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

Placement: Broadway School of Music - Cleveland Neighborhood Arts project
School: Cleveland Institute of Art

As an intern with Cleveland Neighborhood Arts this summer, I am responsible for producing written pieces on the benefits of arts involvement to Cleveland residents. Two of my biggest loves are Cleveland and the arts, so I am very pleased to take on this task.

In order to really see first-hand how the organizations impact their students, Cleveland Neighborhood Arts kindly allowed me to assist Augusto Bordelois in teaching visual arts to children at Foluké Cultural Arts Center’s summer camp. As an artist, I know how important it is for children to get excited about art early on in life. Starting so young, I was able to work diligently to build and improve my skill.

The exposure I had to art as a young child led me to where I am today. Having encouraging teachers is what influenced me continue to pursue art as a career.

I have never taught before, but I know that the teachers that had the greatest impact on me were the ones who were interested in my progress. I recently received a Facebook message from my middle school art teacher whom I had lost contact with, checking in on me to make sure I was still making art. My fourth grade teacher told me she still has drawings of mine saved. I still visit and keep in touch with my high school art teachers, and my professors at the Cleveland Institute of Art have become some of my greatest role models.

What I realized from these relationships is that the influence is reciprocated. Teaching at Foluké has helped me understand the student/teacher relationship from the other side. Augusto told me that the key is to make them have fun. I remember from being a kid that the best classrooms felt like structured play. Seeing young minds get excited about creating something was very rewarding. Exposing young minds to creative thinking is crucial to our community’s future. After only two weeks, the children have had such an impact on me.

I have had the opportunity to sit down and speak with multiple people whose lives have been changed by CNA’s organizations. I have met an 86-year-old piano student who swears she will never be old, a 26-year-old dancer who has transitioned from living out of his car as a child to a professional dancing career, a nine-year-old aspiring surgeon, a 12-year-old future architect, and many other inspiring individuals. Every person I have spoken with has had a unique story to share. Many even thought of their organizations as a second family.

This excitement and involvement not only makes great artists, but helps to create admirable and involved citizens. I am very much looking forward to hearing more stories and encouraging a new generation of creators.

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

Placement: Enterprise Community Partners

School: Kenyon College

For over thirty years as a forerunner in the Housing First Initiative, Enterprise Community Partners has raised and invested over $11 billion toward building communities all across America, and has built and restored more than 280,000 homes to date (14,000 of which are in Ohio).

Along with providing residents affordable and sustainable housing and mental health, recovery, and employment services, they offer numerous financial and supportive services to an array of clients. With the mission to excel in community development and assist citizens from all walks of life, Enterprise strives to help make life easier-especially during the country’s economic hardships-one step at a time.

June 7, 2011 was my first day at Enterprise. As my father drove me to work, I became a tad nervous about what to expect in terms of my duties for the summer, and also pondered the infamous first-day-on-the-job question: “Will they like me?” I took comfort in looking back at my final interview with Enterprise, remembered just how welcoming and laidback the staff was (including my interviewer who would later serve as my supervisor), and kept in mind that being myself has never failed me.

I was dropped off, got buzzed into the building by the administrative assistant Angelina, and went up to the third floor…only to face an unlit hallway as the elevator doors quietly opened. I chuckled and immediately text-messaged my friend, “Dude, this place is so sketchy!” Little did I know that the entire building was Green Building Certified (LEED), thus had motion sensitive lights, wall systems that maximize daylight, a recycling program, and a state-of-the-art geothermal HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system!

The lights suddenly flickered on as I walked down the corridor, and after opening the door to Enterprise, I was welcomed by my supervisor and Enterprise’s Program Director Beth Graham and met the majority of the staff a second time after being interviewed several months back. I got settled into my work station in Beth’s office and began to learn even more about the organization, which (in no time) led me to arrive at the conclusion that Enterprise truly is an under-acknowledged powerhouse in the national effort to end homelessness.

Put in simplest terms, I am tremendously honored to be working for such a powerful and innovative establishment, and am also humbled to have the immense opportunity of being surrounded by a diverse wealth of knowledge, expertise, and experience. It’s a pleasure to share that the remainder of the week turned out to be just as enriching and exciting as the first day and I will gladly take you through this interning adventure with me in weekly blog updates!

Connect with Enterprise via the following:
Website: http://www.enterprisecommunity.org/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EnterpriseCommunityPartners
Twitter: http://twitter.com/EnterpriseNow
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/EnterpriseCommunity

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

Placement: The Cleveland Orchestra

School: Baldwin-Wallace College

As I throw myself head first into the nonprofit arts sector for a summer internship at the Cleveland Orchestra, I find myself flooded with questions. Initially, the questions are manageable, easily conquered: Where do I park? Should I wear a tie? How many times will I get lost until I find my way to the education office?

The further I delve into the organization, though, the more daunting the questions become. These questions can even impose on the validity of our existence as a sector. For those of us who are committed to the advancement of nonprofits, they are questions that make our hearts skip a beat: Can we, the arts and culture sector, find enough funds to continue operations? Is our programming relevant to the needs of our community? Are we making a difference?

Economic failures have taken a huge toll on our entire country - the corporate world, nonprofits, and everything in between. We’ve been watching our pennies, both as a nation and as individuals. It’s no surprise that community action organizations, health organizations, arts and culture institutions, and educational facilities are taking a hit.

I’ve realized that now is the time in which the nonprofit’s role is most crucial. Economic downturn widens the gap between corporate America and government services, leaving a heavy load on the shoulder of the nonprofit.

It’s been just two weeks since I began my internship and I’ve seen that gap first-hand. Public schools in the Cleveland area are in desperate need of resources. Facilities are being closed, forcing the remaining schools to operate with nearly overwhelming numbers of students. Qualified, impassioned teachers are being let go. Art and music classes are no longer the standard, but a rare luxury for children.

The Cleveland Orchestra, and a host of other similarly dedicated organizations, is doing great work to provide children with creative and academically stimulating programs. Children not only get a glimpse into a sometimes overlooked world of music and art, but are encouraged to think outside the box in whatever homework assignment, task, or future job they might encounter. The programs are not just about music; they are about building competent, creative, and passionate community members.

With all these inspiring things happening around me, the answers to my questions are emerging: YES, we are relevant to the community; YES, we are making a difference, and YES, the next generation of nonprofit leaders is committed to maintaining that impact.

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

Placement: International Partners in Mission

School: Senior, University of Notre Dame

I think that I have heard the word “partnership” more in the past week and a half than I ever have in my entire life. Just to be clear, this type of “partnership” that I am referring to is defined as “a cooperative relationship between people or groups who agree to share responsibility for achieving some specific goal.” This partnership is also special because all partners involved mutually benefit from the relationship. International Partners in Mission (IPM), whose core principle is to create partnerships across the borders of faith and culture, truly brings the idea of working partnership to life.

However, as I have come to realize in my first few weeks as a Cleveland Foundation Summer Intern, partnership is a necessary component in any successful organization and comes in many forms and dimensions.

I am currently in the midst of what I like to call a “multi-layer” partnership. The common goal? Creating a better world. Allow me to explain.

Level One: I am currently working with the Cleveland Foundation, who has entered into a partnership with me as an intern. I benefit from learning about the nonprofit world (among a multitude of other things), and the foundation benefits from my work done in the community (hopefully among other things as well!).

Level Two: The Cleveland Foundation and IPM are also partners, and I, in turn, have become a partner with IPM. This partnership creates multiple benefits for all, resulting in productivity and added life to the city of Cleveland and the countries that IPM works in.

Level Three: IPM is a unique organization in that it works with “project partners” from all over the globe. Every partner that IPM supports, whether it be in Kenya, El Salvador, or India, promotes peace, hope and justice for women, children, and youth. An example of one of these partners would be a night school in El Salvador that gives children the opportunity to go to school while still allowing them to help support their families and the local economy. You can see the how fast the “tree of partnership” can start to grow!

Level Four: IPM’s project partners touch the lives of many, many people, not only those that receive the benefits of employment, education, and refuge, but IPM’s donors and other stakeholders as well. IPM also conducts an immersion program which sends students and adults of all ages from all over the country to project sites. This interaction also creates a unique partnership that relies on mutual respect and understanding, bringing together Cleveland, other parts of the U.S., and people from around the world.

In today’s global community, partnership has become essential. IPM and the Cleveland Foundation are proof that Cleveland understands this very well, and is truly becoming an important member in a global partnership.

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

School: Recent graduate, John Carroll University

I am a Cleveland native and recent graduate of John Carroll University with a Bachelor’s degree in English. A few weeks ago, I started my summer internship with the Cleveland Foundation working at The Literacy Cooperative. Although The Literacy Cooperative was my first choice for placement during the 11-week internship, I never could have imagined what a great fit it truly is.

Coming into this experience, I had no idea what to expect from my host site. I obviously had an idea of what literacy was: being able to read and write well enough to function in society. However, I have since learned that it is so much more.

Literacy includes speaking in English, computing, and problem solving. In today’s society, this means that it is more important than ever for individuals to be literate at every age. I also learned that seven out of 10 Clevelanders do not possess the minimum literacy skills now needed to operate in our society.

I am so grateful for this opportunity and I look forward to helping The Literacy Cooperative this summer with their many early-childhood and adult literacy programs. My lifelong love of reading and learning makes me even more passionate about The Literacy Cooperative’s vision “That all children and adults in Greater Cleveland will reach their highest literacy potential for employment, self-sufficiency, and lifelong learning.” Good luck to all my fellow interns, I look forward to hearing about your experiences!

For more information on The Literacy Cooperative, visit http://www.literacycooperative.org

The 2011 Cleveland Foundation Summer class is a unique bunch.  We have students from local colleges such as Cleveland State University, Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Institute of Art and Baldwin Wallace College. But we also have students from Ohio Wesleyan University, Kenyon College, Miami University, and the University of Notre Dame.

The majors of interns also speak to the cross disciplinary approach to problem solving that is required for this global and hyper-local world we live in. Along side urban planners and nonprofit management majors, we have business, art history, religious studies and environmental science majors. In terms of class standing, we have undergrads, recent graduates and graduate students.

We viewed it as our responsibility to support and believe in the 2011 intern class as they employ their talents to help the 16 host site organizations conduct important projects. It is our hope that this experience will help them gain a deeper understanding of and increase their interest in nonprofit and public sector work. This follows the program’s two key objectives: exposing young people to local nonprofit and public sector work and increasing organizations’ ability to conduct important short-term projects.

The 2011 class will also share their insights, stories and updates on this blog. Check out the thoughts from last year’s interns.

Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Class of 2011

Imani Allen, a senior at Cleveland State University, will be placed at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. Imani will work with the director of human resources to develop an emergency plan that includes information technology, administration, communications, direct service programs and an emergency succession plan.

Nicholas Borchers, a graduate student from Case Western Reserve University/Weatherhead School of Management, will be placed at Business Volunteers Unlimited. Nicholas will be responsible for identifying volunteer opportunities for both individuals and groups, coordinating registration and posting volunteer opportunities.

David Campbell, a senior at Cleveland State University, will be placed at the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA). David will work with the Sales Director to increase the number of employees in the Commuter Advantage program.

Adrienne Fischer, a senior at John Carroll University, will be placed at The Literacy Cooperative. Adrienne will be responsible for assessing, enhancing and managing The Literacy Cooperative’s stakeholder databases.

Andrew Gotlieb, a graduate student from Cleveland State University, will be placed at The Cleveland Municipal Housing Court. Andrew will work with Court staff to develop a program to identify and address the problems and solutions related to the housing foreclosure crisis.

Colleen Halpin, a graduate student from Case Western Reserve University, will be placed at the International Women’s Air & Space Museum. Colleen will be responsible for reviewing the museum’s extensive collection of Amelia Earhart photographs and create an inventory that can be accessed by staff, researchers and the general public. She will also be responsible for researching collections of other women pilots.

Ahmad Hamad, a junior at Kenyon College, will be placed at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Ahmad will be responsible for assisting Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. and the Housing First Initiative build the community’s support for tackling chronic and long-term homelessness among families and young people.

Cory Isler, a junior at Baldwin-Wallace College, will be placed at The Cleveland Orchestra. Cory will be responsible for event planning and coordination of a one-day conference for the PNC Grow Up Great Program, research and writing curricular materials for education concerts, and market research and patron database updates for education concerts.

Vicente Jimenez, a senior at Hiram College, will be placed at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District. Vicente will be responsible for developing an educational and marketing plan to promote the district’s new Special Waste Convenience Center.

Hannah Keelor, a junior at The Cleveland Institute of Art, will be placed at Broadway School of Music & the Arts. Hannah will be responsible for coordinating two projects with a marketing/public relations focus for Cleveland Neighborhood Arts.

Joanne Neugebauer, a senior at Ohio Wesleyan University, will be placed at University Hospitals Health System. Joanne will be responsible for developing content for internal and external healthy & sustainable food website. She will also help with the execution of the new CWRU/UHHHS expanded farmer’s market.

Deborah O’Neal, a sophomore at Miami University, will be placed at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland. Deborah will develop/implement a program for the Journalism Club to collect content for website/social media outlets; help with final details for 5k race including collecting ads from sponsors and assisting with event programming.

Stephanie Pedicini, a junior at the University of Notre Dame, will be placed at International Partners in Mission. Stephanie will be responsible for strategic planning and communications, conducting research for Environmental Scan, facilitating surveys, providing updates to website and developing a plan for social media.

Bryce Sylvester, a graduate student from Cleveland State University, Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs, will be placed at LakewoodAlive. Bryce’s primary responsibility will be to create a landlord education program. Other responsibilities/duties will include assisting in the implementation of the Housing Outreach Program.

Eric Vega, a recent graduate from Cleveland State University, Maxine Levin College of Urban Affairs, will be placed at Ohio City, Inc. Eric will be responsible for coordinating meetings and researching programs for the Ohio City Dialogue (a collaboration of over 90 nonprofits and community organizations based in Ohio City); assist in the planning and implementation of workgroup action items and assist in planning of Ohio City Dialogue Quarterly Workshops.

Amber Zemek, a graduate student from Cleveland State University, will be placed at The Gathering Place. Amber will contribute to the follow-up activities from the 2011 Race for the Place; working with the Director of Community Relations/Marketing on the execution of social media strategy and help to identify potential outreach opportunities on the west side of Cleveland.

The Cleveland Foundation Summer Internship Program class of 2011 can expect to be immersed in dynamic projects touching almost every aspect of life in our community.

The 16 projects are grouped into four clusters: strengthening nonprofit organizations (capacity building), testing new ideas and innovative solutions (game changers), providing programs and services to vulnerable and underserved populations, and governmental agencies addressing vital issues.

Here are the host site organizations and projects:

Projects strengthening organizations

• International Partners in Mission: Conduct research and interviews to prepare for IPM’s environmental scan and market perception analysis and assist with implementation of social media strategy
• International Women’s Air and Space Museum: Assist in the creation of Amelia Earhart photograph collection and Mercury 13 collection (photos/archives of the first women to undergo astronaut testing)
• Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry: Develop an emergency plan that addresses succession planning, leadership, information technology, communication, and direct service
• The Gathering Place: Market and development private concerts with the Cleveland Orchestra and execute social media strategy
• Business Volunteers Unlimited: Help identify volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups
• Literacy Cooperative: Help organize, update, and expand stakeholder database and assist with programming

Projects testing new ideas and innovative solutions

• Cleveland Neighborhood Arts Collaborative: Develop a year-round arts calendar and create content for website
• University Hospitals Health Systems: Design a “roving” farmers market and support the health system’s goal of reducing obesity
• LakewoodAlive: Create a database of contractors, assisting homeowners and helping code enforcement staff bring cases to housing court
• Ohio City Near West Development Corporation: Implement a shared services program for nonprofits based in the Ohio City neighborhood

Projects providing programs and services to vulnerable and underserved populations

• Enterprise Community Partners: Research best practices in homeless prevention and develop an outreach plan for homeless youth; revise provider manual
• Boys and Girls Club: Design and manage website “Kids Corner” and develop a journalism club for teens
• Cleveland Orchestra: Assist the orchestra’s Community Music Initiative to offer a wide array of inspirational musical experiences to a variety of audiences

Projects in the governmental sector responding to challenges and seizing opportunities

• Cleveland Municipal Housing Court: Partner with local nonprofits to address foreclosure prevention and work with partners to create a unified message on healthy housing in relation to vacant homes and code enforcement
• Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District: Develop outreach to businesses, schools, and institutions on topics related to recycling, composting, and waste reduction; conduct research and update publications
• Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority: Market commuter-advantage program to local employers and assist advertising agency with marketing and promotions to encourage use of mass transit

Do you know an undergraduate, graduate student, or recent graduate who is interested in a meaningful summer internship working on one of the projects listed above? If so, encourage them to visit our Summer Internship Program web page, email nbeckford@clevefdn.org, or call 216-615-7259 for information.

I was just reviewing my notes from an amazing workshop put on by our friends at Neighborhood Connections, the small-grants (but big-impact) program of the Cleveland Foundation. The presenter was Peter Lovenheim, author of the book “In the Neighborhood: The Search for Community on an American Street, One Sleepover at a Time.” The book grew out of a gruesome murder-suicide that happened on the author’s quiet street. The murder-suicide made the author realize how little he knew about his neighbors and his neighborhood. To address this disconnect, he did something radical: He decided to ask his neighbors, politely, if he could sleep over.

For more on what ensued, visit Lovenheim’s website.

This made me think about how we often use the words “community” and “neighborhood” interchangeably. Technically, they mean two different things. People who share the same interests, passions, or hopes are part of a community. A pers on can be a member of several communities, which can include a book club, a gym, a professional affiliation, or a religious or spiritual group. A neighborhood is an immediate, shared geography. I live in a neighborhood.

What I have learned from the workshop and Neighborhood Connections is that something magical happens when you find community where you live. Something special is created when we share the same interests, hopes, and passions with the people we live next to. What a concept!

For some excellent examples of this idea, take a moment to look at Neighborhood Connections’ fall 2010 grantees.

It was a beautiful fall day when more than 30 organizations came together to share their thoughts on what was happening in Lake and Geauga counties.   There were similarities between what we heard in some of our Cuyahoga County conversations but also subtle differences as well as new ideas that were raised. 

Here are my recollections based on notes and the dialogue we held as a group:

In terms of challenges, agencies talked about an increase in demand for services which in some instances meant an increase of clients placed on waiting lists.  Others noted a shift in the needs of clients with many requiring more financial assistance, most likely due to the prolonged economic downturn.  Agencies, like their counterpoints in Cuyahoga County, were worried about state budget cuts and how to find other sources of funds to make up for those diminishing dollars.  Many suggested that nonprofit organizations did not have the capacity to develop additional resources. Finally, some noted that for those agencies that rely on memberships – either individuals or organizations – this was an expense some had to drop despite the value of the services.

In terms of opportunities, agencies were finding creative ways of doing more with less but some noted the need for more volunteers to help with implementing their missions.  For those who were doing this well, it was an opportunity to share its knowledge with others.  In shifting or re-thinking its priorities, agencies felt they had the ability to conduct operations differently, perhaps collaborating with another agency or reaching out to a specific segment of the community.  Individuals noted the opportunities in health (but with the challenge of implementing electronic health records), with stimulus dollars and in buying property that once were impossible to afford.  

The group had a long discussion about the role of boards and the need for training around responsibilities, particularly in the area of fundraising.  Topics including finding good board members, the time needed to education and train individual members and the impact on the executive director when good board members rotate off. 

The nonprofit community appreciated the role of the Lake-Geauga Fund in the community and having an office that was centrally located.  Many liked having the inquiry first, rather than submitting a full proposal.  One area that the community asked the foundation to think about was having flexibility in reporting deadlines.  Many times the results of the project are not yet fully known when the project is “officially” done.  Given the importance of outcomes, it was suggested that important data may be missing from these final reports. 

Another related topic of conversation was the need for balance with operating or infrastructure support to ensure quality.  Some participants noted that agencies are being held to very high standards in terms of deliverables or outcomes.  At the same time, many funding sources such as the Federal or State government, United Way, and foundations put strict limits on administrative expenses.  Grantees asked for a better balance and flexibility as it felt like most funders were tipping toward project-only support which was causing a lot of pain for the nonprofit community.   Participants asked the funding community for a deeper appreciation and/or understanding for the need for quality staff, updated systems, equipment and supplies to ensure the best possible outcomes for the clients being served. 

What else should we be talking about?  Let us know…

The second part of the community conversations centered on how to deepen the relationship between the foundation and individual organizations, along with a discussion about what was working well with the foundation and areas for improvement.  

Here is what we heard:

Some of the strengths of the Cleveland Foundation noted by the participants were that we were approachable, helpful, had good knowledge of the community, open about funding shifts, and were forward thinkers.  Some participants expressed appreciation for our role as convener, particularly in bringing together multiple funders while others noted the foundation’s leadership in various sectors such as aging.  One participant stated that “the program officers are accessible and provide good guidance – they want grantees to succeed.”

While gains have been made in the online grantmaking system, it was clear from our participants that there were still technological glitches and that there was room to improve.  Other areas for improvement including making sure information is accessible and searchable on our website, standardizing forms and reporting systems, more connection to donors as well as clarity around access to donors, donor-advised funds and supporting organizations, and more specific feedback on declines. 

Several participants expressed the desire for the foundation to provide general operating grants rather than just project support, which is something we also heard last year. As a result of this comment, we talked about the importance of recognizing that programs can not happen without infrastructure – staff, space, tools, etc. – and that this was an important part of telling the story of the organization.  In addition, it was important for the foundation to also articulate the importance of infrastructure to achieving the outcomes in the project being funded. 

For the third question, how do we build better relationships with grantees, there were lots of great ideas!  We heard it was important to maintain our commitment to site visits, to attend other events when possible and friend you on Facebook.  Some also expressed appreciation in how we have embraced social media tools like Twitter and Flickr to reach out to grantees and to tell stories of our grantees work.   You asked us to continue to provide introductions to other funders or “shakers and movers” as one grantee noted, including national partners.  (And we reminded you that if you are approaching a national partner to let us know as well.)  A few asked us to consider how we could improve or increase our role in identifying and facilitating partnerships or “match-making” to help with collaboration. Others appreciate our networking opportunities and encouraged us to continue to promote this aspect of our work. 

In one meeting, there was a discussion about how foundations could support the nonprofit sector in these challenging times.  For example, individual agencies are faced with negotiating lines of credit with banks which in many instances are needed due to delays in getting reimbursements from public sector funding.  Organizations are providing the critical service, waiting for the dollars and struggling with cash flow.  Is there a way to highlight this situation and find a more systemic solution?

On behalf of the community responsive team, I want to thank all of you for informing our work!  Please continue to share your knowledge with us.  I am looking forward to attending the community conversation that will focus on Lake and Geauga counties next week and will also share and compare what we learn from that dialogue.