Aisha Mitchell

Class of 2012

By: Chace Blackburn, 2018

The other week, I was given the privilege to interview Aisha Mitchell, from the Periclean class of 2012. Since graduating, she has pursued many adventures, the latest of which is returning to Elon.

“After I graduated, I moved back to DC, where I was born and raised.. I was an international studies major at Elon, and ended up working at a Chinese Immersion public charter school. I did that for two years; while I was doing that I was serving on the Board of Trustees at Elon. This was great because it allowed me to stay connected to Elon,” Aisha said.

But until last year, Aisha had no idea just how connected to Elon she would soon be.

“In the early fall of 2014, I came back to Elon. I currently live in Durham, but commute to work in the Student Professional Development Center in Corporate and Employer Relations. Basically, I am on the external side of professional development. I am traveling and researching to  build relationships with employers, in order to market jobs and internships to students, and  foster employer engagement with the university, ultimately trying to make students aware of opportunities.”

Aisha found out about the job in what she considers, a fateful manner.

“I received a call from someone who worked at Elon, she saw the position, called me, and said I would be a good fit. I never considered coming back to Elon after graduating. It was interesting though because it was my last term on the board and I had just been asked to help read names for the Black Excellence Awards. I was sitting next to Jim Piatt- chatting, talking about where I was in life, before I had even known about the job, and he said, “wouldn’t it be interesting if you worked at Elon? It was so ironic that he said that and then the following fall I started working here. I definitely feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Aisha attributes Periclean for a lot of her post-graduate success.

“I feel like we had a big impact on our country (India). Interestingly, we were late bloomers, we figured out things later than class that came before us. Once we decided to partner with the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, it really worked. We were responsive to the needs of the organization. I would say there were two  things that were most impactful  for our legacy: we planned and implemented a corporate social responsibility conference, which brought together NGO’s and corporations. We were intentional about wanting to address corruption as well as identify ways for valuable NGO’s to best partner with those in India’s corporate sector. Corporate social responsibility is growing in India, and we wanted to positively impact and advance that trend. We were able to bring together groups that wouldn’t have connected without the conference, which exposed strengths and weakness of both sides, and was helpful to see how the groups should best work together. We put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into that conference. We had over a hundred participants, whom we made great relationships with and were able to defer to later.”

Aisha would cite the fellowship her class started as the second most impactful thing for their periclean legacy.

“We started a fellowship to help sustain our efforts in India, since we were graduating and were unable to be consistent in working with the CRHP community. “

Periclean, in addition to other endeavors truly shaped Aisha’s Elon experience.

“I would rate my periclean experience as being of high importance. The friendships I’ve made have been life changing. I would have never probably had those opportunities without periclean- to go live in a place like Jamkhed, India, in a rural village, and just experience the unexpected rewards and challenges of the ability to go so far away from what I had known.. And keep in mind I went to India after I had studied abroad in China. When I got to India, I was like wow, I didn’t think my abroad experience could be any more more different from experiences in the U.S. That being said,  that experience was unparalleled. I furthered my ability to work with those who are different and learned how to synthesize a lot of information and communicate that to different audiences in a way that’s compelling. I had a lot of great experiences at Elon, but Periclean and two others were equally the most amazing. Studying abroad in China, serving as the Student Program Coordinator for the Diversity Emerging Education Program and working with CRHP in India. Everything worked together: studying abroad, diversity education, periclean- all of them contributed to each other.”

She also states that Periclean is still a source of inspiration.

“A lot of what I do now is directly inspired by periclean. I am currently on the board for the periclean fellowship. I work with peers to read over applications,  assess and choose the fellow for the next year. I’ve also recommended current students for the program.. More generally, I was already an open-minded person, but am now constantly trying to see how I can learn more about that which is different around me. Whether that’s going to Mexico City in a couple of weeks, or something else, I’m always looking for ways to get outside my norm and engage in communities.” But in ways beyond the professional and academic realm, Aisha feels she has been changed.

“Periclean has affected me on every level. At work, I am collaborating with people of different backgrounds and ages, which is very similar to my experience in periclean- we all came with different skills and mindsets. That helped me learn to leverage people’s’ skills in group projects. In my job, I lead events and meetings, and I have to consider different perspectives. Every day I think about how my class  was able to be successful in working together to accomplish one common goal. I am continuing to improve my communication skills, articulating information to different and multiple audiences. On a personal level, Periclean reinstilled, and made my light brighter; regarding my empathy and desire to put myself in others shoes, and see where they are right, instead of wrong.”

Aisha says the program even changed her on a day-to-day level.

“Periclean taught me to try to meet people where they are, understand the human experience from a bigger picture, as you have no clue what it is like to be anyone else. I am trying to be more cognizant of the way that I talk to people, and be aware of my privilege in relation to those with whom I interact. That goes a long way, because no one is asking me to apologize for my privilege, but just be aware of it. My job is building relationships, and periclean has served me well in the way I am able to connect with people on a personal and professional level.”

Regarding the class of 2016’s alumni pledge, Aisha is in agreement.

“I think it’s a good idea- I think that compelling people to give and donate is always really tricky and a sensitive subject. It’s difficult for people to understand the value of money in a real context. Having served  on the Board of Trustees, I understand the power of monetary donations and it’s impact on an institution or program, in a way that I would have never understood it before. As a graduate, everyone is asking you for money, so it it is important  to connect the personal value and impact of giving, and in this case, specifically to Periclean. It’s not just the money, but the personal sacrifice. I had studied abroad and interned abroad before periclean, and it wasn’t easy. Giving people the opportunity to make an impact is great. Alumni have the power and ability to pave the way. I would also say that giving people varying gift levels is a great option, as well as specifically naming where that gift is going, so alums  can see its impact.”

When asked about her personal contribution to Periclean, Aisha replied: “I am just setting up my payment with periclean. It’s been quite a transition for me in the past year, deciding how and what I can give money to. I am trying to be intentional about where I can put my money. I believe that the periclean foundation can do wonders; from a big picture perspective it can do more than any one class can. You have current partnerships, you have family and friends, you have alums; the foundation is a wonderful way to bring everyone together.”

Aisha’s story might seem ideal, but she professes its something all Elon students can mimic. Her advice for current Pericleans? “Seek first to understand, than to be understood.”

“This quote goes a long way, because with your cohort, everyone just wants their opinion heard. The listening is where you learn the most; you learn the least by feeling understood. Also, think within the mindset of working with and not for. Periclean is a partnership, not a charity. You are not doing something for someone because you have something they don’t; you are doing something with them, because you have the privilege to do so. We call them our partners for a reason. Lastly, just take risks. Have so much fun, you are in this environment that allows you to fail and fall, and it’s so much harder to replicate the periclean experience in real life where everyone has different ideas and such big ideas. You have way less to lose in college than when you are out of it. Don’t dim the momentum you have,” Aisha says.

The Periclean Scholars Class of 2015 addressed the issue of human trafficking in both North Carolina and Haiti. In Haiti, restavek is a culturally practiced system in which rural families who cannot financially support their children send them to live with families in urban areas, in the hopes that their children will be provided for and receive education. Often times, though, many of these restavek children are subject to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Human trafficking is also a local issue, and Polaris, a national anti-trafficking organization, has consistently named North Carolina as a top-ten state for human trafficking in the United States.

The Class of 2015 is partnered with Restavek Freedom Foundation (RFF), which works to end the system of restavek in Haiti. During their time at Elon, the class raised funds to support a transitional home in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. In the transitional home, girls coming out of severe situations of abuse are provided with food, shelter, therapy and education, and have a place of refuge and rehabilitation. The transition home gives the girls the opportunity to rebuild their lives in the company of others who have had similar experiences. The home provides support for the girls until they are in a stable situation.

The class also worked to educate the Elon community about restavek and human trafficking issues in the United States through various projects and events. During their senior year, they had an awareness and education week at Elon. Georgia Lee was named as the class’ Periclean of the Year, and worked on various aspects of the class’ efforts, such as communicating extensively with RFF, creating a bank account for the class’ funds for RFF, writing a waiver for the class’ endeavors to travel to Haiti, working to acquire stoles for the class’ graduation, and helping to plan various events and initiatives of the class.

The “Stand Up for Freedom: Human Trafficking & Restavek Education Week” was a huge part of the class’ efforts to educate the campus about human trafficking and raise funds for RFF. One of the highlights of the week was a benefit concert at West End. The event was a fun-filled night with performances by various university a cappella groups, the gospel choir, and several Limelight Music Group artists. The proceeds from the event went to the class’ fund for RFF. I personally thought that the event was really great! It was a fun and light-hearted atmosphere to enjoy the performances and people’s company, and it was also a great opportunity to learn about human trafficking in our own community, as well as in Haiti.

Throughout her time at Elon, Georgia expanded her knowledge about human trafficking through researching various aspects of the issue, such as investigating relevant national policies, criminology concepts, and public awareness of human trafficking. Georgia conducted and published research through Elon’s Summer Undergraduate Research Experience to determine the knowledge and skills of Elon students surrounding issues of human trafficking. Although the class was unable to travel together to Haiti, Georgia had the opportunity to travel to Haiti during her freshman year at Elon. Georgia now lives in San Francisco, California and is a part of a relational ministry organization called InnerCHANGE. Her team builds relationships with people who are homeless in Golden Gate Park. InnerCHANGE works to empower and support individuals who society has marginalized, seeking to build beneficial relationships and create sustainable systemic change.

Georgia continues to value the sustainability of community development and the importance of authentic relationships in her professional life. She notes that these values are central to the Periclean program, and states that the program facilitates a unique opportunity for students to be involved in positive global change through the intersection of academics and extracurriculars.  Georgia feels that the Periclean Scholars program greatly shaped her experience as an Elon student because of the special opportunities for sustainable partnership and student-led change that it presents. She appreciates the relationships and skills that she experienced in the program during her time at Elon, which have continued past graduation. Georgia is grateful that the Periclean program seeks to break down the “us and them” language of philanthropy by encouraging the relational aspects of partnership. She notes that it is easy to feel distanced when involved in philanthropy, but being able to break down the barriers of the giver/receiver dichotomy has shaped how she relates to and serves others in her daily life.

To find out more about the Class of 2015’s work to end restavek – https://periclean2015.wordpress.com and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8xxZQE1QLk

To read about the Class of 2015’s Stand Up for Freedom: Human Trafficking & Restavek Education Week – http://www.elon.edu/e-net/Article/102574 and http://www.elonpendulum.com/article/2014/11/perfect-pitch-fight-human-trafficking

This weekend I had the privilege of talking to Tara Corbett. Tara was a member of the Class of 2013, who partnered with Chiapas, Mexico. Their class also partnered with an organization in the local community to create sustainable change.

Tara felt that her Periclean class had the most impact in the local community. They were able to implement a community health project in Burlington, based on the Positive Deviance Model. The model centered around “positive deviants.” A positive deviant is a member of a community who has knowledge and experience regarding raising a healthy family. The goal of this project was to locate positive deviants and help facilitate the spread of knowledge.

Their class worked with the Latino population, specifically with mothers, to promote the exchange of healthy practices. Their class held sessions once a week over an 8-week period on a variety of health topics. The class helped to share practical knowledge and facts about the corresponding topic and then developed realistic courses of action with participants based on their experiences living in Burlington. The ultimate goal of the sessions was to promote an exchange of knowledge that would have a tangible and positive impact on the health of families in the greater Burlington community.

Their Positive Deviance Coordinator, Courtney Latta, class of 09’ helped to implement the model in our local community in the 2013 class’ partnership with Hogares Sanos. This partnership with Hogares Sanos was passed down to the class of 2016 and has developed into a partnership with LUPE!

Members of their class traveled to, Mexico during their senior year. They went to the isolated Chiapan village of Piedra Parada. The members of their class came back with a greater understanding of immigration from Mexico to North Carolina-and back. Tara appreciates this experience and found that the time spent in Chiapas was significant because it was educationally based travel and helped in understanding the indigenous culture and their struggles.

After graduating in 2013, Tara moved to Los Angeles and began volunteering with the homeless community. She connected  with the homeless population, predominantly low-income Hispanic neighborhoods,  and eventually helped individuals find permanent housing. She also extended a welcome in her own home to kids in her neighborhood, she provided them with a safe place to stay after school.

After volunteering in Los Angeles, Tara was diagnosed with cancer. Tara has a very positive and inspiring view of her experience with cancer, saying that it challenged her in so many ways, and also “beautifully redirected her life.” She was originally on track to attend school in Greensboro for a graduate degree in social work. She had to withdraw from the school and undergo treatment. After her treatment she moved to DC and interned with a human rights organization. She then reapplied to graduate schools and is now attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a Masters in Social Work. UNC has been a great challenge and fit for her and she is very happy with where she is!

She has found that there are many parallels between her program and the Periclean program. Specifically, the importance of being aware of local issues and understanding how individuals, as global citizens, play a part in the issues around the world. Tara said that, “Periclean gave her a good framework for being in school for social work.” She finds that she can often directly apply what she learned in the classroom, working with partners, and traveling to Chiapas during her time in Periclean to her graduate coursework. Her experiences in Periclean have also impacted how she interacts with her peers and loved ones. Her knowledge about immigration has led her to engage in conversations about the harsh rhetoric of the topic, and help spread knowledge to those that may not fully understand the complexity of immigration.

Tara with mentor Brian Neinhaus and his wife Blanca.

It was great to learn about Tara’s experiences in Periclean and how they have helped shape the person she is today!

The Class of 2012 accomplished many remarkable things in India in collaboration with their partners. Their Class worked with pre-existing projects and enhanced their partner’s efforts. This week I caught up with Jack Dodson, a member of the Class of 2012 and learned about his role in their class efforts and how Periclean has influenced his life after graduation.

The Class of 2012 managed to raise enough money to refurbish one of their partner’s programs that ran out of money. They helped to reinstate The Adolescent Girls Program (AGP). This program helped adolescent girls in 54 villages. The program addressed gender inequality in Indian society. Through the organization, Village Health Workers and women’s group members organized meetings for various groups of adolescent girls. The groups met weekly or biweekly and had meetings in which the girls participated in health education classes and were given the opportunity to socialize with other girls their own age. Along with the opportunity to learn and socialize, the girls were provided with a nutritious meal and nutrition guidelines. The organization also offered workshops focused on other health topics, self-defense, social issues and creative arts.

Their class also addressed the government healthcare program that is available for citizens in India. The class recognized that it was an underfunded program and left several people without effective health options. Healthcare alternatives, such as NGOs, public-community partnerships, and social businesses existed, but they were also limited. A documentary film was created to address and bring attention to the issue.

Jack Dodson headed the documentary that addressed the healthcare issue. The documentary ultimately caught the eye of the Turkish government. This resulted in the Turkish government contributing funds to The Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP). The CRHP was able to create a training facility that expanded the organization’s reach to impact a larger population in India. The documentary,  “Health for All,” is  a 20-minute documentary that explores three different healthcare systems and brought  attention to issues within the healthcare system . This Elon article explains the impact of the documentary in more detail!

Jack has continued working on documentaries in New York. His experiences in Periclean introduced him to creating documentaries, he even considered Periclean his major at Elon because the impact of the program was so extensive and important to him. Periclean gave him the opportunity to explore many different areas and learn as he went. He thinks about the ideals of the Periclean program and has continued working with nonprofits. He helped to create a short film for a nonprofit in Portland, Maine and is excited to establish a basis in his career and further involve himself in things similar to what he was doing in Periclean.

More information about the Class of 2012 can be found here.

Jack Dodson 12’ and Director Tom Arcaro in Paris, France to help Izmir, Turkey get the bid to host the Expo 2020.

To continue with our Periclean alumni series, I met up with Courtney Latta. She is a graduate of the class of 2009. After Courtney graduated she began her work in Leogane, Haiti. She was an intern for Kore Timoun and worked closely with others in the program to develop a comprehensive training program for nutrition workers. She spent two years in Haiti and was present in the country during the Earthquake of 2010. She helped in responding to the disaster by assisting with hiring of new staff and in scaling the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti. Also while in Haiti, Courtney researched and composed a training manual for a Positive Deviance/Hearth model program. She continuously educated other organizations in Haiti about the program and spread awareness about various public health topics.

Courtney now lives locally and continues to educate others about nutrition and other public health issues. She has also stayed very involved in the Periclean community by using her education and background to enhance the experiences of younger classes! While Courtney was getting her masters in Public Health at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, she worked on a thesis that involved Hogares Sanos, local partners of the class of 2013. For her master’s thesis, she developed an 8-week nutrition program for Hogares Sanos. Through this, Courtney formed relationships with the class of 2013, their mentor Brian Neinhaus and Brian’s wife Blanca. Courtney also traveled to Chiapas before the class of 2013 to scout, which she said was an amazing experience. She continues to act as a resource for other classes as well. Her experiences in Haiti, Mexico and Zambia provide her with knowledge that can be beneficial for various classes of Periclean!

Courtney continues her involvement with Periclean because she recognizes that Periclean is always a part of you and you are always a part of Periclean. She has really enjoyed meeting the students in the classes below her and learning about their class personality. She has recognized that each class has a unique perspective, and has enjoyed learning about each outlook.  When asked about what advice she would give to current classes, she advised everyone to get to know the members of your class early on. Building connections with outside partners is difficult if there isn’t cohesiveness among the class members. She also advocates getting to know local partners and forming personal relationships with them, rather than strictly doing academic research on the population. Forming these personal relationships between class members and partners are key!
I definitely recommend each class to reach out to Courtney and learn about her experiences during her time at Elon and after her graduation. I believe that every classes could benefit from the experience that she has and the education that has shaped how she approaches humanitarian aid.

     This semester our partnership with Latinoamericanos Unidos Promoviendo la Esperanza (LUPE) has been challenging, but ultimately successful and rewarding. We have been challenged in developing our communication strategies and identifying cross-cultural and professional boundaries. As students, we have many resources and information that we can share, but we also recognize that we have much to learn from the members of LUPE.  This realization is one that comes with humility and self reflection, and helps us understand what it truly means to be in a partnership.  Together we have continued the joint ESL program, developing curriculum and recruiting volunteers to make the classes sustainable after we graduate in May. Through our role in this program, our efforts as students have compelled us to become active and informed members of the community.  We have developed deeper ties both professionally and personally with the members of the organization, and we’ve come to understand a variety of systemic issues through their lens.

     Our committee’s relationship with LUPE has been very different from the past semesters. We were able to immerse ourselves deeply in their organization by attending events, experiencing the taxing yet fulfilling process of community mobilization, and engaging in vibrant discussions at board meetings. LUPE’s monthly gatherings are held at Elon’s Downtown Community Center, which in itself helps to strengthen the relationship between Elon and LUPE. At the board meetings, members of our committee have had various opportunities to learn about what the organization does to help the community and respond to the needs of its constituents. We also were able to lead discussions to assist in organizational goal achievement and increased program efficacy.  These discussions ranged from budgeting, to creating a 5-year plan, to organizing program information to prepare for grant applications. The LUPE board was always excited and willing to learn about how our groups could collaborate in order to strengthen their organization and better serve the Latino community in Alamance County. Some of our committee members even had the opportunity to discuss grants with the Board Director in her home over a cup of coffee. Being invited to her house was an amazing experience, in which we learned so much more about her past and her passion for helping others and how that shapes her involvement in LUPE.

     On October 31st, North Carolina held another Faith Action ID drive at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Graham. This event was extremely symbolic of the collaboration between different members of the community, in light of the outcome of the HB318 vote that took place just days before. The event was a huge success, serving over 320 people from North Carolina and surrounding states.  Police officials, religious leaders, media reporters, representatives from community non-profits, students, and local citizens gathered in a single space with a common goal of social justice and human equity.  As student volunteers, the LUPE committee members saw first-hand the power of community organizing and solidarity at work.  With the distribution of IDs, the leaders of Alamance County not only demonstrated their desire to be a part of the integration of the community, but they also defined their role as advocates for immigrant rights through opening a pathway for immigrants to assert their autonomy and–quite literally–their identity within the community.

     In November, our committee was thrilled to hear that all funds raised during our upcoming Cookies to Go-Go event would support LUPE.  In order to supplement the success of Cookies to Go-Go while also exposing our partner to the Elon community, our committee collaborated on an event that would take place alongside the fundraiser’s headquarters in the Moseley Student Center.  There, we planned a live film screening of El Regreso and sold homemade desserts provided by LUPE’s board members.  This event was appropriately called “Cookies to Go-Go LIVE”, as student participants were able to see our Periclean class’s main fundraising event come to fruition, while also having the opportunity to interact with a valuable local partner. Our committee’s sustainable efforts were focused on encouraging Elon students to get to know LUPE and its mission, while also understanding more about Latino culture through the film experience. As this effort was a success both for the members of Periclean and LUPE, we hope to plan a similar event for next semester.  Our committee agreed that Cookies to Go-Go LIVE was a great way to finish the semester and set the trajectory for our committee’s plans to make this relationship truly sustainable. We hope to invest our efforts in the Elon student body by fostering a sense of curiosity, passion, and respect among students with regard to the role LUPE plays in the greater community. By educating other students about the issues that LUPE confronts, we hope to build the foundation for a collaborative relationship that strives to pursue a common vision for social justice even after we graduate.

–Erin Luther, Anna deDufour, and Megan Griffin 

 

One of the initiatives for improving the alumni dimension of Periclean Scholars is to communicate with various key alumni of the program. Throughout the year, Chace and I will be contacting alumni and doing phone/Skype interviews asking questions related to the long term impact of being a Periclean Scholar.  Summaries of each interview will be presented on our blog and will be presented in our quarterly e-newsletters. Our first interview was with Amber Camp, who is a member of the Class of 2006.

We had the opportunity for our first interview of the series  to catch up with Periclean alumni, Amber Camp. When we first talked with her, she was in Pittsburgh at a cultural museum, showcasing the profound effect Periclean has had on her. She enlightened us by sharing her views on how she raises her children in accordance with values she learned at Elon. Many of her parental values stem from her experiences at Elon, including being a Periclean Scholar.  She is motivated to raise her children to be globally aware starting at a young age, which was apparent during our conversation. Throughout our conversation, her children were exploring the museum, reading books about other cultures, and trying on traditional clothing from other countries.  These similar values influence how she acts in her position at American Express. She recognizes the importance of relating to people from diverse backgrounds in a professional setting. Her professional operates virtually, and the sentiment of striving for cultural cognizance is a necessity. She has the ability to connect with people all over the United States as well as the world. She attributes her professional success to her global know-how, which she derived from her time in Periclean.

Amber has been a very influential alumni in Periclean.  Through her job with American Express she has taken advantage of their gift matching program since 2007. The American Express Foundation has been matching every single one of Amber’s donations to the Periclean program. She suggested that other alumni look into their own companies to see if they have an established gift matching program.

Amber’s class worked with Namibia. When asked if she still had ties with the country, she spoke of a woman named Matjiua. Matjiua and Amber met in Namibia, through an exchange program which facilitated their friendship. They remain close several years later by sending care packages back and forth, updating each other with videos of their kids; Matjiua was even at Amber’s wedding. This is one example of how Periclean has opened an individual’s eyes to diverse and global friendships.

To view the interview Chace and I did with amber, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoJDYjeUyQQ.

To view Amber’s PSA urging Pericleans to give, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZalpPyjl5YY.

This past Thursday, Chace and I continued with the alumni interview series by talking to Todd Ruffner. Class of 2008. He was an awesome alumni to talk to and learn from. Todd  had several tips for current Pericleans and the Periclean program overall.

Todd has continued to be civically engaged after graduation from Elon. His career involves working to find unique, sustainable ways to impact various communities in the Middle East. This idea of finding unique and sustainable methods of change comes from his exposure to the Periclean model! He pursued a career that placed importance on making long-term change and building relationships that last, this has a huge overlap with some of the values he learned from the Periclean Scholars Program.

Todd and his Class worked with the Zapatista community in Chiapas, Mexico. They partnered with Schools for Chiapas to paint a beautiful mural in the Zapatista community of Suytic. Todd was part of a small Elon/Periclean Scholar film team that traveled to Chiapas before the rest of the Class traveled in December/January of 2007-08. They were invited by Schools for Chiapas and their travel inspired a documentary “Painting Without Permission” created by Periclean Scholars and Tesla Mellage, ’08.  When we asked him about this experience, he said it was amazing to be able to put names and faces to what their Class was working to accomplish. He believed that sharing his experience in Chiapas helped to prepare the rest of the Class for their travel and kept the class engaged in their project. He encourages every Periclean Scholar, who is travelling to their country of focus, to be educated about the political situation before being in-country, this will strengthen the overall experience!

Some things have changed since Todd was in the program at Elon. His Class chose both the country of focus and the issue(s) on which they would focus. Todd supported the change of assigning Classes countries, as well as recycling countries through the program; he saw this as a positive initiative to strengthen the program. When asked if he had any tips for current Periclean Scholars, he said, “don’t get hung up on the little things and make some sacrifices where it’s necessary to focus on how you can make a difference!”

We encourage every class to learn from these interviews with our Alumni! They are an amazing resource that can help strengthen the Periclean experience.

 

Last night, November 4th, Chace and I had the opportunity to meet Amber Camp (alumnus of the Class of 2006)! She lives locally, which made it very convenient to meet her in person. We were both really excited to meet her because we had already talked to her over the phone about a week earlier. She invited us into her home where we had the pleasure of meeting her children and husband. They had just celebrated her daughter’s second birthday over the weekend, so the house was filled with balloons and other fun decorations. She first told us the story about how she met her husband at Elon and then showed us a picture of the two of them from that time. We discussed how her husband was a huge supporter of her involvement in Periclean, especially when she went to Namibia. Amber then showed us to her home office, where she works for American Express as a Customer Care Professional, leading a team of twelve other employees.

The purpose of our visit was to get an on-camera interview with Amber to accompany our alumni write-up that will be featured in the E-newsletter; we left with so much more! She welcomed any questions we had about her career, family, involvement in Periclean and other Elon programs. She is an inspiring voice for the program and for service in general. Amber’s outlook on life is both positive and energetic and she attributes this to her experiences with Periclean. The trip she took to Namibia was eye opening and helped to shape her career, her relationships with family and friends, and with her continuous generosity to the Periclean Scholars Program. The photos of her experiences in Namibia are incredible and gave some insight into how her experience shaped her life. She flipped through two of her picture books (comprised of her own photos) and explained several of the photos to Chace and me. A few of her photos are below.

We left Amber’s house excited to share our interview with others so Amber’s love for life and impact on the program can be publicized! Chace and I believe that others will benefit from learning about Amber, just as we did. We are both hopeful that we will get to see her again soon.

We encourage everyone to check out our interview with Amber Camp in the next E-newsletter!