Internship Update/W&M DC Summer Institute Blog #2

Continuing from my last post, this one is also an assignment for my DCSI class. The task is to provide an update on how my internship with DC Central Kitchen is going using these prompts:

* What frustrates you about the organization?

If I was forced to pick some negative aspects, there would only be two, and they are both related to money. #1 Space is very limited for our organization. An example, in order to expand the number of students served in our Culinary Job Training program, we partner with other organizations with commercial kitchen facilities because we only have the physical capacity to run four classes of 25 students per year at our facility. #2 Despite our benevolent mission, just like any organization except the US federal government, we are limited by our budget.

* What project do you wish you could complete and why?

I think I already get a large variety of projects that use a lot of different personal skills: intelligence, problem solving, writing, creativity, research, analytics, communication, motivational speaking, etc. I have over a dozen on work Outlook task list, but if I could pick one more to add to the queue, it would be an in depth research project on the factors that determine success (graduation of the program and prolonged employment post-graduation) to see where we need to improve and common characteristics of unsuccessful students.

* What’s been your best day so far and why?

My best week so far has been when our Program Manager left for vacation and I took over her recruitment responsibilities. It was six days of four applicant interviews/day and the associated intake work along w/ some scheduled project deadlines of my own. It was very busy, but it’s been my best week because I was contributing to the mission, helping my co-worker and new friend out, and gaining invaluable nonprofit experience on a rapid basis. If she hadn’t taken that time off, I doubt I would have been thrust into those kind of responsibilities.

* Do the staff adhere to the mission of the agency?

Absolutely. What impressed me most from the time I started was how invested into the success of the students everyone on the Culinary Job Training team was.

* Is there a person at the organization who you really admire and why?

I admire everyone on the team and would love to work with them beyond the summer, but this would be a good time to point out my Director, Marianne Ali. She has been chosen by the White House as a Champion of Change (http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions) for her work at DC Central Kitchen. The biography of her which will be posted to the site this upcoming was written by yours truly.

* If you could change one thing at your organization what would it be and why?

The physical space for DCCK. We are spread out over three locations, and space is ALWAYS tight in our main facility on 2nd St. I would raise the funds and then develop a new space where everyone and every operation could coexist in the same building.

* Do you see yourself working for the organization or an org. similar to it after graduation?

Yes, if I can make a living doing so. I support the mission, love working with the CJT team, love the idea of using food as a tool to reduce the soup kitchen lines, enjoy hearing the success stories, and would be thrilled if I could make a career out of giving people who need help the opportunities they need to succeed and regain their independence.

* Is the organization addressing a social and/or political need? How?

Yes, read about all of them at www.dccentralkitchen.org

* Would you give money to the organization if you had it to give? Why?

I already donated money to help with a fundraiser that raised $30,000, enough to purchase a year’s supply of chicken for DCCK. I also ate crickets and a grasshopper burger as part of their Pestaurant fundraiser that raised over $6000. Note: Just so we are straight: DCCK does not use crickets, grasshoppers, or any other type of insect in its food!

A more elaborately flowing post to follow in the next couple of weeks!

Categories: Student Blogs, Study Away, W&M in Washington Tags: , , ,
5 Comments
  1. Mark Bland
    • Daniel Reichwein
  2. Amanda Warwick
    • Daniel Reichwein
  3. Sarah

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