Meet Our Interns: Jennifer Juárez

Hola a todos!
I'll begin by sharing a bit of my background and where I come from. I was born and raised in the south side of Chicago. I am the oldest of three and the only girl. I'm 100% Mexicana and my parents are from Morelia, Michoacan. The grammar school that I attended was Saucedo Scholastic Academy and had a blast going to that school, primarily because I learned how read and play music but the teachers that I was enlightened by made my grammar school experience phenomenal. At age 10 I began to play the Alto Saxophone and was part of the All City Elementary Band where I was able to perform at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Music has always been a big part of my life, it runs in the family because my grandfather is a cello player for the Symphony Orchestra in Morelia and my uncle is a music professor at UMAN (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) I’m glad I inherited their talent.
I graduated from John F. Kennedy HS were although my experience there was not as pleasant as grammar school; I was able to develop my music skills. However, during high school I realized how unjust the educational system is towards minorities and felt little to no orientation on achieving a higher education. I decided to orient myself on college information and without the help on my counselors I was able to receive two scholarships and got accepted to three universities-Loyola, Northern University and UIC. In 2003 I graduated from HS being the top 25 of my graduating class and continued my education at UIC. I chose UIC because it's a good school for science research and I was primarily interested in Meteorology /Earth Science, so of course I decided to major in Earth Science with a concentration on global warming and coastal erosion. In 2004 being my second year in school I applied to a non-profit public radio station in Pilsen called Radio Arte. The main reason for applying was to get more on air experience, since I was interested in the field of broadcast meteorology. I was accepted and after being involved for two years I developed a passion for radio production which I then decided to change my major to Communications and Sociology with a minor in Earth Science. During those two years at Radio Arte I produced and wrote three shows - Lafemme (a show dedicated to women's rights on a local and global scale), Korner Kafe (a show dedicated to social problems and also focused on local art and environmental issues) and Acuarela (a blues and jazz show). Being a producer and writing the stories of many people not just locally but globally, opened my eyes to many social problems that people deal with and realized that finding solutions to those problems was very difficult. I found radio broadcasting to be a positive communication tool to inform the untold stories from people in the community and the struggles that my people were dealing with on a day to day basis. Believe it or not the shows that my team and I produced were heard nation wide and made a positive influence in young peoples lives. I became more proactive in the Pilsen community and participated in campaigns and served as guest speaker at DePaul University on women issues in particular the issue of Women of Juárez in México. Becoming a producer for show's like Lafemme and Korner Kafe gave me an opportunity to make a difference in this society and showed me that the power of the radio definitely makes a positive change (when used appropriately). My work productions have also been exposed in the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, where I did an audio ofrenda based on the story of Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite painters.
Even though my career has had a couple of shifts here and there my one true interest will always be science. Although I did not explore the Earth Science field as much as I wanted I still have a passion for environmental issues and have the desire to make a significant change in that field as well.
In May 2008 I will be finishing up my degrees, which is the greatest feeling ever! But ultimately the years that I have spend researching in both the academia and community fields have made me grow internally. If it wasn't for my desire to continue a higher education I honestly don't know what I would be doing right now.
My plans after college is to work with high school Latino students as a counselor, that like myself, were and are oblivious to the college world and have little to no chance of exploring the great opportunities that a college degree can bring. I want to see more Latino students getting accepted not just to community colleges but to universities, because believe me I have met great Latino students who can definitely make a difference in this society but have no resources in getting a higher education.
After that long background... basic things of me are..... I love love love music!, I like art, I love my culture, me gustan mucho los tacos! (I love tacos) I like to travel! Love to dance! and specially like to meet new people... (As you can tell I love a lot of things).
I am very glad to be part of this fantastic research group. The entire research itself, I find very interesting due to personal experiences and because when and where do you find ever the hard sciences and social sciences working together?

I am very excited to meet everyone and learn from each other.
Michocan here we come!

Meet Our Interns:Manuel Colón

WHO IS MANUEL COLÓN?

Let us start from the beginning: I was born and raised on the far South East Side of Chicago, a rather forgotten neighborhood actually named The East Side. I lived in the same house from birth until just last year(which was a heartwrenching separation). When I was younger, my world was quite a small one. Spanning only a handful of square miles, it consisted of my grammar school, a couple of aunts' and uncles' houses, Lake Michigan, and my local park(Calumet park), which was actually the location of my first 'real' job.

In 2002, I graduated 8th grade and went on to high school, attending one of the city's premier public schools, Whitney M. Young Magnet High School.

My high school experience was one that I would not mind having to relive over and over again. While waking up and boarding a 6:30 am train to school(well before anyone in my house was awake), which started a commute that totaled about one hour and fifteen minutes, was not an easy or favorable task, I think it made me a better person, allowing me to see how important my education was for me. Being one of only two people from my grammar school to attend Young, I quickly made many friends from all kinds of social, ethnic, and geographical backgrounds. This really allowed to me to expand my knowledge about the world around me, and to this day I still amaze people by the little Polish or Chinese I know, or the fact that I can navigate the far North West Side. Not only did I continue with my interest for Volleyball, being on the team for all four years, I was able to pursue my strong passion for service, joining clubs like Peer Leadership and Habitat for Humanity, participating in activities that ranged from volunteering at open houses to building homes in Tennessee. It was bittersweet having to leave Young, but I was excited for the experiences that I could only imagine I would have in college.

In the fall of 2007, I started my freshman year here at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a Natural Resources and Environmental Science(NRES) major in the College of ACES. Unlike high school, I came to campus already knowing many upperclassmen as well as coming down with roughly 60 of my peers. Some used this as a safety net to not venture outside their zone of comfor. But, I , the social butterfly that I am, used this as a great way to meet people, exponentially in fact. The first couple of weeks were an interesting time. You know, realizing that your total living space (sleeping, eating, studying, and living areas) are really just an oversized closet that they called dorm rooms, and mind you, you have to share it with someone. You would think that it would be either the community bathrooms or the shared confined spaces that would take the hardest to get used to. No. For me it was having a scheduled eating time. Dinner is over at 6:30? What? Let's be honest, most people of color aren't even thinking about starting dinner at that time, let alone being done with the meal. I'm surprised I didn't starve from missing so many meals. First semester seemed like it was ages ago, and second semester went by in the blink of an eye. As usual, I found ample opportunities to get involved on campus. I continued with H4H and got the wheels turning for studying abroad and a position as an Resident Advisor (RA) for University housing.

This past summer was quite action packed for me. A week after school let out, I left for my five week summer term in Seoul, South Korea, which is something I can quite honestly talk about endlessly. In fact, I have my own blog dedicated soley to it, click here. As one could imagine, life on the other side of the world(literally) is completely different from anything we know. After my term ended, I jumped right into my regular summer job(actually three days late) as a Recreational Leader for Chicago Park District's Day Camp program. It was my third summer; my sister worked alongside me; it was the park I grew up at;blocks away from my house;I couldn't have asked for it be any better. Continuing this swift pace of summer, three days after camp let out, I returned to Chambana to start my paraprofessional training as an RA. I always tell myself that my ultimate goal in life is just make a difference in the world. Quite honestly I don't know of better way to start than to serve as a resource, role model, advocate, and friend for all twenty-four of my residents on Saunders Ground floor.

I feel as if I have talked about myself extensivley, but haven't really said anything. With that, I'll do a final run through of interesting/fun things about me, that others might feel are important to know:

I'm 6ft.2ins. Half Mexican, Half Puerto Rican: All Fun. I love to dance. I'm obsessed with the color red: red phone, red camera, red sheets, the list goes on. I love to travel, I've been to NYC, Tokyo, Shanghai, Korea, and Costa Rica (year-to-date, not lifetime). My laugh is one of the most distinctive you'll ever hear. I can read the Greek, Russian, and Korean alphabets. I'm a strong believer in my Roman Catholic faith.I want the Peace Corp and Law School to be part of my career path. I embrace public speaking. My Family = The World, to me. Last, but not certainly not least, I'm an intern with the Monarch Exchange Project.

I am Manuel Colón.

Monarch Exchange Internship Opportunity

El Valor, International Programs U.S. Forest Service, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie U.S. Forest Service seek highly motivated university students to be part of a talented team of individuals to study the Monarch Butterfly Migration in Michoacán, México. With the opportunity to be selected for an internship, leading to noncompetitive employment with the USDA Forest Service.

Criteria

• U.S. Citizen, must hold a valid passport
• Sophomore standing (though others will be considered)
• Natural resources background, with special emphasis in conservation education (highly preferred)
• Commitment to community development, grassroots level action oriented
• Bilingual (Spanish and English), no exceptions
• Must have a professor, who can attest to your academic potential, serve as a sponsor
• Must be willing to travel outside the U.S.

Requirements:

Interested candidates must possess a passion and commitment for grassroots community work. A strong commitment to the land and natural resources background is also a must. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a flexible demeanor and high adaptability to different personalities and surroundings; desire for travel, and willingness to work outdoors on a regular basis.

WELCOME!

Congratulations!

You have been selected to join El Valor, U.S. Forest International Programs, and Midewin Tallgrass National Prairie to be part of the talented team of university students to spend 7 days in Michoacan, Mexico studying the migration and habitat of the Monarch Butterfly!

We are very honored that you have accepted this position. Your first assignment as an intern is to post a brief biography and description of your application process. Upon successful completion of this step, please contact Anel from El Valor for your next assignment.

Again, welcome to this exciting journey. Please use this space to share your travels, experience, and learning with the world. We hope this opportunity proves challenging and rewarding!

Questions and Answers

~ Who is El Valor?
El Valor is a community-based organization founded in 1973. El Valor’s mission is to support and challenge urban families to achieve excellence and participate fully in community life. Our programs exist to enrich and empower people with disabilities, the disenfranchised and the underserved. El Valor seeks to be an international model for inclusion of people with disabilities, to be the best in the nation in early childhood and youth enrichment and to become the premier organization developing Hispanic leadership.
~ What is SCEP?
The Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) is the primary source for external recruitment for entry-level hires in the Forest Service. SCEP provides work experience that is directly related to the student’s academic program or career goals. SCEP students may be non-competitively converted to career, term, or career-conditional appointments, SCEP gives students exposure to public service while enhancing their educational goals. In order to be a part of SCEP, the student must have a professor serve as a sponsor during the duration of your internship. The professor will serve as a liaison between your SCEP placement and your university.
~ What is the relationship between El Valor, International Programs U.S. Forest Service, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prarie U.S. Forest?
El Valor has partnered with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (a unit of the U.S. Forest Service) to bring high-quality environmental educational programming in the form of after-school and summer programs to inner-city Latino youth.
El Valor has also partnered with U.S.D.A. Forest Service, International Programs to study the migration patterns of the monarch butterfly. Additionally International Programs and El Valor are interested in the study of the cross cultural connections between Michoacán, Mexico and Chicago, IL.
~ What is the cost of this program?
The program is of NO cost to the participants. International Programs (U.S. Forest Service) will cover the cost of air travel, in-country transportation, meals, and lodging. Participants are encouraged to bring money for any souvenirs or additional items you may want to purchase.
~ How long is the trip? When is the trip?
The trip is scheduled for January, 2008 for a total of 7 days. Specific dates will be given to those who are selected.
~ What do I need to bring to the trip?
A list of necessary items will be provided to those selected to be a part of the program. However, do note that it is always wise to bring only that which you can carry by yourself. There will be some in country travel by bus, be conservative with your luggage.
~ What if I am not a U.S. citizen, but I am very interested in the internship opportunity?
Unfortunately all participants must be U.S. citizens or on a direct route to citizenship. Students who wish to participate in the SCEP (Student Career Experience Program) cannot be appointed to career-conditional employment in the competitive service unless they are citizens at the time of conversion.
~ Is there an interview process?
Yes. All qualified candidates will be invited to interview with El Valor’s University Programs Staff and U.S. Forest Service Staff.
~ When will I be notified of my acceptance into the program?
Final decisions will be made in December, 2007.
~ Is there a separate application process for SCEP?
Yes. All those who are interested in the SCEP internships will need to fill out the appropriate paper work. El Valor will help facilitate the process.
~ Do I have to get any vaccinations or submit a physical exam as part of my application process?
The U.S. State Department does not recommend vaccinations prior to travel to Mexico. For specific information on travel requirements to Mexico please visit http://travel.state.gov
~ What is my involvement with the program after the Mexico trip?
Upon, your return from Mexico you will be given the opportunity to join the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP). Participation in SCEP is conditional on your desire to be a part of the program and subject to approval by the U.S. Forest Service. In August, 2008 a contingent from Mexico will be traveling to Chicago to visit the Monarch gardens and learn about conservation efforts in Chicago. All participants must make themselves available for the 7 days that the Mexican contingency will be in Chicago. If the participants have joined the SCEP internship; their individual Forest Units have agreed to give you that time off.