More Good News!

In other news, I was offered and accepted the Fels internship position with Project H.O.M.E., a local non-profit with an amazingly holistic approach to making long-term, sustainable changes in the city. The project I will be designing and implementing deals with a recent calculation of the cost of homelessness in Philadelphia which was done in order to show the cost-effectiveness of permanent supportive housing. Basically, in a similar fashion to Malcolm Gladwell's examination of "Million Dollar Murray", who cost Reno over a million dollars to not help him out, this new report from the University of Pennsylvania will be used to make an argument that transitional housing in neighborhoods not only increased the value of the housing but has tons of other secondary benefits as well. Not exactly sure which way the project will head, but I'm excited for the process!

Landing this position was a blessing. Being pregnant and looking for employment wasn't exactly the situation I wanted to be in when I graduated from my master's. I just hated the idea of starting a job and possibly being introduced as "that new girl who is already 4 months pregnant." There has been a position at The Reinvestment Fund which I have been eyeing for a while now (maps + economic policy = totally up my alley). However, I couldn't get over the fact that I would be applying for a full-time position knowing full well that I would not be willing to work there past November. Maybe a similar TRF position will be available once all the kids are reared!

But in the meantime, I'm excited to begin working with Project H.O.M.E. and to finally tell people more openly that I'm expecting. I was so worried that telling people would come around to bite me in the butt. Actually, during the interview, I told the Project H.O.M.E. interviewer that I was pregnant because she asked, "Why are you applying for an internship when you already graduated and could be applying for full-time positions?" After I told her, she said, "Whoa, that isn't something people usually share, but I understand because I have been in the same situation of applying for a job while pregnant." Then we talked about when I was due and other little things about pregnancy. She seemed totally supportive and understanding. But, more than anything, she seemed to appreciate my honesty. This seems to mean that I'll be going into a supportive environment, which makes me exceedingly happy. And maybe they will be able to hire me on a little longer for other projects after the Fels position ends ... at least until the baby comes. That would be ideal.

Plus, Project H.O.M.E.'s co-founder and Executive Director, Sister Mary Scullion, has just been named to TIME Magazine’s list of “The 100 Most Influential People.” Impressive.