Heart House of Austin: July 2008

This year marked a highly successful year for Heart House, including the addition of several interns who have worked incredibly hard on many projects for our program! They have taken on some amazing leadership roles, resulting in added creativity, productivity, and advocacy for Heart House.

A friendly working atmosphere and a healthy degree of responsibility balance the intern experience while at Heart House. "Because the interns are accepted and respected as peers, after having a great summer experience, many opt to continue volunteering during the school year,” said Diane Cannon, Executive Director. “This year's interns represent the 'cream of the crop. I am very pleased that our internship program benefits these young people and provides a solid foundation of training as they proceed on their career paths. Imparting these young people with new skills, entrusting them with responsibilities and providing new opportunities are part of a commitment that Heart House is proud to make."

Our summer interns are:

Alexa Wagner & Yuri Hattori, Summer Program Interns
The Heart House Staff is super excited to have two fantastic summer program interns this year! These ladies share a passion for serving children and give 110% every day. Alexa Wagner is a Junior at Notre Dame University with a double major in Environmental Science and Political Science. She joined Heart House in Mid-May and provided much-appreciated support to the staff during the summer planning session. The Austin native enjoys Jazz and African dance and going to movies. She has a passion for the environment and has been teaching a summer class at Heart House called “Enviro-kids.” Alexa is teaching them how “their actions can have an impact on the earth and its inhabitants.” The kids have already made recycling boxes for paper, plastic and aluminum and recycle their lunch trash every day. After graduation, Alexa plans to volunteer at a South American orphanage for a couple of years. We’re so glad she decided to share her talents and passions with Heart House! We will bid Alexa bon voyage in late July as she leaves for a semester abroad in London.Yuri Hattori hails from Takarazuka, Japan, about 30 minutes from Osaka. She travelled to the US in order to learn about American Non-Profits that serve children. At home, she teaches Japanese as a Second Language to children from China, Korea, Peru and Brazil. She enjoys teaching one-on-one. “It’s very easy to develop a relationship with the kids. We don’t have program leaders (like at Heart House) so when we’re short on volunteers it’s difficult. When we have events their parents cook Peruvian food and it’s great!” Yuri enjoys recruiting volunteers at her university to work with the children. “There are some college student volunteers and others who are professionals. It’s interesting to meet them and learn from them.” Yuri has been teaching Japanese and Origami to the kids at Heart House. “The kids are interested in paper crafts and in Japanese culture; lots want to visit Japan. It’s very important for the kids to know other cultures and expand their minds. I am very happy they feel that way.” The staff is very happy Yuri traveled across the world to work with Heart House this summer! We wish her all the best as she returns to Japan in August to complete her Masters in Policy Studies at Kwansei Gakuin University.

Yuri Hattori and Alexa Wagner

Ella Daniels, Anthropological Intern
Ella first contacted Heart House with a curiosity for learning more about the inside workings of a non-profit. In doing so, she created a special research project to observe the characteristics of our Heart House culture. Says Kendra, “Above all the skills and knowledge gained from Heart House, I enjoyed my experience being around the children. While I was supposed to be jotting down notes for the observation study, I found myself reading or coloring with the kids. Heart House's afterschool [program] has a good-hearted atmosphere. Kids are willing to learn even after school hours and they are having fun doing it! Heart House is a positive influence on these kids and helps build the community. I am glad to be part of it.” During the spring semester, she spent her time observing both Heart House locations in Austin to discover the many facets of our Heart House family and this summer she is putting it all together to present her findings. She holds an anthropology degree and is currently interested in pursuing future opportunities in a non-profit environment.

Ella Daniels

Timothy McCarthy, PR/Branding Intern
Tim is an MBA student at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University specializing in marketing. He returned to school after six years in the record industry hoping to change careers and become involved with non profit organizations. Tim learned about Heart House through Idealist.org and applied for a summer internship. He was excited to work with an organization that focuses on helping children as he has taught second graders about business in their community with Junior Achievement and participated in the Big Brother program and really enjoyed those opportunities. The Heart House opportunity gives Tim the chance to work directly with Founder Anna Land and Development Director Megan Heredia. Tim feels his internship experience has been nothing short of incredible as Anna and Megan have allowed him to work on exciting assignments and given him great access to everybody in the Heart House family. (no photo available)

Erik Jensen, Board Development Intern
Erik Jensen is a graduate of Cornell College where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in English & Philosophy and his passion for service began. He later combined his passion for service with education while working as a housing official at the University of South Carolina, producing extensive programming to better serve international students living in his building. He loves bringing out the inner potential of each individual and actively seeks out opportunities to help others. While not busy with Heart House's board development materials, Erik enjoys spending time with his wife (Kelly) and friends, cooking, travel and volunteering.

Erik Jensen

Kendra Kaderka, Program Assistant
Kendra works closely with our Program Director to assist in various programming projects. “My time here has given me the opportunity to learn all about the program, including creating the curriculum, getting guest speakers, and teaching the classes," said Kendra. "This summer I am having a lot of fun leading the Mad Science activities at the South site. Being with the kids and watching them learn in a fun environment is definitely my favorite aspect of Heart House!” Since the addition of her to our team in the early spring, she has connected us with a handful of awesome guest speakers from organizations all over Austin, she has taught several classes, maintained contact with important community collaborators and volunteers, and created her own Mad Science class to teach at our Heart House South site this summer! Kendra is a rising senior in the Plan II program at the University of Texas, majoring in biology. "She really is a dynamite lady, full of dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism," says Monica Armendariz, Heart House Program Director.

Kendra Kaderka

Abraham Arevalo
Abe served as a volunteer last school year working with the children in our afterschool program. This summer he is serving as an intern working with founder Anna Land to complete an organizational capacity study and help the Board of Directors analyze the results of this study. Abe is also working on the Heart House Texas growth plan by which Heart House will expand to 20 Heart House centers in 5 Texas cities by the year 2020. (no photo available)

George Freeborn Jr. and David Matthews, Heart House Culture Interns
The Heart House staff would like to offer a special thanks to George Freeborn Jr. and David Matthews for their outstanding work this spring and summer! These MBA students from St. Edwards University have undertaken a special project for their class in organizational management. They are studying Heart House culture and assisting the staff in developing a strategic plan to export our culture to the new sites in Houston and around Texas. David has previous experience as a swim coach and school volunteer and was drawn to Heart House by our mission to serve low-income youth. He discovered a perfect match between his class assignment to study organizational culture and our own need to expand our cultural knowledge. “Everyone at Heart House really cares. They’re personally vested in the organization. They bring smiles to work and are really involved with the kids. This is an indication of success.” George agrees. He has encouraged the staff to read “Throw Out All the Rules” and his regular presence at Heart House has encouraged the staff to take a deeper look at the way our organization operates. Every member of the senior staff has been interviewed by George and this process has helped put words to the elusive notion of organizational culture. He and David will continue to work with Heart House as we refine our vision and prepare to open the new site in Houston. We’re so glad to have these excellent volunteers on board! (no photo available)

Heart House North: Gabi
Gabi, pictured below, is a rising 5th grader who has shown tremendous improvement in her effort and attitude at Heart House! Gabi has been attending our program for the past year. She has had some rough times, but recently decided to make some positive changes in her life by joining our Badgerpups creative writing workshop and learning how to deal with her feelings in a healthier manner through journaling in her spare time. She is also a current Heart House Idol contestant, bravely performing by herself and motivated to do the best she can by spending extra time working on her act during and outside of the program. She has truly matured over the past semester, and we are very proud of the progress she has made in just a few short months! We think she is a true testament to the unique role Heart House is able to play in allowing children to make better decisions and express themselves openly and honestly!

Heart House South: Peyton, Nhya, and Keishaun

Peyton is always listening and trying to help out in any way she can. Her participation is awesome and she is always very respectful. (no photo available)

If a question is asked of the class or a volunteer is needed, Keishaun is always the first to display daily examples of critical thinking with his quest for information. Furthermore, he is always respectful and supportive of his fellow classmates. (pictured below)

Nhya is always on task and super focused. She lends a helping hand to all of the students (without being asked) and has amazing manners. She is a fierce competitor and a good sport. Nhya has a fantastic sense of humor and she is a joy to have in the summer program! (pictured below)