Thea Crowley - Intern Reflections

I returned to NECIC for the Summer of 2018 after working as the Summer Community Organizing Intern in 2017. While some things remained the same from my inaugural internship, others things have changed. It reminded me of how I have been growing through my experiences with this organization.

A major part of my internship this year was understanding and appreciating the updated North End Community Economic Development Plan. This guiding document has shown me the power that comes with having a plan influenced by North End residents. I have worked to find the connections between the issues brought up in the Plan and the different programing that NECIC develops. It is nice to be able to understand how every program and event is linked to supporting the North End.

The second aspect of the internship that I have enjoyed is seeing community in action. Whether it was calling Bingo cards at the Elder Program or shaking a maraca North End Neighbor Up Night, I was able to experience a lot of NECIC action. I saw community members putting their heads together to try to solve local issues. I listened to old friends and new neighbors make connections and form bonds. I ate ground cherries grown in North End soil. Most of all, I experienced first hand the power of collaboration, hope, and hard work.

Finally, NECIC has provided me with a great space for both personal and professional growth. Professional growth came in the form of endless support for the wonderful NECIC staff and my supervisors, Tony Chinni and Kay Smith. They pushed me to try new things. Whether it was cold-calling local businesses and organizations or presenting my ideas to the NECIC Board, I was able to do work that intimidated me but made me a better person.

Personal growth came from a better understanding of my town and my community. I was raised in Mansfield my entire life and this internship equipped me with a new lens to see things that I took for granted. I was pushed to think in terms of capacity building, leadership, equality, assets, and economic development.

As my internship comes to a close, I feel sad to leave. But I know that when I go, I will be leaving with knowledge and connections that will last me a lifetime. I have appreciated my time here at NECIC and I look forward to any future work I can do with the organization.