Where Passion Meets Purpose: Jenna’s Nine-Month Journey at CIS

Background 

Hi! My name is Jenna, and I have been an intern at Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo for the past nine months. Originally from a Chicago suburb, I moved to Kalamazoo in 2019 to study Business, Psychology, and Studio Art at Kalamazoo College. During my time at K, I interned at several organizations, worked as a writing tutor, and volunteered with Read and Write Kalamazoo. After graduating in March of 2023, I took some time to focus on my clothing business and decide which path to take next.  

Last September, I applied for a Development Intern position at CIS. This opportunity piqued my interest because I value doing work that is meaningful and contributes to the betterment of my community. Also, I have always been involved with youth-focused organizations, so I was excited for the opportunity to work in an area that I am passionate about. 

My Work at CIS 

During my time at CIS, I had the opportunity to lead and support a wide variety of projects that not only helped strengthen my skills in several areas, but advanced the organization’s mission and helped make a difference in the lives of over 12,000 students in Kalamazoo! One of my favorite projects was creating and launching a “Donor Spotlight’s” campaign on CIS’s LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook! This project built stronger relationships with community members, boosted organizational visibility, and inspired others by highlighting why supporters are drawn to CIS’s mission: to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.  

Another impactful project that I worked on was creating promotional materials for one of CIS’s biggest fundraisers of the year, Walking With Purpose! From filming videos to designing flyers and social media posts, this project allowed me to connect with students, educators, and business partners. Everyone at CIS was really touched to hear all the different ways that the community appreciates and is personally invested in the organization. Overall, I feel pride in knowing that I am leaving behind materials that will be used to inspire others to join Walking With Purpose and step up in support of students. Check out one of the videos that I made below.

Designing materials, filming videos, and creating lessons for CIS’s Gratitude Club at Arcadia Elementary was another experience that I will never forget. We helped students learn and explore diverse ways to express gratitude through handmade gifts, videos, thank-you cards, journal entries, and more! The students inspired me, and other CIS staff involved, to appreciate the “small things” in life! Here is a video of the students expressing what gratitude means to them!

Reflecting on all of these heartwarming projects and experiences was also beneficial while redesigning the First-time Donor Welcome Packet. I had the pleasure of creating stickers, cards, letters, flyers, and even a student spotlight story to show donors the impact of their gifts, which supports dozens of services that Kalamazoo students rely on every day!  

Additionally, supporting CIS events allowed us to see the power of community and how people can come together through a shared commitment to student success. From designing table layouts to crafting programs and promotional social media posts, I was able to take pride in creating spaces where the community could celebrate, connect, and further invest in CIS’s work.  

Reflection 

One aspect of this internship that I will forever be grateful for is that I was given a supportive environment to both strengthen my existing skills and explore new areas of growth. My amazing supervisor, Kim Nemire, was always there to support me, allowed me to explore my interests, encouraged me to focus on my strengths while offering new experiences, and tried her best to make sure that any idea I had was implemented in some way. 

“Jenna was an amazing addition to our team. She is creative, thoughtful, strategic, detail-oriented, and proactive. She has created impactful new videos, designed dozens of printed and online resources, brought creative new ideas and approaches, helped us move several projects forward, supported events, and much more. She is a pleasure to work with, and we are grateful for her passion and great work. The bar is high for any future interns we may have!”- Kim Nemire 

My role began with a focus on donor engagement and relations, but it quickly expanded to include graphic design, content creation, videography, event planning, copywriting, and so much more! This experience has left me with endless possibilities and dozens of additions to my resume and portfolio. I was able to rekindle my love for video editing and deepen my passion for graphic design. Being immersed in an educational setting also made me feel more connected to youth- I even added teaching to my list of future possibilities! Overall, being in this position has provided me with valuable experiences and opportunities that I will use in my personal and professional life every day! 

I will miss being at CIS so much, but I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. I am also looking forward to seeing everyone this October for Walking With Purpose! Thank you, CIS, for this amazing experience!

Tags: CIS intern, Communities In Schools of Kalamazoo, Development Intern, Jenna P