My Nonprofit Reviews
Natalie27
Review for Community Tampa Bay, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL, USA
In 2006, I attended Community Tampa Bay's ANYTOWN program as a delegate. It completely changed my perspective on the world. I learned to be much more open minded toward people who were different from me in any aspect of their social identity from race to religion to sexual orientation. I returned in 2008 as a volunteer counselor for the first time where I had the privilege of touching lives as mine was touched. I strongly believe that every student who walks into ANYTOWN walks out changed for the better. The experiential learning that it allows makes people not only sympathize for those who are different from them but also allows to empathize with them. I am proud to say that I am now working at the CTB office as an AmeriCorps VISTA for the summer. I spend so much of my time volunteering for CTB because I firmly believe that this organization makes measurable improvements toward the vision of creating a community free from all forms of discrimination.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
seeing high school students make noticeable changes to their perspectives in a matter of 5 days. For example, I spent last week as a counselor at an ANYTOWN session (July 8-12), and I had one student come up and tell me that he used to believe that being gay was a choice, but after a workshop we did on homosexuality called "Coming Out Star", he no longer felt that way.
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes, not only have I met some AMAZING people who make me feel great about myself on a daily basis, even when I'm feeling down, I also am able to re-learn the lessons at every ANYTOWN session that I attend. No matter how many times I experience each workshop, something new always comes up and I hear a new perspective, idea, or quote that empowers and inspires me to take action
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
The people who work with CTB and ANYTOWN are the most supportive group of people I've ever met. Any time I feel like I've made a mistake or I feel like I'm not making a difference, someone is immediately there for me to have a shoulder to cry on and to tell me that I AM making a difference and that I AM doing well. Regardless of how long I've known them, everyone is there for me whenever I need someone to lift up my spirits.
