The 麻豆传媒 Blog
Supported by Wells Fargo, the University of New Haven's Helping Hands initiative provides students with paid internships, professional development, and leadership opportunities in the nonprofit sector.
October 22, 2024
Secora Chambers 鈥23, 鈥24 MBA vividly remembers the moment she realized how much of an impact her internship at , a small business involved heavily in the arts community, would have. As an artist and a business major, she found this opportunity was a perfect match for her unique skill set. It was when she hosted her first art show that the full gravity of her experience hit her.
鈥淚 was nervous, but Sonal [Soveni], the owner, encouraged me,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was a rewarding experience because I was able to see the community that built me come together and share in my success.鈥
For Secora, this wasn鈥檛 just an internship鈥攊t was an opportunity to bring her artistic passions to life while developing practical business skills that would set the foundation for her future.
The Helping Hands Nonprofit Leadership Program, now in its third year, is designed to provide students such as Secora with opportunities to intern at local nonprofits and with area small businesses, gaining firsthand experience in leadership roles.
鈥淲e make sure students are well-rounded individuals when they step out into the workforce,鈥 explained Anita Sebabi, employer relations manager for the University of New Haven鈥檚 Career Development Center (CDC).
The vision for Helping Hands came to life through a partnership between Terry Floyd, vice president and community relations consultant at , and Marcus Paca, former assistant director of employer relations at the University. Together, they aimed to create a program that would provide real-world experience while fostering leadership in the nonprofit sector.
鈥淢y personal passion is to reach out and help people,鈥 Terry shared. 鈥淲e鈥檙e giving students and alumni the opportunity to pair up with nonprofits and develop skills that benefit both the nonprofits and their careers.鈥
Marcus echoed Terry鈥檚 enthusiasm. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen the growth and impact that the Helping Hands initiative has had on the University of New Haven and everyone else who鈥檚 been involved,鈥 said Paca, who spent nearly four years at the University before joining Nuvance Health as director of workforce and career development. 鈥淚鈥檓 overcome with joy with the way it鈥檚 expanded, and I look forward to the impact it will continue to have on the community.鈥
This year鈥檚 cohort included 16 students, including Secora, who completed her degree over the summer. Each of the participants took part in a professional development workshop focused on core competencies such as leadership, critical thinking, and communication. These skills were then put into practice during their internships.
鈥淎t the end, the organization supervisors sent in evaluations,鈥 Anita said. 鈥淚t warmed my heart to hear the feedback and see the growth in each of the students.鈥
For Sonal Soveni, the founder of The Table & Gallery, the Helping Hands program provided essential support for her growing business. 鈥淔or me as a small business owner, it was like a dream come true to have extra hands on deck,鈥 she said.
Secora鈥檚 work at The Table & Gallery ranged from managing the business鈥檚 Instagram account to developing an employee handbook. Her contributions didn鈥檛 just fill immediate needs鈥攖hey laid the groundwork for long-term success.
鈥淎 lot of the work I was doing, I wanted to make sure it would last beyond me,鈥 Secora explained. 鈥淚 created documents and plans that could be used by the team in the future.鈥
Sonal praised Secora鈥檚 contributions, noting the lasting impact she鈥檚 had on the business. 鈥淪he鈥檚 part of the team,鈥 Sonal said. 鈥淚鈥檓 bringing her on as a consultant to advise other students on what works and doesn鈥檛 when it comes to gaining visibility and selling artwork.鈥
This partnership exemplifies the mutual benefit of the Helping Hands program鈥攕tudents gain experience, while local businesses and nonprofits receive valuable support.
At a recent event celebrating the program鈥檚 achievements, Wells Fargo鈥檚 Terry Floyd expressed his hopes for Helping Hands moving forward. 鈥淚 think for the nonprofits and the companies involved, the sky鈥檚 the limit,鈥 he said.
鈥淗elping Hands invests in students and small businesses in a way that creates lasting change,鈥 he continued. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to keep this going.鈥
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