Community
"Life isn't about what you have; it's about what you have to give."
My years of volunteer service are an important part of who I am and my commitment to those around me.
I grew up in the Michiana area and have a deep love and concern for this community.
We all have something wonderful to give--time, money, talents to those around us. It is critical to "pay it forward".
My favorite volunteer activity is committing "Random Acts of Kindness".
My years of volunteer service are an important part of who I am and my commitment to those around me.
I grew up in the Michiana area and have a deep love and concern for this community.
We all have something wonderful to give--time, money, talents to those around us. It is critical to "pay it forward".
My favorite volunteer activity is committing "Random Acts of Kindness".
Steel Warehouse Cares
Chairperson for Steel Warehouse Cares - This is part of Steel Warehouse's community outreach. They give grants to community organizations their employees are a part of. www.steelwarehouse.com/steel-warehouse-cares/
- Developed a new logo
- Designed a brochure
- Assisted in the website design
- Designed t-shirts and pins
- Created Forms
- Wrote letter formats
- Created an organizational notebook with all necessary information needed to pass on to future committees. It was also used to start Steel Warehouse Cares in another location.
- Wrote an article for the company newsletter to highlight the donations and inform employees about the grant opportunities
- Recruited new members to the committee
South Bend Maker Faire
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For three years I have worked to bring the Maker Faire to South Bend. It celebrates both art and technology and congratulates the STEM efforts in the community.
What makes a Maker Faire special? It's a celebration of Form and Function. Tech is often very functional, but form is what makes us want to interact with it because it is appealing and beautiful. You see this with the engineering in cars on the inside and the form and beauty on the outside. We will soon be printing our shoes to match a scan of our feet but we would also like them to look nice on the outside. The Function Makers are the engineers and programmers. The Form Makers are the artists that bring us beauty. Maker Faires have both and hopefully teach people to join the two for products we enjoy using. Apple is one of the most well known examples for making tech sleek and beautiful. Steampunk is also an area where tech and art have been combined. Mark your calendars for July 30, 2016 for South Bend's FIRST Maker Faire! Maker Faires celebrate ALL Makers. We hope you will find fun and inspiration from all our Makers. Enjoy! Suzan Kesim Founding Organizer and Co-Chair for the South Bend Maker Faire 2016 |
Unity Gardens
The Unity Gardens Inc. is a collaborative network of community gardens originated to increase the availability, awareness, and accessibility of healthy, locally grown food. Each Unity Garden has two criteria; diverse people coming together to grow food and a sharing component. The gardens provide food for any in need & bring diverse people together to grow, harvest, share, and eat healthy food. The Unity Gardens Inc. surrounds community gardens with the resources and systems needed to ensure success with growing food while developing partnerships with area businesses, government, universities, schools, churches, nonprofits, and neighbors.
The mission is to improve community health -- physically, socially, and economically. The Unity Gardens will reduce chronic illness and obesity within the community via education and increased accessibility of fruits and vegetables. The Unity Gardens will improve social health by providing unconditional free food and opportunities for the disadvantaged. The Unity Gardens will improve local economic vitality by developing a sustainable local food system, recapturing food waste, creating new jobs, and increasing per-capita productivity.
I've enjoyed both learning and contributing to the Unity Gardens. As part of the efforts I planted a "Yarden" in my own front yard and have helped with some of the fundraising.
I post my gardening tips on the Michiana Yardeners Facebook Page to over 1,000 local gardeners.
The mission is to improve community health -- physically, socially, and economically. The Unity Gardens will reduce chronic illness and obesity within the community via education and increased accessibility of fruits and vegetables. The Unity Gardens will improve social health by providing unconditional free food and opportunities for the disadvantaged. The Unity Gardens will improve local economic vitality by developing a sustainable local food system, recapturing food waste, creating new jobs, and increasing per-capita productivity.
I've enjoyed both learning and contributing to the Unity Gardens. As part of the efforts I planted a "Yarden" in my own front yard and have helped with some of the fundraising.
I post my gardening tips on the Michiana Yardeners Facebook Page to over 1,000 local gardeners.
Michiana Fast Forward
To promote and highlight the great technology in the Michiana Area, I created the Michiana Fast Forward Website and the Michiana Fast Forward Facebook page. It also has some fun and interesting technology on the horizon. I am interested in seeing the next generations advance. Our area has been the center of innovation in many ways. For the business professional, I post Tech Tips on my Business Facebook Page Suzan N Kesim
Junior League
The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. (AJLI) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.
There are over 160,000 women in 292 Leagues in four countries who make a difference in their communities every day through their volunteer efforts. Junior League members have been making a difference for over 100 years. www.ajli.org
Our local League has accomplished incredible projects year after year. I created the first website and database for the local office. I have been a member since 1994 - 2015 and received the "Internal Active of the Year" in 2000.
There are over 160,000 women in 292 Leagues in four countries who make a difference in their communities every day through their volunteer efforts. Junior League members have been making a difference for over 100 years. www.ajli.org
Our local League has accomplished incredible projects year after year. I created the first website and database for the local office. I have been a member since 1994 - 2015 and received the "Internal Active of the Year" in 2000.
Center for Hospice
My 10 Years of Hospice Service Pin
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Established in 1978, The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. is an independent, community based, not-for-profit organization, improving the quality of living through hospice, home health, grief counseling, and community education. The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc. serves Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, LaGrange, LaPorte, Marshall, St. Joseph and Starke counties in Indiana.
I had the privilege of being an in-home volunteer for ten years. I volunteered 4 hours per week. I know the benefit of giving caregivers a much needed rest and time for themselves, as well as the peace of mind it gives someone to be able to die in their own home. www.centerforhospice.org
To help a friend I wrote down a list of things to help move through the grieving process. I'm sharing it here to help you or someone you know. Feel free to download the PDF here.
I had the privilege of being an in-home volunteer for ten years. I volunteered 4 hours per week. I know the benefit of giving caregivers a much needed rest and time for themselves, as well as the peace of mind it gives someone to be able to die in their own home. www.centerforhospice.org
To help a friend I wrote down a list of things to help move through the grieving process. I'm sharing it here to help you or someone you know. Feel free to download the PDF here.
Junior Achievement
JA Worldwide is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs.
Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.
JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students. Embodying the heart of JA, our 384,925 classroom volunteers transform the key concepts of our lessons into a message that inspires and empowers students to believe in themselves, showing them they can make a difference in the world. www.ja.org
I have taught students at Adams, Clay, LaSalle and John Grissom. It's hard to believe volunteering can be so much fun!
Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.
JA’s unique approach allows volunteers from the community to deliver our curriculum while sharing their experiences with students. Embodying the heart of JA, our 384,925 classroom volunteers transform the key concepts of our lessons into a message that inspires and empowers students to believe in themselves, showing them they can make a difference in the world. www.ja.org
I have taught students at Adams, Clay, LaSalle and John Grissom. It's hard to believe volunteering can be so much fun!
Master Gardener
To better the environment I became a Master Gardener. Part of becoming a Master Gardener requires local volunteer hours and educating fellow gardeners. I also volunteer with Unity Gardens and help with Development
Take a virtual tour of my gardens: Sue's Gardens
Take a virtual tour of my gardens: Sue's Gardens
Write My Law
The project I wanted when I worked with the Code for America HackMichiana group was a website that would help the average citizen research and present a law to legislators without hiring a lawyer and a lobby group. The government needs to return to the people. Locally I was interested in animal rights laws and environmental laws. Like most people, hiring a lawyer for these interests was not in the budget. I created this website and with the help of Ed Edmonds of the University of Notre Dame Kresge Law Library. There is now a resource to help everyone participate in their government. www.WriteMyLaw.com
Fab4Dogs
I would very much like see laws around companion animals standardized. With a local group, many issues have been identified. The ultimate goal is to have template laws written so state and local entities can adjust them and incorporate them. These have been organized on https://www.fab4dogs.com/animal-legislation.html We are currently looking for law students and lawyers willing to step up and make this happen.
Fab4Dogs continues to be a resource for people who have lost or found a dog, need assistance with Vet bills and encourage adoptions. During the time Michiana Missing Dog Network was active on Facebook, over 200 lost dogs were reunited with their families. It continues to offer PSA's and tips to over 5,000 people.
Fab4Dogs continues to be a resource for people who have lost or found a dog, need assistance with Vet bills and encourage adoptions. During the time Michiana Missing Dog Network was active on Facebook, over 200 lost dogs were reunited with their families. It continues to offer PSA's and tips to over 5,000 people.
Chip and Tag Event
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Chip and Tag - I organized a microchip and 10 digit phone number tag event with the South Bend animal shelter at Pet Supplies Plus. Pet owners were able to get $10 microchips thanks to a grant. This is my design for it.
After reuniting over 200 dogs through Michiana Missing Dog Network, I realized PREVENTION would go a long way. If a dog has a registered microchip and a ten digit phone number tag, most people will immediately try to reunite the dog without it ever having the trauma and expense of going to an overcrowded shelter where it could be put down in a couple days. People don't expect to be separated, but the unexpected happens. REMINDER: Make sure you have a registered microchip and if you have moved or changed phone numbers, update the information. |
Grant Writing
In 2013 I completed three certificate courses in Grant Writing to better support the causes I feel passionate about. Grant writing is the latest area where I am expanding my writing skills.
To read about my writing as a journalist and technical writer, click here.
To read about my writing as a journalist and technical writer, click here.
