2017 CIIP Program Book 2017 CIIP Program Book | Page 39

Community Partner: Orita's Cross Freedom School & Black Church Food
Security Network
Intern: Awoenam Mauna-Woanya
Site Supervisor: Reverend Dr. Heber Brown III
What is Orita's Cross Freedom School?
Our mission at Orita's Cross is to raise the next generation of change makers. We aim to pour
into our youth so that they grow into adults who are self-assured and knowledgeable about
how the world works, as well as equipped to navigate it.
"This summer, I had the pleasure of interning at the Black Church Food Security Network and helping out at
the Orita's Cross Freedom School. My time with the food security network gave me a real look at all the
behind-the-scenes work in a nonprofit organization. This education occurred primarily through spending
time with my supervisor, Rev. Brown. I spent the first couple weeks just following him around to all his
meetings all around Baltimore on behalf of the network. Through this, one important lesson I learned was
the value of reputation. In the working world (especially the non-profit sector), reputation means
everything. Those who understand this are able to make great progress in advancing their causes. Rev.
Brown and other members of the BCFSN relied heavily on reputation when advocating for the network and
it works. This lead to plenty of doors opening for the network and I witnessed them.
As summer progressed, I followed Rev. Brown less and began acting as a core team member of the network.
I handled the social media aspect by creating Facebook posts that informed people about upcoming events,
recapped past events, and improve their familiarity with our cause and why its relevant. Each week, I
prepared an e-newsletter that goes out to subscribers and it details the workings of the network and
promotes events that our subscribers would be interested in. I began a mini-project where I recorded
garden coordinators of member congregations talking about why they are a part of the network and why
they feel its important. I did this for two reasons: to advance the narrative of each church in the network
and for myself to understand why this work was necessary.
In my spare time, I worked with the Orita's Cross Freedom School. While, I was more involved early on in
the summer, I still appreciated the time I spent with the students. Freedom schools were originally
alternative schools for African-American students with the goal of attaining equality in America. Orita's
Cross works to further educate students about their African heritage and culture. What I saw was
incredible. The students at freedom school are well aware of their place in the world.
I realized that working for the network and freedom school has not felt like an internship at all. The people
involved with these organizations treated me as an equal and gave me a fair share of meaningful
responsibility and I think that is one of the key reasons I have truly enjoyed this internship and I cannot wait
to see how else I can be involved with the network and freedom school beyond the summer. I am beyond
grateful for my placement through CIIP." -Awoe
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Managed social media posts
and wrote weekly e-newsletter
Created, edited, and compiled
videos about member
congregations in the network
Attended weekly meetings and
occasional conferences
Assisted with students at
Freedom School
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