Leavey Ambassadors Program Blogs

For months, we have all been cooped up and disconnected from the local community. However, through classes at the Leavey School of Business, I have been able to reconnect.

This quarter I am taking BUSN 179, Effective Communication in Business. The majority of the class focuses on learning how to properly communicate within a professional business setting. Yet, along with the memos and deliverables, we have been working as consultants to local organizations. My class group, “Pacific Consulting,” contacted Taylor Street Farm, a community garden in San Jose. Through several meetings, we developed a plan on how to both improve the structure of the farm and increase their number of volunteers.

In early May, we organized a volunteer day at the farm. For the first time this quarter, I met with my group in person. We bonded over shoveling wood chips and pulling weeds. During a break in the action, we fed chickens mealworms by hand (it tickles!). By the end of our shift, I was tired yet proud. Although we only worked for a couple of hours, our efforts made a significant step towards completing their goal of a children's garden. Despite the sunburn, I am so glad we were able to leave a lasting impact on a farm that feeds so many mouths in need.

I will never forget this opportunity to engage the neighborhoods of San Jose. While around campus, I often forget how blessed I am to attend such a supportive school. Therefore, I greatly appreciated my time getting to know the other students while giving back to a community that has done so much for me. As the quarter progresses, I look forward to using the techniques and skills I have learned in the classroom to help Taylor Street Farm gain more volunteers. Look below for a photo of “Pacific Consulting” (note the bag full of fresh vegetables)!