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Reflection, United Way of Delaware Intern

Andréa D. Cox

Wilmington University
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Reflection, United Way of Delaware Intern

Expectation

Although I had lived in Delaware for twelve years of my life, I was not familiar with the

work of United Way of Delaware, until I met Jamee Boone. Jamee Boone is the Vice President

of Philanthropy and Engagement at United Way of Delaware and an adjunct professor at

Wilmington University. I enjoyed the Communications class she instructed, so it was a logical

choice for me to pursue an internship under her tutelage. Although I had been her student, I knew

interning at United Way would be a different experience.

First Impressions

During the holiday break, I was with a classmate that had just finished her internship at

United Way of Delaware. She expressed that she had some challenges, but assured me that I

would be fine. I was excited to begin my journey with United Way. I would not be working

directly under Jamee Boone, but she gave me the information for my contact. My schedule was

arranged and I was ready.

I remember feeling perplexed on that first day. My supervisor had agreed to my

schedule, but when I arrived she was scheduled for a two hour meeting. I met her briefly when

she stationed me at a computer. She suggested I review the United Way of Delaware website

and familiarize myself with the organization and the career of Michelle Taylor, President and

CEO. I felt she was either unprepared for my arrival, or I was an oversight. I spent four hours

that first day studying the website, Googling Michelle Taylor, and developing my learning

contract. I returned later that week as scheduled. On my second day, I signed up to attend an

event on Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and completed my learning contract.

Is This What I Expected?

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Before becoming an intern, I worked for a non-profit organization that often had interns.

I know it can be challenging assigning work to interns that will not be in the office every day and

that it can be burdensome to constantly train new interns on procedure, but I learn quickly and

did not see this as an obstacle. My supervisor talked of having me work on projects, but in the

first two days, I was only tasked with looking at the website and my learning contract. On my

second day, I was approached by a staff member that I had been previously introduced to and

asked if I could assist her. I was still working on the learning contract, but I was eager to learn,

and knew I could complete the learning contract at home if needed. She was showing me how

they track donor information and asked that I help her catch up on the thank yous when my

supervisor interrupted us insisting that I was there to work on projects, and not random office

activities. This experience left me wondering if I had just witnessed a power struggle or more

serious office politics. Then, I knew to only work with my supervisor unless she asked me to

assist someone else.

Experiences

I volunteered to work at the United Way of Delaware table at a march on Martin Luther

King, Jr. Day. I have been a part of events for other organizations and have worked information

tables. I signed up for a two hour shift where I worked alongside United Way staff and a few

other volunteers. There were seven volunteers at the one table, waiting for the marchers to finish

the route and arrive at the venue. My first event showed me that my experience in volunteer

management would be useful. At this time, I spoke directly with the Volunteer Coordinator and

shared my knowledge with her and offered to help her in any way that I could.

Hoping that I would be able to use my skillset of working with volunteers, I offered

advice on volunteer management whenever I felt it would be useful. In the office I was asked to
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update spreadsheets and contact United Way partners. I continued to sign up for events because

I knew that would be how I garnered the most experience there. At the events I met some of the

United Way partners, but more importantly, I saw some of the most important work United Way

of Delaware does. One day, after a Latinos Unidos meeting, I toured the Aspira Academy, a

beautiful school for bilingual students. At another time, several of us travelled to read to

children at a Salem County Head Start on Read Across America Day. Then I had the joy of

witnessing the appreciation of Lewis Dual Elementary School students after receiving a gift of

computer equipment from Chemours.

Feelings about Experiences

After attending some events, I was in disbelief when I realized they had no procedures in

place for volunteer management. Neither their Community Engagement Manager nor their

Volunteer Coordinator had volunteer management experience. I had just spent two years

managing over five hundred volunteers. It took some time, but I was finally asked to help them

coordinate an orientation and training for new volunteers. I was excited to work on something

that I was so familiar with. In my time there I learned about United Way of Delaware, but I also

taught them some volunteer management procedures.

Conclusion

When I first told people where I was interning, the first question was always “do you

want to work there?” That was not a question I had thought about before starting. I know many

of my WilmU classmates plan to advance at their current places of employment and are not

looking to be hired on after their internships at outside organizations, and I truly hadn’t even

considered working there as an option. Honestly, the first couple weeks there, I felt anxious, as

if I did not fit, and could never fit. Even though the people were nice enough, I thought it was
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not for me and I could never work there. As time went on, and I started helping with a volunteer

program, I felt that I was not only useful, but that I was needed. I went from not wanting to work

there, to believing that they need me. Although I have finished my hours, and written my papers,

I made the decision to keep volunteering with United Way of Delaware. I need to finish what I

started with their volunteer management program and watch it grow into an organized, well-

managed program that enriches the community with dedicated volunteers.