REFLECTIONS
REFLECTION 1
SHARE WHAT IT MEANS TO BELONG TO A COMMUNITY.
Belonging to a community means more than just being part of it; it's about feeling connected, sharing values, and supporting each other. A community can be a place where you live, a group with shared interests, or an organization with common goals. For me, growing up in Miami, I’ve always felt at home in my community. Feeling like you belong involves having an emotional connection to the place, knowing its culture and history, and speaking the language. It's not just about being a member; it's about actively engaging and contributing. By this definition, I definitely feel like I belong to my host community. This summer's challenges have deepened my understanding of what it means to be part of a community, and I'll carry this perspective with me back to Duke and into my career, focusing on active engagement and making a difference wherever I go.
REFLECTION 2
COMPARE YOUR EXPERIENCES AS A BRODHEAD FELLOW TO YOUR EXPERIENCES IN DUKE ENGAGE.
My experiences as a Brodhead Fellow and in DukeEngage have both been incredibly enriching, though they differ in focus. In DukeEngage, I worked with "It Takes a Village" to create a social interaction program for autistic adults, where I established the program from scratch. This involved enrolling participants, finding and matching volunteers, creating a logo and social media presence, planning events, and overseeing activities. It was hands-on and focused on building immediate, meaningful connections within the community. In contrast, as a Brodhead Fellow with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, my work has been more strategic and data-driven. I’ve been analyzing data, developing outcomes for environmental partnerships, organizing information on past projects, and creating strategies for future initiatives like the #PlasticFreeKB campaign. This role involves planning, research, and coordinating with various stakeholders to improve the community’s quality of life through sustainability and education. While DukeEngage was about direct social engagement, the Brodhead Fellowship is focused on long-term, systemic improvements. Both experiences have deepened my understanding of community involvement, and I'll carry these perspectives with me back to Duke and into my career, aiming to blend direct engagement with strategic planning to make a meaningful impact.
REFLECTION 3
DESCRIBE A CRITICAL LEARNING MOMENT THAT OCCURRED DURING YOUR FELLOWSHIP.
A critical learning moment during my fellowship occurred when I had to manage multiple projects simultaneously while also improving my communication with businesses. Initially, I was overwhelmed by the variety of tasks: analyzing data for the Key Biscayne Community Foundation's environmental partnerships, organizing past project information, and developing strategies for the #PlasticFreeKB campaign. I quickly realized the importance of balancing and switching between different projects efficiently. This required me to hone my time management skills and become more adaptable, ensuring that each project received the attention it needed without compromising the quality of my work.
Additionally, this period taught me how to effectively communicate with businesses and other stakeholders. Engaging with various businesses to gather support for our initiatives was challenging at first, as I had to tailor my communication style to different audiences and learn to present our goals compellingly. Through these interactions, I developed the ability to convey the importance of our projects clearly and persuasively, fostering strong partnerships that were crucial to the success of our initiatives. This experience not only improved my organizational skills but also enhanced my ability to build relationships and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, which are essential skills I will carry forward in my career.
NEXT STEPS
Looking back at the goals I set for myself this summer, I can see significant progress and growth. My primary objectives were to analyze data from the Key Biscayne Community Foundation’s (KBCF) environmental partnerships, develop outcomes for future collaborations, organize data on past projects, create a strategy for the #PlasticFreeKB campaign, and revamp the Citizen Scientist newsletter. I successfully analyzed and synthesized data, creating a foundation for upcoming partnerships and environmental initiatives. I also developed a clear and actionable strategy for #PlasticFreeKB, which has already begun to gain traction in the community. Revamping the newsletter has enhanced communication and engagement with residents. Reflecting on these achievements, I realize that my summer experience has not only met my initial goals but has also broadened my perspective on community work and environmental sustainability.
For the future, I aim to continue pursuing goals related to environmental advocacy and community engagement, with a focus on creating sustainable programs that can have long-term impacts. This summer has taught me the importance of flexibility and adaptability. Initially, my goals were more narrowly focused on specific tasks, but as I engaged with various stakeholders and faced unexpected challenges, I learned to adjust my approach and expand my objectives. Moving forward, I plan to incorporate this adaptability into my career path, seeking opportunities that allow me to work on diverse projects and collaborate with different communities. My long-term goal is to combine my passion for environmental sustainability with strategic community development, creating initiatives that not only address immediate needs but also promote lasting change. This experience has solidified my commitment to making a positive impact, and I am excited to carry these lessons with me back to Duke and into my future endeavors.
