Broncos Lead interns build career skills while helping build community in Kalamazoo neighborhood

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—An internship that started with a tour of greenhouses blossomed into a life-changing experience for Jazmine Grays and Kayleigh Podolski.  

Working as community outreach interns with the Edison Neighborhood Association, the Western Michigan University students collected flowers and plants and helped distribute them to members of the southeastern Kalamazoo neighborhood. 

“I love flowers, and even with all the heavy lifting, knowing that we were bringing it to people to make them happy and make their homes beautiful just made me so happy,” says Grays, an event management and leadership and business strategy student from Flint. 

Helping out with the organization’s June Blossoms event gave Grays and Podolski an opportunity to see the impact of nonprofit work in action. 

“It’s really special getting to make those connections with neighbors and build those relationships,” says Podolski, a communication studies major from Brighton, Michigan. “This opportunity has really enabled so much growth not only in our careers but in our personal lives, too; I feel like I’m growing as a human and also expanding my worldview.” 

Opportunities for impact 

Joining the team at the Edison Neighborhood Association provided multiple avenues for the students to put what they were learning in class into practice in real time while also having a tangible impact on the community.  

From planning and executing neighborhood events to managing budgets and contracts and creating promotional content, the interns were able to contribute to the Edison Neighborhood Association’s mission from day 1. 

“The amount of freedom we’re given with projects and all the resources we have to make things happen and carry out our projects is so empowering,” says Podolski, who also worked on the organization’s website. 

In addition to June Blooms, the interns were involved in the Washington Avenue Arts and Culture Crawl, night markets at the Kalamazoo Farmers Market, the neighborhood’s artist residency program, and the annual picnic and bike parade, which Podolski was able to take the lead on.  

“It was fun to figure out what we would need, plan the itinerary, take inventory and work with a budget, which is not something I’ve ever done before on this scale,” says Podolski. “I was really proud of myself for how it went; it was really special to see how it impacted the community.” 

One of Grays’ largest tasks involved helping to grow the Edison Business Association by connecting with local entrepreneurs and planning a networking event to bolster the neighborhood’s business community. 

She also helped lay the groundwork for future development in the Edison neighborhood by writing a grant for funding for Washington Square improvements, such as landscaping and freshening up business facades. 

“I’ve only ever written grants in class,” she says, “so it was great to be able to take a concept I’ve learned out of the classroom.” 

Both interns say these experiences make them much more marketable professionals as they approach their senior years and start considering job opportunities. 

“I’ve planned a summit, I planned a networking event, I’ve helped plan a bike parade and worked behind the scenes on several community events. Having been in so many different rooms where things were happening makes me more dynamic,” says Grays, who already has one job offer on her plate from someone she connected with while planning the networking event. 

“I still have a whole year of school to finish up, but the offer definitely perked my ears up,” she says. “Working with so many different small-business owners and community members has also built up my personal network.” 

Purpose-driven work 

Entering their final year at Western, both Grays and Podolski were strategic in choosing a summer internship that leaned into career development. Connecting with the Edison Neighborhood Association through the Broncos Lead Internship Program, which provides paid internships with local businesses and nonprofits, offered the perfect opportunity to take their skills to the next level. 

“This internship has allowed me to make sure that not only do I have the security of being paid for my work and being in an exciting new environment, but it’s also going to help me on the path toward my career in the most direct way possible,” says Podolski. “I really thrive in places where I can practice creativity and creative thinking, so this was a place where I could lean into the things I am good at and passionate about while also growing a lot of new skills in the process and learning about the nonprofit sector.” 

Grays sees a direct correlation between the work and her career aspirations. 

“I’m very passionate about hosting events for urban communities and giving them resources that not only allow them to have fun but are beneficial to them,” adds Grays. “That’s exactly what the Edison Neighborhood Association does.” 

The experience opened the students’ eyes to the impact of investing in communities and ignited a passion for purpose-driven work. 

“This internship really affirmed that at the end of the day, it all comes down to people for me,” says Podolski. “Whatever career I go into, I want to be able to see that I’m helping people.” 

She saw that already in neighborhood interviews earlier this summer. 

“We asked one of the folks, ‘What have you seen change most over the years in the Edison neighborhood?’” recalls Podolski. “He said there are more flowers and people take more pride in their space and in the neighborhood. Getting to be part of that? It's everything.” 

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