Community Impact

My graduate assistant position in the Community Service Office at Catholic University is a challenging, albeit fulfilling role. I develop and maintain relationships with community partners in the DC area. Therefore a large part of my job is communication. I communicate with my director on a daily basis, as well as my site leaders (the students I oversee who physically travel to the service sites and volunteer), and finally the volunteer coordinators at the different sites in the DC and Maryland area.

Another big part of my role as a graduate assistant is logistics. For example our office is hosting an event on Saturday, October 19. To list a few major components of the workflow and the planning for the event, I am contacting volunteer coordinators (some CUA have work with, and others with whom the University would like to build a relationship), arranging transportation for the volunteers to and from the service sites (includes maps, buses, and vans), purchasing food and beverages, and implementing a marketing strategy.

If someone asked me what I enjoy most about my internship I would say:  my colleagues, my student volunteers I oversee, and finally the impact that our work has on the DC community. Some part of the city are in poverty and peril and the service that our office renders is helping to alleviate some of that suffering by feeding the homeless and spending time with those who feel neglected.