By Anna Erickson ’00
First and foremost, I must extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to the AYA Club of the Northwest for its tremendous support and generosity. The Community Service Summer Fellow ship has been a fantastic experience both professionally and personally, and I will look back upon this summer with many fond memories.
My work with the Green Institute focused primarily on assessing the environmental, economic, and community impact of the Institute's newest project, the Phillips Eco-Enterprise Center (PEEC). The PEEC is a 64,000 square foot mixed-use commercial facility which leases space to firms specializing in energy-related industries. Although I enjoyed learning about environmental and economic impact analysis, the most interesting and challenging aspect of my work emerged from my interactions with members of the Phillips neighborhood. During the last two months, I conducted a survey of local businesses and residential groups to assess the community's familiarity with The Green Institute and the PEEC. I learned a great deal about effective non-profit organizing and the establishment of a healthy working relationship with the community at-large. I also had the opportunity to meet and work with several community leaders from whom I gained tremendous insight into the issues and obstacles surrounding inner-city urban renewal programs. Though frustrating at times, I found my work challenging, thought provoking, and rewarding.
In addition to my work with The Green Institute, I also enjoyed exploring the Twin Cities and the State of Minnesota. I had the opportunity to see a show at the Guthrie, window-shop in Uptown, tour the Wabasha Street Caves, take a run around Lake Calhoun, visit Nicollet Island, and attend both Ribfest and Sommerfest. I also staged roadtrips to Lanesboro and the "driftless area", drove up the North Shore of Lake Superior and camped at Tettegouche, and made a thorough tour of New Ulm. I even encountered a true Midwestern thunderstorm and found myself just four miles away from a tornado, which of course was close enough. All said, I truly enjoyed my time in Minnesota and would like to come back and visit again in the future. Thank you once again, and best wishes to all. Boola Boola!