Team Service!

Last week, I had the phenomenal opportunity to travel to the US Chamber of Commerce to hear Rich Cooper speak. Two of the most important pieces of advice he offered to our group of young professionals was to build relationships with an expansive network, and to "be life-long learners, be constantly curious, and travel outside your comfort zone."

At first, the task seems daunting, but I am fortunate enough to have an internship that allows me to live out this advice every single day. As an assistant for community service in the office of campus ministry at Catholic University, I am able to develop, market, and implement our university's community service programs, build relationships with our DC community partners, supervise undergraduate student leaders, and even play a key role in determining what the future of our office will look like. We've come to know ourselves as "Team Service!" No two days are the same in the office and the work moves at a fairly rapid pace, which simultaneously surprises and comforts me. In just a month and a half, I have been able to play an integral role in our office’s programming.

I planned and executed the university’s annual 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance, where 200 students gathered together to honor the victims and heroes of 9/11 by performing service in our community. I have been able to personally meet and build relationships with community partners who work with us in making community service a consistent option for our students, like Colleen from the City of Hyattsville, Sr. Kate from St. Ann’s Youth Center, Michelle from Ronald McDonald House, Clif from Rock Creek Conservancy – the list goes on. I’ve supervised student leaders as they lead service projects or need assistance with logistics, and I’m constantly inspired by their passion and dedication.

I’ve also been able to play a role in the strategic planning of our office and determining what our future will be. In developing our service learning component, I’ve given presentations to professors, students, and other university liaisons. Just two weeks ago, I was able to attend a conference by Campus Compact – an organization that serves as a consortium of universities’ community-engagement offices. I met our counterparts at Howard University, Univ. of Maryland, PGCC, and more. I'll also get an intro to grant-writing as CUA pursues the opportunity to partner with Americorps!

Through this internship, I am able to build a meaningful network with a variety of people, make connections between our resources and people’s needs, constantly learn new things about myself, and new ways to reach & educate others, and make a difference. Every day, this takes me outside my comfort zone, stretches my imagination, and gives me a “bigger aperture,” a tool Mr. Cooper insisted we would need in the business world. I’m excited to see what tomorrow brings!

 From left to right: (1) 200 participants in our 9/11 Day of Service, (2) Our team for CUA Community Service, (3) Emily & Holly, two great service leaders, (4-6) Evan, Genna, & Mike - three wonderful service leaders and the reasons they serve.