South Bend native Sienna Hurley Celebrates her Community

Meet Our Fellows Blog Series: Sienna Hurley

My family migrated to South Bend from the east coast when I was 2 years old. But South Bend’s in my blood. My formative years were highlighted by caroling on the luminary-lined, brick streets of the Chapin Park Historic District. I learned about ‘community’ while watching my parents earnestly converse with neighbors at the Near Northwest Neighborhood’s annual chili supper in a west side church dining hall. My kindergarten teacher at Madison Elementary school was later my vice principal at John Adams High School. Nevertheless, when I graduated from IU Bloomington with a major in Political Science, I was eager to explore the world. And for several years after graduation, I travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Scotland, Canada, the U.A.E. and 15+ states across the U.S. What drew me back to South Bend was the recognition that after seeing fascinating sights around the world I was just a visitor, I wanted to be part of a community. I returned to South Bend, and began interning in the Mayor's office. I quickly took on more responsibilities and was hired as a project manager for then Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

This deep appreciation for community is ultimately what drew me to enFocus. South Bend is a unique community--the people here are supportive, innovative and resilient. The enFocus mission seeks, not to replace, but to support the energy and spirit of this community. The South Bend ecosystem straddles the perfect balance in it’s size--large enough to support a healthy diversity of ideas, yet small enough that each voice is heard rather than drowned out in the crowds. Working for the City proved invaluable, I witnessed many of our community’s triumphs firsthand, but also observed many challenges. enFocus now offers me the opportunity to dig deep to explore possible solutions to those challenges.

enFocus strives to provide support across all sectors of the community--industry, non-profits, government, etc. enFocus acts as a convener of stakeholders and innovative solutions. And that’s where I thrive: building relationships based on mutual respect and appreciation. Listening to people’s concerns and challenges, and working with them to identify sustainable solutions. I believe the answers are already here in South Bend. It is just a matter of continuing to find ways to tap into the valuable qualities that already exist within our community.

In just a few months I have been with enFocus, I have been able to continue to serve my community and make a lasting impact. I am humbled to be involved in distributing internet connections to students in need in a time when e-learning is ever so important. And I have been blessed to work with the County Health Department on improving their workflow at a time when so much pressure lies on the shoulders of the staff. I am grateful to be part of an organization that empowers me to take on these challenges.

Learn more about the 2020-2022 enFocus Fellows weekly in our Meet Our Fellows Blog Series.