Ella O’Driscoll

My fellowship at WISE (Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment), was focused on developing a project that would promote emotional resilience and develop trauma informed peer support among immigrant and refugee girls in the Twin Cities. However, some of the most valuable takeaways actually came from simply being a part of the team and seeing how such an organization is run so successfully. At the start of every staff meeting we would share with one another our highs and lows for the week and what we were most excited and hopeful about for the future. This level of care and communication amongst the staff remained constant, which was reflected in everyone’s willingness to share their wisdom and experience with me. From Communications, Marketing and Social Media trainings with my Fellowship Supervisor Pakou Khang, to Grant Writing training and invaluable career advice in the field of Nonprofit Management with the Executive Director, Pamela Zeller, to conversations about Trauma therapy with my Project Supervisor Zamzam Dini, the skills and knowledge that I gained from being apart of a group of women who are dedicated to seeing one another develop both personally and professionally was the most invaluable part of my Chuck Green experience.