;
• 130 CMSD physical education and health teachers successfully completed intensive training to deliver the Responsible Sexual Behavior curricula, and demonstrated high levels of knowledge and comfort delivering the programming. The evaluation identified some areas for additional training.
• Parents overwhelmingly support schools teaching comprehensive sexuality education. Among the parents whose children received the curriculum, 83 percent of those with children in grades K‐6 and 68 percent of those with children in grades 7‐12 reported having a discussion with their child about sex, or a related topic, because of what was learned in the classroom.

The Cleveland Foundation is proud to support the Cleveland schools, and our many partner institutions, in funding medically accurate, comprehensive health education for our students. 

For more information on the Responsible Sexual Behavior program and its third year evaluation, read the full evaluation report and accompanying briefs.

Additional links:

2008 Report 

2009-2010 Report

2009 -2010 Briefs

Partners

Each week we will use this space to give each of our interns a chance to reflect on their internship experiences.

Up first is Amy Freede. Amy is a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University. She has been placed at Towards Employment this summer.

Since 1976, Towards Employment has helped individuals in the community by supporting their entry or re-entry into the working world.

My work at the organization is focused on two specific job readiness programs: NETworks 2 Success and NETworks 4 Success. Both programs provide training and preparation in the areas of communication, resume and application work, interviewing skills, professionalism, and stress management.

The first of these programs, NETworks 2 Success, is two weeks in length and works with individuals transitioning off government assistance. The second program works with individuals who have been involved in the criminal justice system. At four weeks in length, NETworks 4 Success also offers legal support to help individuals overcome the obstacle that a criminal background creates to obtaining a job.

The first week of my internship has mainly been focused on gaining a better understanding of the organization, what goals they seek to accomplish, and how their workshops are conducted. I have met many of the employees, as well as several of the directors and managers, to gain a deeper understanding of how each system within Towards Employment is connected and how each part works together. My favorite part of the first week has been sitting in on the NETworks 4 Success workshop and interacting with the individuals who are participating in the class. It has been inspiring to see how invaluable this service is to individuals struggling with the barriers associated with re-entry. It has also been motivating to witness former students visit the organization with smiles on their faces because they have found jobs.

What I have found in my initial observations is that Towards Employment facilitators draw from a wide variety of resources and supplement their teaching with many activities throughout their daily sessions.

My project this summer is to organize the large pool of lessons, resources, and activities into a manageable, standardized manual making it easier for present and future facilitators to teach the classes. My goal is to create a lesson guide that will be standard enough for each facilitator to teach the same material, but also flexible enough to accommodate the unique needs of the individuals served.

I hope that the end result will lessen preparation time for facilitators, allowing them more opportunities to work on activities or projects that will further the work of Towards Employment.

I had the opportunity to listen to the Cuyahoga Arts & Culture panel review of its general operating grant program last week.  CAC brought in outside experts from across the country to review over 70 arts and culture organizations’ applications.  It was a great learning opportunity for all involved in the process. 

Here are some of the insights and challenges I heard:

• The importance of organizations being flexible or nimble in responding to its environment and making changes to its structure and programming;
• The use of social media to engage younger, different or new audiences and in selling the whole experience of what it means to be a member of that organization’s family rather than just selling a ticket to a performance;
• The need to continue to diversity leadership of organizations both in terms of the board and its staffing – how we embrace younger members of the community as well as those of different cultures and backgrounds;
• Priority must be given to meaningful engagement with the community – how the organization ensures it is reaching out, listening and working together with members of the community.
• Greater focus on accountability – both programmatically and fiscally – and the need to tell the story of both. �
   

It was great to hear that many of our arts and culture organizations are thinking about these issues or have incorporated them into their organizations.  But upon reflecting on what I heard, I also think that these insights hold true for the broader nonprofit community to ensure that the overall nonprofit sector remains healthy and vibrant.

Today, the 11th class of the Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship program starts.

These individuals went through a very competitive application and interview process - more than 250 applications were received for only 16 placements. 

The interns represent a variety of majors such as international business, human rights studies, social work, and urban planning. 

This year’s host site projects are truly reflective of the challenges and opportunities faced by the nonprofit sector.   The projects address topics such as business formation and development, land reutilization, youth development and urban agriculture.  They also build the capacity of organizations in functional areas such as finance, development, outreach, marketing, and research.

We were deliberate in connecting young talent with meaningful, game-changing projects.  This follows the program’s objectives of exposing young people to the local nonprofit and public sector and increasing organizations’ ability to conduct important short-term projects.

Please join us in extending a hearty congratulations to some of Cleveland’s best and brightest.

Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Class of 2010

Modesto Acosta, a junior at Oberlin College, will be placed at Near West Theatre.  Modesto will be responsible for community outreach efforts with four area nonprofits.

Seerat Bhaniwal, a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University, will be placed at Metropolitan Cleveland Consortium for STEM.   Seerat will focus on providing content for the cyber communications plan which will include a new website, Facebook, e-mail blasts and Twitter.  She will also assist in the design and implementation of meetings and activities for Urban Debate, and assist with the follow-up for the governor’s statewide and regional STEM conferences.

Ann Brewka, a junior at Fordham University, will be placed at Cleveland Tenants Organization.  Ann will work directly with the shared development director in facilitating resource development and fundraising activities for three local grassroots housing advocacy organizations:  the Cleveland Tenants Organization, Environmental Health Watch and the Housing Research & Advocacy Center.

Kali Fencl, a junior at the College of Wooster, will be placed at Cleveland Public Art (CPA).  Kali will work with the organization’s project management and marketing staff to develop an art exhibition in CPA’s storefront gallery space. 

Amy Freede, a graduate student of Case Western Reserve University, will be placed at Towards Employment.  Amy will work with the training services manager to formalize its Networks 2 Success and Networks 4 Success Job Readiness Workshop instructor materials.  She will also be responsible for creating an instructor curriculum manual.

Donte Gibbs, a senior at Case Western Reserve University, will be placed at Neighborhood Leadership Institute (NLI).  Donte will be responsible for managing the NLI summer out of school time programs, which include the City of Cleveland’s tennis program as well as the Schools as Neighborhood Resources (SNR) locations.

Joseph Gruber, a junior at the University of Dayton, will be placed at Shaker Square Area Development Corporation (SHAD).  Joseph will be responsible for providing assistance with the administration and marketing of SHAD’s exterior housing repair program, a targeted one-to-one matching grant program to assist owner-occupants of distressed homes with the completion of exterior repairs to their properties.

Taryn Higgins, a graduate student of Case Western Reserve University, will be placed at Ohio State University Extension (OSUE) in Cuyahoga County.  Taryn’s primary responsibilities will be to enhance and update OSUE’s  community gardening guidebook so it is more user-friendly.  She will support the development and implementation of a hands-on summer learning program for preschool-age children, “To the Garden We Grow.”

Monica Laco, a senior at Xavier University, will be placed at Recovery Resources.  Monica will identify, develop, and maintain social media outlets for agency involvement and promotion including development and maintenance of agency blog, enhancement of YouTube channel and Facebook page, plus exploration of LinkedIn and Twitter.

Liam Martin, a junior at Taylor University, will be placed at ShoreBank Enterprise.  Liam will be responsible for reviewing existing infrastructure, estimating repair/replacement timelines, contacting vendors, obtaining quotes for work, analyzing proposals, aggregating information and assisting in the development of a long-term capital improvement plan.

Colin McCormack, a graduate student of the University of Akron, will be placed at the Cleveland Mediation Center.  Colin will be responsible for conducting an in-depth market analysis of the mediation/conflict resolution training market in Northeast Ohio.  He will also create a marketing plan for its trainings.

Sarah Narkin, a junior at John Carroll University, will be placed at Voices for Ohio’s Children.  Sarah will help coordinate logistics for policy meetings, update portions of Voices’ website, write articles for Voices’ Newsletter, attend related policy meetings and activities, and conduct general policy research.

India Pierce, a senior at Ohio University, will be placed at Union Miles Development.  India will be responsible for vacancy data collection and residential code enforcement support.  She will also work with partners to implement a phytoremediation (the use of green plants to remove pollutants from the environment or render them harmless) sunflower garden.

Nicole Velasquez, a recent graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, will be placed at The City Club of Cleveland.  Nicole will assist in the overall planning of the 100th anniversary activities.  She will also work with the public relations and programs manager to plan and implement a marketing plan that will include, among other things, targeted marketing and use of social media.  She will also help to plan Forums.

Joseph Wingenfeld, a senior at Miami University, will be placed at Neighborhood Progress, Inc.  Joseph will work on the implementation, documentation, and assessment of the Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland Pilot Project, in which 58 land re-use projects will transform vacant land bank lots into greenspace, market gardens, and phytoremediation (use of green plants to remove pollutants from the environment or render them harmless) sites. 

Adam Yasinow, a senior at Washington University in St. Louis, will be placed at BioEnterprise Corporation.  Adam will be responsible for identifying and researching imaging companies and will conduct a competitive analysis of imaging assets found in other parts of the country.  He will also analyze new technologies and markets and develop a profile of assets that support the development of new imaging technologies.

Let me start by stating that yes – we read all grant reports.

When a new grant proposal is received, I review past reports and organization files as part of my due diligence practices, so please know that the reports are read and used as part of a continuing process.

Reporting requirements vary from foundation to foundation, but basically we are interested in learning:

• What the organization did with the grant funds and what the organization feels are the principal accomplishments
• Challenges that may have arrived during implementation – staffing changes, etc. including what refinements that were made to overcome those challenges
• Challenging or surprising aspects of the project, including any unexpected outcomes
• Advice for other organizations – what would the organization do differently given the chance?
• Moving forward – post-grant plans and sustainability
• Press releases/media clippings
   

As an example, an interim report from an organization included a report from a national organization related to financing policies related to their specific focus in the nonprofit world. The document included the Cleveland-based organization as a model, which is great to see – but it also provided a nice summary of federal resources and funding which is very helpful.

We work hard to be as informed as we possibly can. The grant reports, paired with the calls and emails we receive related to changes (both positive and negative) are tremendously helpful.

We are working on figuring out the best way to share recommendations from these reports to share the insights gained by other nonprofits within our community. I’m experimenting with Twitter (perhaps a hashtag #advicefromgrantees ?). Other ideas are welcomed.

Please continue to add your comments to these posts to add to the collective knowledge base, to provide feedback, or even to request specific blog post topics.

As a P.S. - If you haven’t already, check out our Grantee Perception Report. Thanks to all of the nonprofits who provided feedback.