By Natalia Fernandez, El Salvador
The Professional Fellows Program has been a great opportunity to connect and explore all kinds of human interconnections.
Starting with my group of Fellows and the ITD team, each and everyone of them is passionate for what they do, and desire to have a positive impact in their country and their communities. Sharing their different points of view and just learning from one another has been a great growth experience for me.
When I started the program I thought, I have to focus on the differences of our cultures, so I can learn from that. Fast forward to my weeks in Springfield, Massachusetts and my fellowship with the Western Mass Economic Development Council, and I started to shift that tactic into focusing on the similarities that we have AND the different approach on those similarities.
I was able to attend various meetings and events focused on the union of different stakeholders coming together, interconnecting with one another to achieve an economic greater good for people within a region.
I’ve experienced and learned a lot from people in different areas of the Western Mass Economic Development Council, but mostly, my fellowship host, Xiomara. She has opened a new way to see how human interconnections work to help others achieve their goals.
Her passion in changing the status quo is a fresh breath of air for all who seek to have a positive social impact in their communities.
From my experience at the Professional Fellows Program, I’ve come to the conclusion that interconnection driven by empathy is the game changer for social impact.
Let’s change the game!
All opinions expressed by the program participants are their own and do not represent nor reflect official views from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, or of the Institute for Training and Development, Inc.
