Over our interns’ eight-week experience, they have the opportunity to explore the South Bend-Elkhart region with all it has to offer. Check out some of the adventures our interns have embarked on over the course of their summer months.
Seen exploring Eddy Street Commons, Katherine Lestingi from Chicago Illinois, expresses her excitement at all the events and businesses to explore in the region. She shares, “enFocus employees do a great job keeping the interns up-to-date with activities around the region. Fortunately, for the interns, enFocus’ employees are enthusiastic people who are willing to bring us along! Some things that I have not done yet, but are excited to do in the next few weeks include the South Bend Cubs game and going to the beach in Michigan.”
Intern Maeve O’Shaughnessy enjoyed herself at the Elkhart River Walk. She shares, “As someone who has grown up in South Bend and is now attending the University of Notre Dame, it’s safe to say that I’ve spent a lot of time in the area. But working at enFocus has allowed me to explore the region with my fellow interns who may have not stepped foot in South Bend before this summer. Going to local restaurants, playing sand volleyball, and rafting down the East Race are just a few of the memories I’ve made this summer.”
Emily Korte, a graduate student at Northern Illinois University, echoes a similar experience. She expands on Maeve’s sentiment by emphasizing how involvement in activities like the South Bend Farmer’s Market, the St. Joseph County Fair, the East Race Waterway, and the South Bend Cubs games have impacted her. She says, “enFocus has inspired me to strengthen my community and delve deeper into exploring South Bend. I am eager to collaborate with local individuals on my upcoming projects aimed at promoting public health and overall well-being.”
Other interns also feel that their experiences in the region contribute to their meaningful project work. Anudeep Jain volunteered at the Mind, Body, and Spirit Festival at Potawatomi Park. He expresses that, “even small acts, like distributing surveys, can go a long way to making sure members of the community have a voice and continue to exercise that right. My hope is that the efforts I make in the city will inspire others to make the South Bend-Elkhart region better than it was when I was graciously welcomed.”
The exploration of the region not only provides fun, entertainment, and social networks for our interns, but it also provides a deep connection with the surrounding community allowing them to understand the significance of their impact on local organizations. At enFocus, we look forward to providing all our team members the experience of life in the region, and the personal and professional growth that awaits them.
You can help us explore the region by following us on social media and using the hashtag “#roamtheregion.” We can’t wait to see all the hidden treasures you share with us! And who knows, you might even see us reshare your #roamtheregion post!