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09-10 NUPIP Featured Fellow:

Bradley Troast, Cabrini Connections

Bradley's Story:
"My name is Bradley Troast and I graduated from Northwestern University in June 2009 with a BS in Communication. In 2008-2009, I was co-chair of Northwestern Community Development Corps, the largest direct service organization at NU. I am now the Assistant Program Coordinator at Cabrini Connections, a tutoring program for 7th-12th graders, and the Tutor/Mentor Connection, a resource network for all 200+ tutor/mentor programs in Chicago. Our mission is to engage workplace adults in structured activities that make a life-changing difference for youth living in economically and educationally disadvantaged neighborhoods. My responsibilities include facilitating tutoring sessions, leading field trips, fund raising, and blogging.

I've been in this position for four months now and I absolutely love it. Working at a small nonprofit, I get to experience every piece of the puzzle. I can sit down and talk with the President at a moment's notice (a man who's been involved with tutoring and mentoring for 35+ years) and I get to interact with youth on a daily basis (we have almost 80 in the program). PIP is the ideal scenario for the recent graduate. My organization understands that this is a learning experience for me. I am encouraged to work on a variety of projects, and I can even take on my own initiatives! I am very grateful to be in the position and I look forward to growing further in this role as the year progresses."

Be sure to check out Bradley Troast's blog at http://cabrinipip.blogspot.com/!

Sarah Sumadi, Center on Halsted

Sarah's Story:
"I'm currently the director of the volunteer program at the Center on Halsted, the largest LGBT community center in the Midwest. We do focus on the LGBT community, but truly strive to serve all of our neighbors in Lakeview and across Chicago. The Center has a lot to offer -- cultural programming, like art, dance and theater events, free HIV testing, counseling and support groups, programs for youth and seniors, a free computer lab, a legal referral network, an anti-violence crisis hotline, a full-size gymnasium, and a laundry list of recreational and social events.

To support these programs, we employ more than 1,000 volunteers -- and that's where I come in. As Director of the Volunteer Program, I teach orientation classes to new volunteers (we add about 50 per month), and then help them find the job that's right for them. Sometimes, we’re blessed to have more volunteers than positions, so I’ve started partnerships at other organizations, like the Lakeview Food Pantry, to share our volunteers where they’re most needed in the neighborhood.

I'm incredibly lucky to work with a wonderful staff and executive team. When I started in August, they told me the volunteer department was mine to revamp any way I saw fit. Since then, I've replaced the paper application with an online application, creating a vastly more functional database and cutting down on data entry. I have improved communication about opportunities through both e-mail and Facebook, and as a result, volunteer hours have increased by 50%. Finally, I've created new jobs for volunteers, like our photography and publicity teams.

As the year goes on, I'd like to develop more external partnerships like the one we have with the Lakeview Pantry. Not only do these partnerships expand the number of fulfilling opportunities available to volunteers, they also help us carry our message beyond our doors. Spring brings our two biggest (and swankiest!) fundraisers, the Oscar Party and the Human First Gala. They're also my two biggest challenges -- whether or not they run smoothly depends almost solely on the 100 or so volunteers who work them. It will definitely take some planning ahead, but with help from the talented COH staff and volunteer team, I'm not worried."