Each year, Service Corps Fellows from Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs take part in paid, real-world experiences with local government as well as with arts and nonprofit organizations. Often, those organizations include United Way of Monroe County and its community partners. IU students work with and learn from agency and community leaders while they contribute to the community during their time in Bloomington, all of which is considered an IU Corps experience.
To learn more about the Service Corps-United Way connection, IU Corps talked to four O’Neill School graduate students.
Empowering girls
Name: Brittany Kurt
Position title: Development Assistant
Agency: Girls Inc.
Brittany Kurt is a second-year Master of Public Affairs student with a concentration in nonprofit management and works with Girls Inc., a United Way agency that empowers girls and young women to break gender stereotypes and become leaders. Brittany coordinates volunteers for fundraising events and connects with donors and local sponsors. After completing her degree, she hopes to raise money for a youth-serving nonprofit—and Service Corps gave her the experience she needed to figure that out. “Working at Girls Inc. has been a great way to get me into the field into that direct kind of work,” she said.
Community tax service
Name: Andrew Poulter
Position title: Financial Stability Community Initiatives Associate
Agency: United Way of Monroe County
Andrew Poulter is a first-year Master of Public Affairs student with a concentration in policy analysis who helps oversee United Way programs on personal finance. He drafts press releases, recruits program participants and volunteers, evaluates programs, and helps coordinate the Free Community Tax Service program. In 2018, the program filed over 2,800 federal and state returns and saved residents over $1,290,000 in tax preparation fees. After graduation, Andrew wants to work in public program evaluation. “It is much more gratifying to serve people in your work than to work for a big machine,” he said.
Early childhood learning
Name: David Gardner
Position title: Education Community Initiatives associate
Agency: United Way of Monroe County
First-year Master of Public Affairs student David Gardner helps coordinate programs that support early childhood learning, including Real Men Read and Roadmap to Success. He writes grants and press releases, recruits and manages volunteers, and works with local program sponsors. “I really like how United Way works across sectors,” said David, who is concentrating in nonprofit management and policy analysis and hopes to work on a grant committee after graduation. “United Way works in a very collaborative space with other agencies.”
Accessible opportunities
Name: Kendyll Owens
Position title: Development Assistant
Agency: LIFEDesigns
Kendyll works with LIFEDesigns, a United Way agency that helps adults and high school students with disabilities to find employment and accessible housing and coordinates accessible community engagement programs. Working with LIFEDesigns allows her to draw upon her previous experience working at a nonprofit school for individuals with disabilities. She sends newsletters to donors, tracks donations, finds grant opportunities, and helps plan fundraising events for the agency. The varied nature of the position has taught Owens that working at a nonprofit often means wearing a lot of hats and pitching in wherever is needed. “I now appreciate nonprofits more,” she said. “I didn’t realize how hard nonprofits have to work to get things done.” A first-year Master of Public Affairs student interested in local government management or community economic development, Owen plans to become a city planner.