2019 CIIP Program Book CIIP Booklet 2019 | Page 10

When I began my internship at Baltimore Green Space, I anticipated a summer filled with
intern duties, but instead I received a summer filled with lessons, connections, and endless
learning opportunities. Everything that I have been able to experience and be a part of has
deeply affected my views of the city, my hopes for the future, and my outlook on life. Through
this internship, I have been able to interact and connect to folks with whom I would have never
crossed paths, allowing me to grow into an individual who is slowly finding her purpose and
passion.
Going into the summer, I was lost and unsure about my future. My parents’ hopes for me and
pressures to be a “successful Hopkins student,” something that we are all too familiar with,
were just some of the extrinsic forces that blocked me from being able to create my own
visions and goals. Luckily, the Universe, which works in mysterious ways, blessed me with the
opportunity of interning at an organization that was embarking on a journey similar to mine - a
journey of self-discovery. I entered the organization just as it was in the process of transitioning
from the old Executive Director to the new one, my current supervisor. So, you can imagine
how things have changed since then. From the beginning, a major part of my role in the orga-
nization focused on assisting in the implementation of these changes, and I was encouraged
to provide insight on what could be done better, leading me to be responsible for a lot of the
new systems that are in place. Another large part of my job duties focused on empathy and
being a good listener. Through closely supporting a community garden and through interact-
ing with Site Leaders, Board members, and other Baltimore Green Space affiliates, I was not
only given the opportunity to learn about these folks and their stories, but also, through doing
so, I was able to realize and learn a lot about myself. As I depart Baltimore Green Space, I re-
alize that both the trajectory of the organization and the trajectory of my life have changed for
the better. The organization is now equipped with a solid foundation that will allow it to flourish
and I have been empowered to write my own story.
• Provided technical assistance to
community leaders
• Provided volunteer support to
Baltimore Green Space Site Managers
• Provided high level, executive
administrative support
• Designed educational and promotional
materials
Community Partner:
Baltimore Green Space
Intern: Kiahna Revan
Site Supervisor: Katie Lautar
What is Baltimore Green Space?
Baltimore Green Space partners
with communities to preserve
and support community gardens,
forest patches, pocket parks, and
other open spaces managed by
city residents. At the request of
community groups, Baltimore
Green Space acquires commu-
nity-managed open spaces and
provides support to those who
care for them. This allows com-
munities to ensure that their ur-
ban oases endure without taking
on the responsibilities of acquisi-
tion, ownership, and liability.
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