The Compass Center

By Abbey DiSano

This past semester I had the privilege of being the Marketing Intern at Trinity Free Clinic.  Trinity Free Clinic is a Catholic, nonprofit organization that provides free healthcare to the uninsured and under insured, low income residents of Hamilton County.  As the Marketing Intern I was able to assist the Marketing Director in a number of projects including writing the quarterly newsletter, developing a social media calendar, soliciting for donations, and helping to plan and promote the annual spring fundraiser.  I really enjoyed this experience as it helped me develop my marketing and event planning skills and gain real-world professional experience.

Working for this organization was incredibly rewarding as I worked in the Trinity Free Office and saw the patients come in and out throughout the day. In observing the patients, I was able to see how thankful they were for Trinity Free Clinic. This organization’s mission is truly inspiring and I am grateful that I was able to be a part of it.

 

By Charis Webb

Working at Catholic Radio Indy (CRI) has taught me that I do not have to sacrifice my morals and values for a job. I can continue to not only hold on to my beliefs, but utilize them in a positive manner to better myself and the community.  As a soon-to-be college graduate, the idea of the workforce and adulthood can seem daunting, especially when everyone keeps asking about my future career plans. It is reassuring to know that there are organizations like CRI that allow faith to flourish in a working environment. I never considered myself to be the “evangelizing” type, but CRI directs its efforts in such a way that talking about Catholicism openly and unabashedly has become second nature to me.  When working our major Catholic Women’s Conference Event, I lost track of the amount of women who came up to me and praised CRI for its work and how they have personally witnessed conversions after hearing some of our shows or seeing our bumper sticker on the back of someone’s car. The results of CRI are tangible, and I have firsthand experience of this. CRI gave a platform to my non-profit I run through Faith in Action and allowed my own charity to grow. I have grown as a person with the guiding hands of Patty Zunica and Barbara Brinkman; two phenomenal supervisors that were more than just bosses, but supportive mentors and friends.  Not only have I grown on a personal level, but my resume has exponentially expanded upon my internship here. CRI has taught me a number of transferable skills in marketing, fundraising, communications, events, advanced technology, and more. Overall, the CRI crew has given me an amazing opportunity to participate in networking with a multitude of individuals who are invested in bettering the Indianapolis community through Catholic teachings and God-inspired outreaches.

 

 

 

by Annika London

During my semester in Washington D.C. last fall, I witnessed the fear and anger that different minority faith communities around me felt after the elections. I knew at that point that once I returned to Butler’s campus, I wanted to find a way to appreciate and strengthen religious pluralism both on campus and in the broader Indianapolis community.

I have greatly enjoyed working as the Communications Intern for the Center for Faith and Vocation. While helping to organize and promote the many fantastic events hosted by the Center, I have been able to see the extent of the diversity at Butler University and in Indianapolis. Events like “Big Questions” and “Talk, Taste, and Listen” have opened my mind to the varied experiences of my peers. I was honored to be able to stand next to the exceptional individuals who participated in the Muslim Student Association’s “Unity Walk.” The “Affirming Our Love” choral concert and the Interfaith Council’s Canvas Painting Night opened my mind to the possibilities of interfaith cooperation and peace through art. And I appreciate every opportunity I have had to directly interact and work with people from many different religions, philosophies, and perspectives who value diversity and pluralism as much as I do.

Interning at the Center for Faith and Vocation was an excellent way to bring my time at Butler University to an end. Looking forward into a future full of open doors, this internship has confirmed my passion for cultivating an appreciation for diversity. Beyond that, I am excited to carry the skills I have built, the experiences I have gained, and the perspectives I have absorbed into whatever future journey I choose to pursue.

 

 

 

by Lynn Alsatie

From the beginning of my internship at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation, I found myself to be going through a time in which I was deconstructing and rebuilding my beliefs about everything that is around me. Working in many of the CIC’s events helped me because they provided spaces in the Indianapolis community to communicate ideas about not only religion, but also about history, culture, literature, and politics. The CIC’s goal of bringing people from differing backgrounds to talk about important and controversial issues extended to even its own office, in which there was an environment that encouraged, rather than avoided, the clashing of ideas. Needless to say, it was incredibly relieving to work in a place where I could talk about things and have the people around me freely share their ideas too.

I was lucky enough to meet some incredible people during my internship who helped me see my own religion from a refreshing point of view. Mysticism had fascinated me as a subject because in the same religion, it could be seen by some as pure heresy and by others as the fundamental life and soul of the entire religion. By the end of my time at the CIC, I had put on the event I had been dreaming of since the beginning: a panel on mysticism where people could have the space to learn about the deep spirituality in their own faiths they may have not even known existed. Out of this experience, I was able to talk to mystics of different faiths face to face, and I learned so much from the similarities and differences I saw.

The most valuable thing I believe I took from this experience was the knowledge that there are many people in Indianapolis interested in tackling the issues in our society and understanding all kinds of points of view. The root cause of conflict in this country seems to be the fact that many people are afraid to discuss things that may disturb the peace, leaving these issues instead to boil over much later when the resentful feelings are too deep to be reached with understanding. I’m positive that in Indianapolis, the CIC plays an essential role and will surely continue to do so throughout the polarizing times ahead. I was very lucky to be part of it for a short time, and I’ll definitely miss an entire office of fantastic people.

by Salman Qureshi

I’ve always been drawn to conversation. Whether I’m at the dinner table or I’m at a ball game, I’ve always found dialogue as a tool to connect with people. Dialogue allows people with different backgrounds to learn about each other’s differences and find the similarities between them. This inspired me to find a way to bind students together through dialogue. As the CFV Interfaith Intern, I wanted to develop an avenue where people of different faith backgrounds could come together to share their beliefs in a welcoming manner. Most of all, I wanted to share and celebrate the religious diversity that exists at Butler with the entire community.

Would students be genuinely interested in being involved? Would they find it uncomfortable or uninviting? Maybe they would not even bother in participating with preconceived notions about interfaith? As I started on this journey, I had questions these and other questions that eventually helped shape what the Interfaith Council would become. I connected with fellow CFV staff to develop a program that was built on conversation and togetherness, rather than hierarchy and misconceptions.

Thankfully, all of my questions were answered quickly by Council members. From the first meeting, I’ve seen the positivity that has come from the group. We have found a large amount of similarities between our respective faith traditions and gained a deeper understanding of our differences. Our conversations are built on a foundation of tolerance and engagement, allowing everyone to connect beliefs to one another to build a strong sense of community. Discussions often carry over long after the meeting is over and push us to dive in deeper in our own faiths. Most importantly, I have seen strong friendships between Council members that will last long after this semester. With that, I know that interfaith dialogue will continue to grow here at Butler and long after.

by Natalie Smith

Center for Faith and Vocation Communications Intern

Growing up, I attended very diverse schools. I was always surrounded by people who came from different backgrounds and looked, thought and spoke differently than I did. I thought this was a completely normal experience for anyone my age. Arriving at Butler, I quickly realized that my background in diversity was very different from my friends’ around me. I found that my best friends at Butler were used to only being around people who were similar to them. Because Butler itself lacks substantial diversity, my next four years as a student would find me where my friends had always been:  surrounded by homogeneity. Interning at the CFV this semester, however, has helped me to be reunited with the amount of diversity that I have always felt comfortable in. I’ve gotten the opportunity to work and form relationships with people of many different faiths, backgrounds and thoughts.

My favorite CFV event I participated in was leading a post-election discussion entitled: “How do we participate in patterns of injustice?” I got to witness first-hand the outpouring of support and compassion that was given to students who spoke openly about how they have faced injustices in our society. That small display of the Butler community coming together was life-affirming and is a memory that will always stay with me.

The CFV staff genuinely cares about the Butler community’s wellbeing and growth. Being around these passionate people has helped me to understand the true value in a workday. My hope for future interns is that they are able to see the benefits of diversity. I hope they can truly appreciate the CFV’s work and mission and learn something about themselves through that mission like I have.

by Kaytlin Lake

My experience at the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic this semester has been so incredibly influential to my vocational trajectory.  As a non-profit, pro bono legal service, the clinic works with clients who just want to be heard, validated, and stood up for in a world where the odds seem to always be stacked against them.  Specifically in the immigration department, I have had the privilege of meeting some of the real people affected by hot-topic government policies.  A mother fleeing domestic violence in Mexico was being tracked like an animal by a bulky ankle cuff.  A father feared deportation while his young son was receiving medical treatment for his recently discovered Leukemia.  A working professional sought asylum from Venezuela where a popular gang had been terrorizing their entire family because of alleged government ties.  I witnessed flaws in our esteemed legal system, but I also witnessed the selfless love and commitment to justice that the volunteers and staff of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic and its partners exhibit each and every day.  My heart was broken, the perfect image in my head of this great country was shattered, but most importantly a fire was lit inside of me to relentlessly fight for the defenseless, to be a model of compassion and empathy, and to always remember that actual human beings on the ground are affected by each government policy put in place, each law passed, each court trial decided.  These lives affected are not statistics, not theoretic ethical dilemmas or case studies.  These are brothers, daughters, fathers, grandmothers — real people — and they need my help.

by Lauren Merk

This semester I have had the privilege of working at Trinity Free Clinic in Carmel, Indiana. The Catholic nonprofit provides free healthcare to Hamilton County residents who would otherwise not have access to medical attention. Having never completed an internship, I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but after a semester at the Clinic, I can truly say that my experiences have been invaluable.

On my first day interning, my supervisor and director of marketing, Autumn Zawadzki, made me feel welcomed. It was clear from the beginning that she was going to give me opportunities to learn and further develop my marketing and PR skills. I wrote press releases, researched sponsors and community partners, and spent a lot of time helping Autumn plan the Clinic’s annual fall fundraiser, the 5K Run for Wellness. I also spent the semester working on a comprehensive PR plan for the Clinic. The plan includes ideas for future marketing programming and offers a comprehensive look at the Clinic’s PR and marketing strategies. I was incredibly excited to work on this project and leave ideas with an organization that now means so much to me.

I cannot fully express in just 200 words how appreciative I am for my experience at Trinity Free Clinic. The professional experience I gained is invaluable and the opportunity to witness and be part of the Clinic’s mission was humbling. I have grown so much this semester and owe so much of that to my internship.

by Natalie Smith

On Thursday, November 17^th, I attended A New View Film Series’ screening of Inocente, a documentary following a young artist who struggles with being a homeless, undocumented immigrant. The film had a greater impact on me than I imagined that it would. Art has never been an area that I was particularly interested in, so the idea of a film centering on an artist’s life didn’t appeal to me at first. I found that the film is about so much more than one artist’s journey. It tackles the complicated issues of immigration, homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty while outlining the positive impact art has had on this young girl’s life. For Inocente, art is a way of survival. While watching her journey to find positivity, I found myself wanting to hear from others in her position to see how they have responded as well. The audience discussion following the film was a powerful addition to this experience. Some audience members brought up stories from their personal lives and how the film sheds light on truth. Others talked about the greater problems in society that lead to the issues seen on screen. One student analyzed public policy and debated which was better: giving each child a paint set so everyone has a chance, but might not get far, or focusing in on one person and helping them flourish to great potential, but not letting every student experience art. Overall, I gained many new perspectives on a topic I didn’t think a lot about from watching this film.

by Hannah Martin

Interning at the Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC) helped me recommit to my personal values and determine what I will look for in my future careers. Out of all my internships, the CIC provided me with the most freedom and support to design my own program.

My role at the CIC was to develop community relations with Indiana’s Asian religious communities and then design a program to bring these communities together. There was no guidebook on how to do this. It was completely up to me to use my connecting skills to research and learn about Indiana’s Asian religious communities.

From this experience, I learned that I chose the right major and I want to work in a nonprofit organization. From class, I know that nonprofits are working to strengthen their community engagement programs and my connecting skills will be an asset to improve these endeavors. Additionally, I learned that I will always seek out places with foreign communities. Even in a small place like the CIC, I shared an office with people from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. We all had our own cultural quirks which made every day a new learning experience.

For anyone interested in interning with the CIC, you will have a lot of great resources to create your own interfaith program. I never felt like I was bogged down with busy work; everything I did had a purpose and I felt like a staff member by the end of the program.