It’s been a while since the last time I’ve posted, but I guess that’s a good thing because it gives me more to write about. I’ve just finished up the Award Spreadsheet with all of the journalism awards that City Futures can apply to, as well as sending the complimentary issues to prospective subscribers. We sent over 300 magazines to NYC libraries, so I’m hoping it will be a great success and most of them will want to continue to receive them. This issue is about the sewage problem in NYC and how it is polluting waterways. I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, but from the looks of it, it seems like Jarrett Murphy (the reporter and author) has done yet another great job!

Last Wednesday, one of the City Futures Board Members, Lisette Nieves, sponsored and organized an Intern Lunch for the 6 interns. It was a really great experience and it gave us the chance to meet some of the Board Members, which is definitely an honor considering how successful they all are. Lisette is the Executive Director of Year Up, a training program for urban young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. She is a great role model, as are the other Board Members so I know that they will be great be to keep in contact with. I am so grateful to all of them for taking the time out of their busy schedules to get to know us and share their own stories.

As of right now, I am continuing the search for information on grants to apply to, which is something that I’m finding extremely useful just for my own knowledge. Grants are definitely going to be necessary if I do follow my dream of starting an organization that helps underpriveleged children reach their true potential. I don’t know the particulars yet, but I know there are never enough organizations that cater toward helping children become successful adults. The more I work with City Futures, the more I am realizing the importance of such an organization and have that dream come true.

The end of the internships is drawing near and I’m going to make sure that I gain everything that I possibly can from this experience. I’ve really been enjoying my time at home in New York, but I am looking forward to hearing about everyone else’s internships. Should be exciting!

Over the past two weeks I have been working with several forms of City Futures’ funding. Last week I did work with the renewal of a grant from the Ira W. DeCamp Foundation. The Foundation gives grants to New York City based organizations, which specialize in community-based health care, foster care, and workforce development. The grant funds City Futures’ Child Welfare Watch publication and City Limits Weekly online articles. There are plenty of really great articles on several different topics so I definitely suggest taking a look. My task was to compile a list of City Limits Weekly articles that pertained to Child Welfare so that City Futures can display its use of the grant funds and its progress throughout the year.

Prior to this internship, I did have grant experience, but very little. I’m really enjoying the chance to get better acquainted with the idea of running a non-profit and all of the elements that go into making it successful. Without the help of grants and donations, City Futures may never have been able to reach the status it has and the citizens of New York City would never have been exposed to the issues that City Futures devotes so much to.

The rest of my week was spent working on letters to send to potential City Limits Investigates subscribers (mainly NYC Libraries), offering a complimentary issue. Once library users read the magazine, the library won’t have any choice but to subscribe since the magazine is truly unique and vital to every library collection. Now, I am in the middle of drawing up an Award spreadsheet, which lists the various awards that journalists and organizations can apply to. Some of these include monetary rewards and is yet another form of funding that City Futures relies on to continue to keep the company thriving.

Both internships have really taught me just how important it is to get yourself out there and to take every opportunity to gain exposure. Without that, funding is impossible and as we all know, without funding the company simply cannot survive. Thankfully, there are so many wonderful people that not only subscribe to the magazine but truly understand just how important City Futures’ mission is.