Dear Gina,
It looks like you have stuck to your goals! I am proud that you kept an open mind because that really allowed you to learn a lot about your organization, social situations in Detroit, entrepreneurship, and working behind the scenes of a non-profit. The Food Academy has really welcomed you with open arms and encouraged you to participate in parts of their program that were not necessarily in the work plan. Although these instances involved a lot of hands-on data collection, it still really allowed you to make personal relationships with your coworkers and students in the Academy.
Throughout the summer, you have been introduced to the food justice and availability issues of Detroit, and it has been a completely new experience. This is a whole different community you have yet to experience, and now you’ve seen how important food is to people. Not just actually having it, but as well as all the joy it brings to people. Food justice is more than just having healthy food around and being able to cook; it is about bringing communities together, nourish our children and family, and improving our health. Food is a uniting factor among all people, and I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to explore this field with the people at the Food Academy and explore its role in Detroit.
You also did not expect to learn so much and have fun at the same time! Initially, I remember you being worried that you would be mostly doing behind-the-scenes office work. Once the summer program kicked off, your role as an intern within the Academy became much more meaningful and you learned more about how the Academy works, its mission, and how the students participated within the program. This summer, you saw a human side of what you thought “research” was. It was not all about data analysis, entering spreadsheets, and making surveys. It was also about using your experiences in the community to fuel your research and give it meaning. You learned a surprising amount of skills that you were not expecting to learn in the first place! As well as gained a lot of insight into the small business world.
I hope the rest of your time with Food Academy goes well, and that you finish out their summer program strong J
Sincerely, yourself
