From Corporate Track, To Giving Back
My Path as a Public Ally by Erin McDermott
After graduating from the University of Tampa with a Marketing degree focused in Sports Management, I found myself stuck in a monotonous corporate setting in which I could find no satisfaction or happiness. However, I had a job and an incoming cash flow – isn’t that ultimately what it’s all about? When I graduated in 2007, I certainly thought so, along with the majority of society.
In late 2008, I caught wind of something that would not only change my mind, but the rest of my life. On a particularly stressful December morning at the office, I opened an e-mail from my mother – the subject line simply stating “new direction…” Inside that e-mail was an article about “this guy in Chicago… a civil-rights lawyer and community organizer.” That guy was our future United States president, Barack Obama. The article detailed the story of 2 young women, Vanessa Kirsch and Katrina Browne, who created a new organization in 1992 to train young people for public service. Obama served on the board of the Chicago branch, led by his wife, Executive Director Michelle Obama. This organization, Public Allies, has since spread to 18 regions across the country with more than 2,800 graduated Allies, ages 18-30.
“Public Allies mission is to advance new leadership to strengthen communities, nonprofits and civic participation. We are changing the face and practice of leadership in communities across the country by demonstrating our conviction that everyone can lead, and that lasting social change results when citizens of all backgrounds step up, take responsibility, and work together.”
I was hooked – I applied for the Connecticut program and by mid-April 2009 began to pack up my five years as a Florida resident into boxes and suitcases being shipped back to my hometown, Monroe, CT. After the next few months, and a rigorous interview process, I was finally placed in my nonprofit organization. As of September 1, 2009, I was officially a Public Ally, as well as the Health Careers Assistant at Southwestern AHEC, Inc.
As the Health Careers Assistant, I was thrown into a world of daily baptisms by fire. Me, public service, high school students, health careers…? But… I’m a corporate sports and special events planner – what do I know about any of this stuff? As it turned out, it didn’t matter. Thanks to an intense and arduous training period in Public Allies, and the indisputable knowledge, experience, and dedication of my SWAHEC supervisor, Bobbi Kulas, and Executive Director, Meredith Ferraro, I settled in quite nicely.
I now work with over 100 students in the Youth Health Service Corps program in four Stratford and Bridgeport schools on a weekly basis. The students are trained topics such as Leadership and Service, Vulnerable Populations, Ethical and Legal Issues, Health Career Exploration and Health Care Skills, as well as CPR training/certification and they participate in 50 hours of community service. The 2009-2010 YHSC program is committed to students completing Learn & Serve projects in the community relating to Oral Health Prevention and Education, Childhood Obesity Prevention and Health and Social Issues of the Aging Population.
In two short months I have recognized the impact I can have on these young students. If I can make a difference – give an opportunity, teach a new skill, give new direction – for even one of them, I have succeeded. Although throughout my college career I did plenty of volunteer work with my sorority, Delta Zeta, I never had the opportunity to make such a sustained and direct effect on such a young and vulnerable population. Without Public Allies, and its partnerships with nonprofits all over Connecticut, such as Southwestern AHEC, Inc., I would never have had such an extraordinary opportunity to give back … and that, is really what it’s all about.
About Erin
