Tell us about your experience as a Crimsonbridge Philanthropy Fellow. Did you learn anything new about philanthropy?
Before Crimsonbridge, my only understanding of philanthropy was in its most bare definition, a donation. I have been the recipient of scholarships and awards to help put me through school, but I had not given much thought to who the awards were coming from until now. Crimsonbridge has given me a new perspective on what it means to be a philanthropist. The Foundation makes a real effort to be more than generous funders donations by showing up in the community and supporting action plans designed to create lasting systemic change in education and women and girls' leadership.
Describe one of the projects that you worked on this summer. What did you find most interesting about the project, and what did you find challenging?
This summer I provided strategic communication support for the Women and Girls Leadership and Civic Engagement and College Success portfolios. I created four campaign posts highlighting programs, events, and research offered by 30 of our grantee partners. I was surprised to learn about all the different mentorship programs and resources available for students looking to complete their college education successfully. For me, the most challenging part of the project was to not sound repetitive within a campaign, which helped me practice my wordsmithing.
What was your favorite program area, and why?
My favorite program area was Women and Girls Leadership and Civic Engagement. On these partners’ websites, there are tons of inspirational resources to share with others trying to make a difference. Whether it was reading about the first woman to run for president, current calls to action to defend our rights, or 26 common beliefs women have, these resources support and encourage women and girls to be the best leaders they can be.
What is one skill you learned that you might use in the future?
During my fellowship, I gained experience in managing a communications project from start to finish while strengthening my skills in creative writing. Communication plays a pivotal role in the foundation between the team, partners, and the audience we serve. There is much deliberation that goes into how we communicate including considerations about power dynamics, asset-framing, and being respectful of people’s time. I know these skills will be invaluable when I start managing my classroom this fall.
What’s next for Beatriz?
I will be starting as a 5th grade teacher in a dual language classroom at Sacred Heart School. I am excited to share all the resources I have learned about with my students and their families. I am also very thankful for all the advising and support I have received from my team at Crimsonbridge, especially from former teachers, who have shared their experiences in education with me.