From a very young age , I became driven to understand what Baltimore is beyond the headlines , textbooks , and academic papers . Thus , I passionately wished to explore the neighborhoods and learn what Baltimore is through the words and visions of the residents of this wondrous city .
Interning at Child First Authority was a momentous opportunity to make these ambitions a reality . As part of my internship , I interned under the Community School Coordinator of City Springs Elementary / Middle School Mr . Ahmad Collick . A community school coordinator works to provide resources to strengthen the community in order to strengthen the students ’ success . These resources include providing childcare , helping homeless families or students , connecting community members to healthcare , and / or enriching after-school and college-readiness programs .
Our main goal was to address chronic absenteeism ( missing 18 + days of school ) in City Springs . During the summer , we studied previous year attendance records and conducted investigative attendance tracking . Through this approach , I coordinated student-based focus groups , interviewed teachers , and communicated with parents and guardians to understand the reasons for absence and compile the findings into data . By studying a large set of data and analyzing the absenteeism trends among grade levels , I was able to work with a team to brainstorm solutions and resources for the next school year . However , beyond data analysis , a large amount of the summer required creativity ! My typical week as Community School Coordinator intern would be working side by side with community partners to organize community-wide events ; establishing community partnerships ; co-producing initiatives with council members ; and coordinating service projects .
While it sounds like an intense load of work , I enjoyed each and every minute of going door to door to meet neighbors and residents of Baltimore ; meeting and befriending passionate community school coordinators and educators ; and learning and questioning the structure and systems placed to inhibit the growth of marginalized populations in Baltimore . I will always cherish the memory of bumping to music while folding resource guides and mailing envelopes to every student of City Springs Elementary / Middle School . This simple task memorializes the energy and passion behind working towards ambitious goals through small , dedicated steps .
Community Partner : Child First Authority Intern : Smitha Mahesh Site Supervisor : Ahmad Collick
What is Child First Authority ? Child First Authority ( CFA ) provides funding to ( 1 ) organize high quality , after school and in-school programs in Baltimore City Public Schools , ( 2 ) organize parents , school staff , and community partners to act on their vision of a brighter future for BCPS children .
• Studied , investigated , and categorized reasons for students ’ absences at City Springs Elementary / Middle School
• Researched and contacted community organizations to aid students and families that face challenges such as transportation / out of zone , home instability , health care , aversion , parent apathy , school climate , and / or lack of clothing / school supplies
• Coordinated interviews with students , parents , and faculty to obtain feedback on attendance , policies placed within the school and school district , and quality of resources provided by the school
• Collaborated with principles , community school coordinators , social workers , teachers , members of Baltimore Curriculum Project and Family League , and councilmembers to create restorative practices and solutions to reduce chronic absenteeism
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