Work that Energizes
I didn’t expect to find my way back to community work through a trail.
After graduating from Temple University, I had envisioned a future rooted in nonprofit work, something I had explored passionately during my time in Philadelphia. I partnered with local organizations, planned community events, and leaned into advocacy and outreach. But the COVID-19 pandemic arrived just as I was transitioning out of college, and, like so many others, I had to pivot. The networking momentum I’d built in Philadelphia stalled during lockdown, and I made an unexpected move to Norfolk, Virginia, where I took a job as a full-time nanny. What was supposed to be temporary slowly became home.
Over the past four years, working closely with my “nanny family” has taught me so much: how to build trust, communicate clearly, adapt quickly, and create safe, supportive spaces. But I missed being out in the broader community organizing, connecting, and creating change on a larger scale.
I found the Elizabeth River Trail Foundation as a volunteer. I wanted to feel more connected to my city, and I did. When I was offered a summer internship with the Nature For All program, I felt like I was being welcomed back into the work that once energized me, and into something new, while using all of those skills that I’d honed as a nanny.
This internship has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my time in Norfolk. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with a wide variety of community members, a few of whom shared stories of how outdoor spaces in an urban setting have felt out of reach, until now. Through events, talks, and hands-on stewardship projects, we’ve worked to make the trail feel inclusive, accessible, and welcoming to all. Reaching communities that are often overlooked and showing up with care and consistency has been the most powerful part of this experience. Since my time in Philadelphia, I have been a strong advocate for outdoor spaces for all communities, no matter the income level or location.
One of the most exciting projects I’ve worked on is Storytime Along the Trail, my intern project. This is a free literacy and craft program designed for families across Norfolk. We will host volunteer-led readings at multiple sites along the trail, paired with themed crafts that deepen kids’ engagement with nature, conservation, and community. The goal is simple: to make accessible, educational programming available to all types of families in a variety of locations.
I’ve also had the opportunity to meet with changemakers from across the region, people doing meaningful work in food justice, youth programming, sustainability, and public health. I’ve also been lucky to learn from the two incredibly powerful women behind all of ERT, Morgan Willett and Kindra Greene, whose leadership has shown me what intentional, equity-driven community work looks like in a welcoming and supportive environment.
This wasn’t the path I expected to take, but I wouldn’t change it. Being a Nature For All intern at the Elizabeth River Trail has helped me reconnect to my roots in service and community. The whole experience has shown me what’s possible when we design with inclusion in mind. I can now imagine a future where I get to keep doing this work, in all its forms.
