JHU Community Impact Internships Program - CIIP

is back and better than ever!

I'm incredibly grateful for the summer that I've had as a CIIP intern at Whitelock Community Farm. I expanded my knowledge so much in terms of urban farming practices, sustainable food production, and environmental justice more broadly in the city and learned about all the amazing organizations and people behind current work. Each week I met someone new, even as many times as everyday. As a Public Health and Environmental Studies major, the material that I've learned in my classes greatly applies to the work I did at the farm. Now, I'll be able to bring my unique experiences and even stories that I've heard about community members first hand to the classroom and share them with my peers. It is ever more important that we listen and take proper action with the Baltimore community because just and equitable collaboration is possible and incredibly valuable. The experiences I've had with fellow interns has shown me even more beautiful sides and people here that I would not have had the chance otherwise without this internship. Plus, being so involved with a group of students that are just as passionate and dedicated to service helped us be stronger together and do more fruitful work at each of our placement sites. I wish more students in other fields had the chance to participate in CIIP, get out of the Hopkins bubble, and truly realize that change needs to happen and that we can use our resources and knowledge here to collaborate with others, as well as amplify work that is already being done.