Growing Hope

As the Growing Hope Community Outreach and Education Fellow, Lauren Lesch was responsible for the creation and design of educational and outreach materials.

Professionally, Growing Hope offered a wonderful opportunity for hands-on experience in the workings of a small non-profit. The office is composed of one full time Executive Director, three Americorp vistas, and three summer interns.  With such a small staff, everyone has the opportunity to participate in all aspects of maintaining a non-profit.  Lauren participated in community development and grassroots organizing, garden design and maintenance, youth farm stand projects, farmersí¢â‚¬â„¢ market organization and management, grant writing, financial tracking, and even a hoophouse build.  The wide variety of tasks she worked on taught her to be flexible and versatile in a work place, and gave the base knowledge she would need to one day start a non-profit.

Internship Details

Organization Growing Hope - Ypsilanti, MI
Employment Sector
Non-Governmental Organization/Non-Profit
Student's Field of Study
Landscape Architecture
Topic Areas of Internship

Citizen Participation, Environmental Education, and Urban Environment

Duration & Dates 15 weeks, starting 5/14/2008
Skills Gained

Grassroots Organizing, Technical Skills (Computer Software), and Design Skills

Duties Performed

Design Support, Marketing, and Teaching

How Student Obtained Internship Through an SNRE Alumna
Paid or Unpaid?
Funded by the Edna Bailey Sussman Trust