Edward Sorensen: New Beginnings at SVCN
As I reflect on the start of my senior year at Santa Clara University and my time as a Leavey School of Business Community Fellow, one of the clear highlights has been my eight weeks as a Program & Policy Intern at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN). Over my time in the role, I’ve had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the City of San José, the County of Santa Clara, and the nonprofit scene in the Silicon Valley area. From following local governmental policy decisions, to reviewing voter guides and helping facilitate SVCN’s annual Be Our Guest (BOG) Pumpkin Auction, I’ve broadened my knowledge about both nonprofit operations and the decision-making processes impacting everyday life in the Santa Clara community.
As an organization, SVCN is dedicated to advancing the role, voice, and capacity of the nonprofit community in Santa Clara County so it can act as a force for positive social change. This involves being a trusted source of connections and information for Santa Clara County nonprofits. Through my role as a Program & Policy Intern, I’ve been able to directly engage with this element of the organization, helping track new information developments and communicate them to member organizations.
The most surprising element of my role is the variety of ways I’ve been able to contribute at SVCN. It’s been a great experience familiarizing myself with all aspects of the role and gaining experience through a broad array of tasks and assignments. This has involved improving my writing, learning how to work with new software ranging from Canva to MailChimp, and working collaboratively with the rest of the policy team.
My most significant takeaway from these first few weeks has been coming to embrace flexibility and uncertainty within the workplace. Policy work is inherently adaptive; changing community needs and political developments mandate flexibility in policy suggestions and strategy. Learning to work effectively and efficiently while embracing this uncertainty has been an especially valuable workplace experience.
Going forwards, I’m excited to take on new challenges in my role at SVCN. As I continue to get to know SVCN’s great team, I look forward to advancing my learning, engaging with the local community, and pursuing any opportunities that arise!