This summer at the 29th Street Community Center has been one of my most formative experiences in college . When I was first paired , I heard the words summer camp , health and wellness , community work , and it sounded right up my alley . But , I was worried I would fall behind by not doing research or clinical work or other internships more aligned with my career goals . Nevertheless , I wanted to do something meaningful and understand Baltimore better , so I went into my placement with an open mind .
From day one , everyone at 29SCC welcomed me with open arms . I entered the nonprofit world with about no knowledge of how it worked or what my role here would be ; I started out by reading historical documents about how 29SCC had become an independent nonprofit just one year ago . Then , my supervisor Nathalie encouraged me to make a list of things I wanted to accomplish or learn this summer , and was very supportive of the healthy eating / physical activity tabling and kindergarten lessons I wanted to develop . She also pushed me to improve my own skills , suggesting I take grant writing lessons with the community center director and directing me to a course on graphic design so I could create better flyers for community events .
Interacting with the kids at summer camp and the community members who attend our programs and events has by far been the highlight of my summer . At my first tabling event , people came up to write their wellness goals as they told me how they had started using their community garden ’ s herbs to make tea every day , or how their main motivation for staying active was “ being happy .” I realized how important the center and these events are for connecting people , introducing them to new opportunities , and giving them a home away from home . I also understood why I had felt so lost during my two years at Hopkins-- I had lacked a sense of community , which I have now found at the 29SCC . I cannot express my gratitude to all my mentors at the community center and I am excited to continue volunteering here during the school year and doing whatever I can for the community .
Created an interactive wellness table focused on healthy eating and physical activity , including printouts of recipes , free fitness resources , and posters to educate and help the community with goal setting . I tabled at five events that are part of the Summer Connect Series
Planned healthy eating and physical activity lessons and activities for Pre-K and Kindergarten students attending summer camp and delivered these lessons once a week to the students over one month
Created a volunteer handbook to introduce volunteers to the community center and outline duties and policies
Assisted with other community center operations , including setup and take-down for events and helping with the Pre-K / Kindergarten group twice a week during summer camp
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29TH STREET COMMUNITY CENTER Intern : Aiman Altaf
Supervisor : Nathalie Werebe What is the 29th Street Community Center ?
The 29th Street Community Center offers a variety of programs for kids , adults , and all ages . The mission of the 29th Street Community Center is to build and strengthen neighborhoods and people by bringing together residents of north central Baltimore through meaningful community building and high-quality enrichment programming for all ages and background .
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING