My Nonprofit Reviews

I attended Camp Rising Sun in 2005 and 2006 as a camper. I worked at Camp Rising Sun as a counselor and Assistant Camp Director in 2010 and 2011. I came back again as Camp Director in 2016 and 2017. Camp Rising Sun has had a lasting impact on my life and I plan to stay engaged in the work of the Foundation for many years to come. I was exposed to so many different ways of living and thinking; I met individuals from around the world in regions I may never have a chance to visit in person. The community at camp creates space to ask questions and get to know individuals on a personal level through rotating tent assignments, off-site camping trips, and teamworks, while there are also more structured periods that allow for campers to lead instructions on topics they are passionate about, be it culture, science, music, or political debates. The entire camp experience allows campers to take ownership of their camp experience as leaders of their peers each day and also challenges individuals to think critically and reflect upon how their decisions as leaders affect those in their communities and around the world. I am so thankful for the leadership and learning I took away from this experience, and I found myself thinking more critically and doing more independent research about global issues far after the experience ended as a way to learn more about the communities where my Camp friends lived. I continue to reflect and build upon the foundation I gained at Camp Rising Sun today.

I worked with CrossingBarriers for my senior honors thesis at St. Catherine University which focused on organizations that promote social change in immigrant communities. CrossingBarriers is well-organized by passionate staff and board members. The staff act as positive mentors by providing students with the tools necessary to develop life-long leadership skills to address social issues in their communities. By encouraging students to actively participate in the community by talking at school board meetings, with police officers, parents, and other community members, CrossingBarriers works to build a community coalition capable of creating systemic change. I strongly support and respect the work of CrossingBarriers and hope the organization will continue to grow and empower even more young leaders in marginalized communities to become agents of change.

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