Week 8

Hello! At week 8, this means we’re nearly at the end of the fellowship and it’s a bittersweet thing I think. Working for DREAM has taught me so much and really opened my eyes to how much of an impact one person can have and how one person can easily turn into many. Community revitalization is an effort that can easily be done in a harmful way if not done with enough and the right consideration; it’s a delicate project. The community has to be thought of as a number one priority, within that you need to listen to the community but beyond that, involving the community is essential. The community is the expert to what they need. DREAM has been a stellar example of what to do in this type of work. The organization has so far shown me the intricacies and layers to a non-profit organization and how important it is to not just “work for”, but to “work with”.

The Storytelling Project and speaking to elders in the community has been most impactful thus far, as I have said in prior blog posts. I think I will miss that most, listening to the stories of the community and perspectives that I have never heard or looked from. The first interview I ever went to was full of success stories of the family and yet she was one of the most humble people I’ve heard speak, it was amazing. This project has shown me respect to another level, is thought provoking, and inspiring. One more week to go and I’m going to take in every minute of it!