Emily Luba ’16 is new to the Field School this summer, and is working with two organizations that are new as well. Emily is a double major in Peace and Conflict Studies and Geography from Vancouver, and is working with community development start-ups Waterville First and the Horned Dorset Colony.
Emily Luba ’16 provides photos for the Horned Dorset Colony in Leonardsville
Waterville First is a business development organization that hopes to promote and rejuvenate the nearby community of Waterville through a variety of activities and services, including a website that features local businesses. Emily is helping develop their site and organize the logistics surrounding the different components of the site. At the completion of the project, she hopes to have a web-based hub that will integrate photo, video and information that will give local businesses a collective web presence for community members and outside visitors
The Horned Dorset Colony is an artist in residence program in Leonardsville, New York that promotes interdisciplinary, artistic conversation by hosting painters, composers, photographers and other artists. Emily is working on grantwriting, social media management, photography, and event planning for the new colony. She’s providing photos of events and organizing them using the website and various social media outlets. She’s working closely with owners Kingsley and Roberta on the technical side of the organization, which gives them time to focus on providing for the artists in residence.
Both organizations are providing Emily with a valuable learning experience in the non-profit sector. She’s developing skills in fundraising, grantwriting, web development, video design, event planning, promotions, and social media. Her goal for her work at each organization is to help them fulfill the respective community needs they both set out to address. Most importantly, she is learning the value of passion for a cause since, she says, “both of the non-profits that I’m working for have been started by passionate and driven people. I’m thrilled to be able to see their desire being put into action and filling vital community needs.”
During Emily’s studies in Peace and Conflict Studies and Geography with a focus on international development, she has focused on at-risk populations and conflict zones in developing countries. These projects are providing a similar focus, but at a local level. She’s learning first-hand that working with not-for-profit organizations requires expertise in a variety of areas, and demands a dynamic skill set. “Overall,” says Emily, “this summer I have an opportunity to learn some of the non-profit logistics, see how the industry operates as a whole, and watch as passionate people create change in their communities, all of which I’m very grateful to have.”