My Non-Profit Management Experience @Nvolve

By Tolu Okegbenro

My name is Tolu Okegbenro and I am a rising Senior at Paint Branch High School. I am also Nvolve’s new Intern through the SummerRISE Program. The SummerRISE Program is coordinated by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for rising juniors and seniors. The goal is to provide career-oriented experiences for students during their summer break by collaborating with various businesses, government agencies, institutions, and non-profit organizations such as Nvolve. 

As college rolls around the corner, I, like many other students in my graduating class, am trying to explore possible career paths. I knew that I certainly wanted to join the SummerRISE Program when I saw they were offering non-profit management as one of the career experiences; as I one day hope to work one-on-one with War Child UK or start my own non-profit organization to help children. 

Working with Nvolve has really elevated my mindset and future goals, especially being a woman from an underrepresented community. Nvolve has taught me to really go after it, whatever it is. I never thought this short experience would be this much of a learning experience for me. I have learned the critical work that goes into creating a mission statement for an organization, executing that mission, building professional as well as personal connections, and how to properly carry out a leadership role. I am so proud to be able to tell others that because I enjoyed working with Ms. O’Brien and being a part of Nvolve so much that I will be staying in touch to work with them beyond the SummerRISE program.