Jordan Smith

       My name is Jordan Smith, I'm a junior at Emory & Henry College majoring in Political Science and Civic Innovation with hopes of combing the two backgrounds into forming new and innovative solutions to the issues of communities not being properly heard in the running of their governments. Having been born in Chicago, Illinois and raised just outside of San Fransisco I saw diversity in life early and often. One of the things that drew me to the Civic Innovation discipline was the appreciation of diversity in individuals such as Rebecca Bagley's claim that diversity was a needed trait for successful innovators in her article in Forbes, "Innovators are committed to diversity and understand it takes many different points of view to fully grasp the complexity of economic, technological and other challenges" (Bagley, "The 10 Traits Of Great Innovators", 2014). The internship I worked this summer was one that pushed me to develop skills that I had been deficient in such as engaging people on the streets trying to work to develop the surrounding community. Working for the Democratic Party of Virginia was an interesting ride especially in this turbulent election. Coming into the internship I felt that knowing how to work within an institution like a political party would be invaluable experience but I was apprehensive because I didn't have an extremely deep knowledge of policy and theory that I assumed was needed. But I learned on the fly quickly just from being engaged into the process daily, I found myself quickly working to help those find value and voice in their community. The story Professor Proffitt told about his drinking friend 'Rose'  that he met while living in Chicago reminded me in what felt like an ugly time, why I volunteered in the first place. To feel like I am making a positive change on my community was the reason for my seeking an internship like that one and stories like that and many others we shared in class throughout the semester keep positivity in what can seem a scary time. As I move towards the end of college career I look at habits that I'd like to develop and break before I graduate and enter a more independent stage. Discussing 'Evaluation' as a positive skill to develop and use was refreshing to read and think about especially when I read the Stanford Social Innovation Review say, "Evaluation provides the opportunity for all members of the community, regardless of power or status, to build a learning community that works to collectively solve problems" (Lee & Chives, "How Evaluation Can Strengthen Communities (SSIR)", 2015). This new perspective makes the anxiety that can naturally arise from being evaluated lessen now which is something I'd like to continue to do as I move into looking for a career. The ability to not allow the pressure scare me off from engaging myself with different opportunities is something that I want to continue to improve on as I mature.

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