Blog
Defining Community Engagement in its Many Forms
Shelby Pauka, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, explores her experiences with community engagement, which she defines as determining the needs of a community through asking questions and inviting participation as opposed to making decisions about communities without input.
Five Ways to Provide Meaningful Leadership Development
Jennifer Dodd, Associate Vice President and Director of Leadership Programs at El Pomar, outlines five strategies for creating meaningful leadership and professional development experiences that she has prioritized during her time managing the Fellowship program.
Connection through Service: Giving Back to Colorado
Kayla Shock, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, expresses her excitement to learn more about the issues affecting Colorado and to serve communities across the state. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Kayla had the opportunity to see the impact of El Pomar's grant dollars, and now she is directly involved in the Foundation's philanthropic work.
Reflections on Veterans' Homelessness in the Pikes Peak Region
As 2nd Year Fellow Janni Conrad concludes her work with the Pikes Peak Regional Council, she reflects on several news stories that have influenced the way she thinks about the Council’s focus area of veterans’ homelessness and veterans’ homelessness prevention.
On Being Direct
Tim Jenkins, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, learned the power of being direct while handling a challenging situation as a camp counselor in New Hampshire. He continues to use leadership lessons from camp to inform his work as a Fellow.
Fellowship Alumni Appreciations
Several alumni from the El Pomar Fellowship share their favorite parts of this program and how it influenced their personal and professional journey.
Community Engagement Starts with Listening
Claire Girardeau, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, discusses how her understanding of community service has evolved over recent years. She hopes her experience as a Fellow will teach her how to channel time and resources into well-informed endeavors that address community need.
Covering Every Corner
Kathryn Benson, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, describes how her work at the Foundations has introduced her to the incredible diversity of Colorado and expresses her excitement to work with the Northwest Regional Council.
Let Us Work Together
Jonathan Royal, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, explains his perspective on service through the experiences he had directing a youth center in a low-income neighborhood. To Jonathan, service is about building bridges across divisions and healing wounds through mutual connection.
Resilience in the Rwandan Army
Hannah Grace, a 1st Year Fellow with El Pomar, reflects on how her Army ROTC cultural exchange program with the Rwanda Defense Force has informed the style of leadership she hopes to emulate.