About

JHU '25

Experience

Shabbat and Holidays Board Member
Johns Hopkins University
October 2021 to May 2022
I am on the Shabbat and Holidays event planning board for the Johns Hopkins Hillel.

Fellowships

Impact Fellowship - 2019
Alexander Muss High School in Israel
I was awarded a fellowship to study abroad for a semester in Israel, in exchange for advocating on behalf of the JNF.
Hodson Scholarship - 2021
Hodson Scholarship
I was awarded the Hodson Scholarship, which covers 2/3 of the yearly tuition for students who have made an impact on their community.

GivePulse Stats

Groups

  • Johns Hopkins University

  • Hopkins Engage Resources

  • Community Impact Internships Program

  • Center for Social Concern

  • CSC Student Organizations

  • CIIP 2022

  • CIIP Extension

  • CIIP 2023

  • Impacts

    CIIP Blogs (Summer 2023)

    Hey there, future intern!

    This is Carlos Gamboa, sending you a message from the past: I am writing this on August 5th, 2023 – I just finished my second summer of CIIP! I spent the summer of 2022 working with the Office of Councilmember Cohen, and I ultimately extended my internship for the entire 2022-23 academic year. I then worked with the Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP) during the summer of 2023. This time around, I was a peer mentor, as well, which carried its own set of challenges and rewards. This letter will focus on my time with CBP, but you can reach out to me if you have any questions about my other experiences.

    First of all, congratulations! This program is quite selective, and acceptance is no small feat. Don’t tell the other interns, but you’re also very lucky to be working with CBP, especially if Aaron is your supervisor. He’s the best. CBP has been a CIIP partner organization since the program’s inception, and for good reason: they are experts at crafting unique and fulfilling experiences for each intern. Naturally, you will have to fulfill some menial responsibilities, like taking notes at meetings or printing flyers. However, for the most part, this internship will align with your interests. For example, one of my majors is Public Health Studies; therefore, I spent most of my time supporting existing health-related programming, like blood pressure testing at public housing facilities. I also conducted extensive research on how to increase healthy food availability at corner stores, including overall best practices, tried-and-true intervention models, and ongoing programs. My research has laid the groundwork for a future intervention, and I feel satisfied that my knowledge will help shape Central Baltimore for the better.

    That said, this experience will ultimately be exactly what you make of it. If you don’t communicate your interests to Aaron, he will have no way of knowing what you’d like to do. If you don’t take the initiative on your project, it will fall short of your expectations. My previous internship had afforded me far less freedom, so I had to learn this lesson firsthand. That is the way of the real world, though: you will have specific assignments from your employer, but the work that most satisfies you will be of your own design. You are your closest ally in life: no one else can identify, act on, or fulfill your passions but you. If you’re anything like me, you will also be your own worst enemy. I spent much of the summer wrestling with this contradiction. Your expectations for yourself are entirely self-imposed: if you set them too high or too low, you will always feel dissatisfied. On the other hand, if you are honest with yourself and follow your heart, you cannot fail. Even if the world throws every obstacle your way, if you are true to yourself, you will reach the other side not only intact, but better off for it. Do your best and you will always succeed.
    Have a great summer! You’ve got this.

    Best,
    -Carlos G.

    Made an impact on 08/04/2023 with Johns Hopkins University

    This Impact is private

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    CIIP Blogs (Summer 2023)

    As an umbrella organization, the Central Baltimore Partnership (CBP) is defined by intersectionality and collaboration. CBP applies for government grants or funding from donor organizations, which it then distributes to partner organizations. Community partners use this funding to create programs and interventions: though CBP provides support, it ultimately relies on these partners for implementation.
    Therefore, not only has CBP collaborated with other placements, but there is boundless potential for future cooperation. In fact, the Station North Arts District, another CIIP placement, is a part of the Central Baltimore Partnership – their intern sits across from me at the office! CBP is dedicated to the revitalization of Central Baltimore, and the Arts District furthers this goal by attracting investment, supporting Baltimore-based artists, and promoting local events. Additionally, CBP cooperates with many community centers and schools on youth programming, several of which are CIIP placements. For instance, my supervisor and I met with the Village Learning Place’s staff last week to learn how we can better support their after-school programs. One of their priorities was collaborating with a nearby school: given CBP’s extensive connections in the community, we often facilitate communication between partners that may not have collaborated otherwise. Overall, our support of youth programming furthers CBP’s vision for Central Baltimore by providing professional and personal development opportunities. Lastly, as part of CBP’s public health initiative, GLOW, we partner extensively with local health clinics and hospitals. For example, I spent last Tuesday afternoon visiting one of our partner organization’s programs: free blood pressure testing at public housing facilities. We both provided funding for this initiative and facilitated communication between the healthcare clinic and interested housing complexes. In the future, CBP could partner with other CIIP placements in the health sector to expand service provision, provide educational programming, or advocate for policy changes.

    Made an impact on 07/29/2023 with Johns Hopkins University

    This Impact is private

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