Sponsors

Each City Year school team gets a sponsor. One team is sponsored by Microsoft, another by Capital One, etc. Our team is sponsored by the Horning Family Fund. Our team is lucky because our sponsor is not a detached corporation. They like to be involved in our work and see what we're up to.

On Monday, they took us out to dinner at Bus Boys and Poets - a nice restaurant. It kind of reminded me of the Flying Star from back home, but slightly fancier. We met with the founders' daughters - Missy, her husband Mike, and another staff member, Dara. Mike and I discovered we both graduated from Carleton (a few decades apart). He majored in Urban Development and his adviser was Paul Wellston. Small world. I really enjoyed getting to meet them and they were just as enthusiastic. We have already started planning events for them to attend and other ways to reach out to them.

The team made a scrapbook about ourselves to give to them. It was interesting to see how each of my peers answered the list of questions. Here is what I included:

Libby McKenna, 22, Albuquerque, NM.  Carleton College, Chemistry
I AM... a curious person that enjoys trying new things. In the past I have expressed this by learning the organ and trombone, studying French and Nepali, playing rugby and ice hockey, and expanding my vocabulary in social justice and science. As an adoptee from Nepal, I have been fascinated by this country's culture, people, and well-being from a young age. I plan on dedicating any future professional training to supporting the responsible development of Nepal.

I chose City Year to participate in a domestic cultural exchange. I look forward to bonding with my students, peers, and mentors, as well as exchanging experiences, opinions, and wisdom. I chose DC because it seemed like a young, diverse city that I could thrive in.

My favorite things: Dentist visits, henna tattoos, cinnamon-roll hugs, dancing, Picard and Janeway, buff momos, and scrums.

Favorite Founding Story (city year has 25 inspirational founding stories): Cathedral Building: There was once a traveler who journeyed all over the globe in search of wisdom and enlightenment. In the midst of one village, he came upon a great deal of noise, dust and commotion. He approached the nearest laborer and asked, "Excuse me, I'm not from this village. May I ask what's going on here?" The laborer replied curtly, "Can't you see? I'm busting rocks." The traveler approached a second laborer doing the same thing and asked the same question. The second laborer replied, "Can't you see? I'm earning a living to support my family." The traveler then approached a third laborer and posed the question a third time. With a broad smile and a gleam in his eye, the third laborer replied with great pride, "Can't you see? We're building a cathedral."

I love that the last builder knows that he is contributing to greatness through tiny steps, even though he might not see the finished product 100's of years later. It's a reminder that every contribution is important and to keep the finish line in sight.

Favorite PITW (Putting Idealism to Work): #66 - Do three "squishy" things a day. You know when you are truly leading when you do at least 3 things a day that make you a little bit uncomfortable.
I like to hang out in my comfort zone, so I have to consciously branch out and make myself uncomfortable. I like the growth that ensues.

Favorite CY Value: Ubuntu- I am a person through other people. My humanity is tied to yours. Reminding myself that "my humanity is tied to yours" really resonates with me. We are all so similar, but we struggle to see these similarities when we are blinded by disagreements.

Quote: "I think they should have a Barbie with a buzz cut" -Ellen Degeneres [[my teammates had much deeper, interesting quotes. I'm just not a quote person.]]

LACY (Life after City Year): There are many options available. I have thought about going to grad school for either public health, civil engineering, or science education. I might also join the Peace Corps or continue to work for City Year.
Asset to the team: Creativity

Why I serve: To contribute to building a cathedral. I'm not making a HUGE difference, but I want to contribute to the changes that need to happen.