Meet Our Fellows Blog Series: Patrick McGuire

“Where are you from?” is a difficult question for me to answer. As a military kid, I moved 14 times growing up, and I never lived anywhere for four years in a row. I knew that would change when I went to college, but I didn’t quite know if I would love the place I’d live.

In fact, when I chose to attend the University of Notre Dame, I told myself that it was in spite of the fact that it was located in South Bend, Indiana. I soon discovered, however, that one of the most meaningful aspects of my time at Notre Dame was the very fact it was located in that mid-sized city.

Eager to study socioeconomic policy and considering a career in federal government, I interned as a first year with the South Bend office of Senator Joe Donnelly. Speaking with constituents, exploring the downtown area, and engaging local stakeholders, I quickly realized two things:

  1. Remarkable things were happening in South Bend.
  2. I was falling in love with this community.
Pictured: me, a first year, falling in love with South Bend and posing for a picture that would go on my mom’s Instagram.

I knew I wanted to dive deeper into city policy and community work, both to be a part of the local changemaking I was witnessing, and to be a part of a city I was growing to call home. I soon started working with the City of South Bend, first as a member of their Engagement and Economic Empowerment team and later with their Department of Innovation and Technology. In these roles, I experienced the interwoven power of community, belonging, and innovation present in many cities, but particularly present in South Bend. I helped launch initiatives to further economic justice, piloted approaches to mitigate the effects of lead poisoning, and researched questions from technology access to sustainable waste practices, all while engaging with residents of my new home and learning what it means to be a part of the South Bend family.

Upon graduating, I considered several options for what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go next. Yet, I kept coming back to South Bend—this place where I’d learned so much, made a real impact, and felt like I belonged. This is why I chose to join enFocus: to continue learning from South Bend and the region; to make real, lasting change through innovative projects; and to contribute to the community I’ve grown to love and can now proudly say I’m from. I’m thrilled to be a part of this team!

Look for our weekly Meet Our Interns Blog Series, beginning next week.