Fellowship

June 25, 2020

A Two-Year Program in Social Impact: A FAO Schwarz Fellowship Experience

Check out FAO Schwarz Fellowship recent graduate Nick Mitch’s interview on ProFellow! Nick wrapped up his Fellowship in 2020 at Riverkeeper New York and will be entering as a Master in Urban Planning student at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in the fall.

 

ProFellow is the go-to source for information on professional and academic fellowships, created by fellows for aspiring fellows.

March 2, 2020

Navigating Community Outreach and Policy Advocacy

On a rainy Tuesday morning, my coworker and I lugged our Jumpstart bags stuffed with books and craft supplies to a Brooklyn preschool. Though I had already coordinated many such events since I started my role six months ago, I still felt anticipation as I imagined how the children and teachers might respond to the books and activity. Like always, however, the skilled teachers made the event a breeze, catching tantrums before they escalated and prompting the students with thoughtful questions about the book.

READ MORE

January 30, 2020

Leading the Recess Wellness Champion Program: How Play Led Me to Greater Leadership Opportunities

My time at Playworks New England has been a transformative experience! At the beginning of my fellowship term, I had a difficult time transitioning from my place of origin in New York City to moving to Boston, a city new to me. I did not have relatives and had very few friends who were in the Boston area. With the support of Playworks, my co-workers quickly became my friends and some even that I could confide in. My position at Playworks has challenged me beyond my comfort zone as it has encouraged me to practice leadership skills and hone strengths that I didn’t know existed in myself. 

READ MORE

January 25, 2020

A Glimpse into “Virtual” Advising

When I tell people about the advising half of my work, I usually give a one-liner along the lines of, “I advise students about financial aid and college affordability, but it’s virtual so I’m mostly texting them.” This tends to receive many raised eyebrows, which only raise higher when I go on to explain that I have hundreds of students in my caseload.

READ MORE

October 29, 2019

My Experience as a FAO Schwarz Fellow: Building Community Partnerships

I’ve lived in Queens, New York for 14 years. I volunteered with Reading Partners in my freshman year of college. Fast forward three years later, and I have had the wonderful opportunity to engage with the organization in South Jamaica, Queens. My work as a FAO Schwarz Fellow in the community engagement team includes recruiting volunteers and seeking partnerships in the community of South Jamaica. We currently partner with three public elementary schools where I tutor and actively connect with local civic and faith-based organizations to bring tutors to the reading centers. 

READ MORE