Next week, we're welcoming our fourth cohort of summer interns from the University of Chicago. They are feature writers, app builders, volunteer managers, and video game developers who are stepping from the academic world into real-world impact. After wrapping up another year of rigorous coursework, summer offers them a chance to learn in a completely different way: through genuine connection, practical application, and the kind of intellectual curiosity that thrives when willing minds work together on something that matters.
The Power of Authentic Connection
What excites me most about this partnership isn't just their diverse expertise; it's their approach to building relationships. These students understand that meaningful connections happen when people show up authentically and engage with genuine collaboration. They bring the kind of thoughtful dialogue and respectful communication that makes every interaction worthwhile, which is exactly what we need as we create a community where belonging isn't just a concept but something we expect that you will actually experience.
Real Learning, Real Impact
This is real life, real opportunity, and a chance to make actual impact. While their academic training has given them strong foundations, summer offers something different: the chance to see how ideas translate into practice, how communities actually form, and how individual contributions ripple outward to benefit others. The intellectual rigor they bring from their studies, combined with being naturally inquisitive about how things work and why they work that way, creates the perfect environment for mutual learning.
Building Something Better Together
As we develop our new community, I'm particularly excited to hear their perspectives on what resonates, what doesn't, and what we might be missing entirely. Understanding the “why” behind their feedback will help us create something truly meaningful. Their fresh eyes, combined with our experience, has the potential to uncover opportunities we haven't even considered yet.
We're all open to exploring new directions as they emerge. Whether it benefits our interns' development, strengthens Impartial's mission, or creates better outcomes for future community members and program benefactors, we're ready to follow where good ideas lead us.
It's fairly typical for me to write letters of recommendation within a year or two of our interns working with us. It's that genuine working relationship, the real collaboration and mutual respect we build that inspires me to write extraordinary letters. Once again, we all benefit from that authentic connection.
The learning flows both ways. We share what we've learned about creating inclusive spaces and sustainable engagement, while they bring perspectives on connection, communication, and community that challenges us to think differently.
This summer promises to be about more than just professional development. It's about creating genuine connections, making tangible impact, and building something that will matter long after these few months end.
