O’Neill Leadership Fellows gain experience, help Hoosiers through community organizations: IU News
Whether alleviating poverty, enhancing sustainability, helping patients, advancing the arts or protecting the environment, 120 fellows through the Indiana University O’Neill Leadership Program are helping 65 Monroe County institutions improve the lives of Hoosiers.
Megan Starnes, director of student leadership programs at the IU Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, wants to prepare students to lead as soon as they graduate.
“In addition to leadership training, we provide opportunities to practice leadership,” Starnes said. “O’Neill fellows are great ambassadors who are passionate about serving the community.”
Three fellows were placed at United Way of South Central Indiana, supporting families who are either experiencing poverty or just above it. According to the latest U.S. Census data, the poverty rate in Monroe County is 18.2 percent, which is higher than the national official poverty measure of 11 percent.
O’Neill alumna Catherine Blankensop, the director of development at United Way of South Central Indiana, said she’s seen an increased need for services after the pandemic.
Blankensop previously interned at United Way as an undergraduate student and has continued the organization’s history of recruiting IU students.
“When I was hired full time, my former supervisor said placements from O’Neill were consistently incredible,” she said. “They are bright, passionate, dedicated students who want to come in and make a difference.”
Catherine Weeks, a graduate student studying public affairs and international development, is supporting the annual IU United Way fundraising campaign.
“It’s a hands-on experience that applies what you’re learning on campus to our broader community, having a direct impact in Bloomington,” Weeks said. “After all, this is where we call home, for whatever duration you are here as an IU student, so it is important to care for our neighbors and be of service.”
Inskeep analyzed data during the merger of United Way of Monroe County and United Way of South Central Indiana, identifying gaps in services. He was invited back to be a fellow during the academic year, supporting fundraising efforts.
“I grew up in a privileged community and was unaware of the reality that some people face,” Inskeep said. “Seeing the gaps has been eye-opening. To be a part of the solution and work toward improving people’s lives has been really special.”
O’Neill offers several areas of study, so Starnes’ team matches students to organizations that align with their interests. Brenna Coleman is an undergrad studying arts management and was placed at Bloomington Fine Art Supply, owned by another O’Neill arts management graduate, Heather Farmer.
When graduate student Jamil Davis was accepted into the master of public affairs program, he was offered a two-year fellowship placement at United Way, which aligned with his research on homelessness.
“When I think about the work that I do and what United Way does, my early upbringing comes to mind, because we had to deal with issues of homelessness,” Davis said. “For me to be in a position now, where I can bring the localized issues of homeless communities to the forefront, is empowering.
“Change is possible through policy-making, though this population often goes unnoticed. By having my feet on the ground and being able to vocalize concerns, I can inspire others to be passionate about it as well.”
Graduate fellow Alexi McHugh is bringing attention to another population: those impacted by HIV/AIDs. As the walk coordinator for an annual fundraiser at IU Health Positive Link in Bloomington, he hopes to make the lives of his clients easier.
Graduate students Reagan Robinson and Evelyn Sellers have a passion for the environment. Robinson is a conservation resource assistant at the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Sellers is a sustainability fellow at the City of Bloomington Office of Economic and Sustainable Development.
Growing up along the Gulf Coast, Robinson has an extensive background in water conservation but is learning more about its intersection with soil and agriculture. Sellers is helping implement Bloomington’s climate action plan. Much of her role is focused on community engagement, getting residents’ voices heard to create more effective and equitable policies. They said they are grateful to be in a position to make an impact.
“I’ve been given the opportunity and subsequent responsibility of taking my own ideas and doing the work to implement them, which has been both challenging and rewarding,” Sellers said. “Leading my own projects and serving the community is helping me grow as a student, professional and person.”
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