How Can I Leave a Lasting Impact in My Organization
My time with the Mayor’s policy team, the Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, and Santa Clara University is sadly coming to a close. I find myself reflecting on this chapter of my life to evaluate how I can leave a lasting impact in my organization. My NPI fellowship has been so beneficial for my professional development; my primary focus going forward is ensuring that all of the parties that made this possible for me share in a positive outcome.
As I said in my previous blogpost, I wanted my fellowship project to have a broader impact than I could effect by working with just one firm in NPI 5.0. My attention turned toward addressing the systemic issues that diminish quality of life in San Jose. Working with Paul Pereira, a truly beloved figure in the San Jose community and the liaison between constituents and City Hall, I hope to have that impact by supporting #BeautifySJ.
#BeautifySJ is a community grant initiative launched by Mayor Liccardo in his 2017 State of the City address that empowers local communities to combat blight through funding urban greening, cleanups, and other community-led measures.
My role in this initiative has been researching funding sources for these community grants. I started by identifying organizations that have funded comparable initiatives in Bay Area counties, like Oakland and San Francisco. Organizations that have lent funding to those initiatives are automatically added to the potential donor list. My research now focuses on identifying organizations that might have an implicit interest in #BeautifySJ. For example, I noticed that construction and realty companies with vested interest in Oakland donated heavily to the East Oakland Beautification Council. That prompted me to evaluate local San Jose construction and realty companies who might support our initiative.
By providing research- and logic-backed funding ideas, I hope to bolster San Jose’s long-term financial ability to create a vibrant community for its residents and business owners. I also hope to be a Leavey School of Business ambassador in showing the San Jose community that Jesuit values guide our education and are practically manifested in Bronco activism. I am honored to have been a part of such a uniquely symbiotic program.