Support
I was fortunate enough to pursue my passion for research this past summer working as a research assistant for SPARK Research For Social Change- a nonprofit organization that works together to promote equity and social justice with a specific focus and passion to end violence in all forms.
A highlight of this summer was an incredible three days in NYC filming a PBS special about the story of Drama Club. Their mission is to consistently care for youth who are incarcerated and court-involved by creating space for them to thrive, using improv as their guide. I was lucky enough to meet Drama Club teaching artists who share their talent with NYC youth in the community, in secure detention, and at Rikers Island. This experience has provided me with a deep understanding of why performance arts are powerful violence prevention strategies. After sitting in on just one improv class, I was amazed to see how quickly fun games can be turned into teaching moments. I am truly grateful and proud to have seen first-hand and continue to see, the teaching artists at Drama Club make an impact on youth lives in NYC.
Aside from the NYC trip, I spent the summer learning the structure and requirements of NIH grant applications and conducting comprehensive literature reviews and synthesizing research findings related to our project on using documentary filmmaking to disseminate knowledge. I also learned how to properly transcribe interviews. Although the work was meticulous, it was incredibly rewarding to listen to the insights and advice of successful and passionate community leaders in West Michigan.
Lastly, the team has been working on a project titled Cultivating Communities for Change, which is a study focused on bringing communities together to promote the rights and safety of children. One component of this work is building a web tool for parents to explore children’s typical and atypical worries. I was given the opportunity to create blog posts covering various topics that will be shared on this website platform.
This position aligned perfectly with my academic background and career aspirations, and I am deeply grateful to the Sparks Research for Social Change team for giving me this opportunity and teaching me so much along the way. The skills I gained will be invaluable, relevant, and continue to guide me in my future endeavours.