About

GivePulse Stats

Groups

  • Johns Hopkins University

  • Center for Social Concern

  • CSC Student Organizations

  • Thread (Homewood Campus)

  • CIIP Spring 2021 Alternative Program

  • Community Impact Internships Program

  • IDEAL

  • Impacts

    CIIP Blogs (Spring 2021)

    This semester I worked at Greater Baybrook Alliance (GBA) a non-profit community development organization that utilizes a community and equity-based approach to equitable development and reinvestment in the Brooklyn, Brooklyn Park, Curtis Bay neighborhoods. Although being remote made it difficult to connect directly with these communities, it was still an amazing opportunity to learn more about my city and develop a fuller picture of what Baltimore looks like in total. I especially enjoyed attending the weekly COVID-19 working group meetings, a collaborative environment where different Baltimore non-profits and agencies came together to support Baltimore residents.

    I primarily worked on developing a communications plan and marketing materials for the team that could be used in a versatile manner (including long after I this semester!). Through this work, I not only learned about the fantastic programming and funding provided by GBA but also developed a deep appreciation for the way that the organization roots everything in the community and the people that they serve. My job was then about carrying this mission into GBA’s communication materials, making sure that we were getting the message out to those who could benefit most from the resources that we created materials that related to our neighborhoods’ needs. I did this by looking at the ways other community groups reach out to their stakeholders and then recentering these marketing techniques in the needs of GBA’s neighborhoods. It was amazing to see my materials get used by the organization and build their capacity.

    If I was to summarize my learnings from GBA into one idea it would be the importance of grounding my future career in community and people. In the classroom or policy discussions, we can easily get taken away from the people who we are trying to help. I have realized that I take a lot of joy in learning from people on the ground, involving them in the process of change, and empowering them to take initiative independently. As a relatively new organization, GBA is still learning many things, but its core purpose and vision are clear as day. No matter what my future career is, I know that looking at politics or issues from a bottom-up approach will be an important part of my thinking. I am excited to apply the skills I gained at GBA, combined with the values imparted on me, long past this semester.

    Made an impact between 04/04/2021 and 04/17/2021

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private

    CIIP Blogs (Spring 2021)

    Through my work with GBA I have learned more about community development and the importance of gathering feedback and learnings from local residents. I have always known the importance of listening to learn, but GBA is an organization that follows through on this value in all aspects of its work. The organization is people and community focused, genuinely interested in developing these neighborhoods from the bottom up. GBA has taught me that the importance of listening can go beyond an individual but can exist as a part of organizational culture and infrastructure.

    A second takeaway I will carry with me from this internship is the challenges non profits face when it comes to building capacity and planning for the long term. One of the great things about community-based organizations is their direct service work and intimate knowledge of the local population. However, one of the challenges that comes with this is the inability to look beyond the present and think about long term strategy. This isn’t something that is the organization’s fault, because they are doing amazing work daily, but rather a challenge that exists due to lack of capacity or organizational funding. If I decide to go into non-profit work, this is something that it will be important for me to remember and reflect on.

    Made an impact between 03/21/2021 and 04/03/2021

    This Impact is private

    This Impact is private