Jinyong Xie: Unexpected and Valuable Deliverables
After being informed of my placement confirmation, I emailed my supervisor at Veggielution to express my excitement because I ended up working in a placement where I wanted to work for the next one year. Stepping into the Veggielution office on onboarding day, I felt feelings of nervousness and anticipation. What I felt immediately is the welcoming, friendly, and warm environment created by all the staff. My supervisor greeted me with what happened to be my favorite snacks and drinks, and detailed Veggielution’s missions and described different programs within it. Veggielution, a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to fostering community in East San Jose through the delivery of fresh produce and protein for lower income families in East San Jose (Eastside Connect Program), food education and food sovereignty(Environmental Education Program), and increasing participants’ monthly income by developing practical skills and obtaining food manager certifications (Eastside Grown Program). Veggielution is an exceptional organization that excels in uniting a diverse community.
One aspect of this internship that surprised me is how to cultivate the ability to read contracts effectively for catching up keys, for applying grants step by step, to tracing weekly expenditure for reimbursement. My title at Veggielution is “Fund Development Assistant.” At the beginning of the phrase, my supervisor suggested that I shadow a co-worker who is in charge of grant applications. In the first two weeks, I was assigned to read contracts to get familiar with in-process grants and our responsibilities within them. My coworker taught me how to read contracts effectively by providing a contract example. I learned various formats and types of contracts, such as the distinction between restricted and unrestricted contracts. Reading contracts is conducive to familiarizing myself with different program processes. In the following weeks, I read a contract used to apply for its grant, and encapsulate application requirements as bullet points. Additionally, I took over one of the biggest grants to record weekly spendings and calculate remaining budgets by a spreadsheet. I really appreciate what I have learned so far from Veggielution because those were such incredible new experiences to step out of my comfort zone.
In my role as a fellow in Veggielution, I aspire to make meaningful contributions to both the organization and the community in East San Jose. I hope to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the organization, fostering growth and effectiveness in achieving its mission. I will continue learning grant applications and dealing with networks with numerous donors, and engaging in different programs on the First Saturday Event by addressing local residents' needs. My ultimate goal is to be a dedicated and valuable member of the team, working collaboratively to create a positive and lasting influence on both Veggielution and the community it serves.