Ascend Alliance: September 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009

Emily's Intern Life

All I can really say is: Wow! Working at ASCEND has been such an interesting and refreshing experience. I know it sounds corny, but I love working with non-profits that are so committed to humanitarian projects and actively teaching independence within communities abroad.

ASCEND is extremely compatible with the way I feel the world should work; instead of a more developed country going into a developing country and imposing what 'we think should be fixed' groups like ASCEND champion an integral approach where teaching independence perpetuates sustainability and stability in communities. I'm so glad to be working with such a determined organization and with such lovely individuals. I'm very excited for the events to come (*cough* GALA! *cough*)!

Emily Strong currently attends the University of Utah and is pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Studies and International Studies. For the Fall, she is doing an internship at ASCEND Alliance through the Hinckley Institute and will be graduating in December. Emily enjoys writing, traveling, and fencing in her spare time and has an insatiable appetite for sushi.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Bragging Rights

Last week our Bolivia staff put on an INCREDIBLE show. They hosted the 3rd Annual Ascend Bolivia Gala. It was a wild success. We are so proud of what they were able to accomplish.

Fundraising dinners and auctions aren't very typical in Santa Cruz where ours was held but this one was a raging success. Thank in large part to our staff in Bolivia (and the AMAZING band Las Kjarkas) guests of the gala had an amazing dinner, participated in a live auction and then danced the night away. The Bolivian team was able to raise enough funds to cover a substancial percentage of their administrative expenses this year. We this it is amazing that as they are teaching local communities and people about sustainability and self sufficiency they are working on improving in those same arenas. It won't be long before Bolivia looks to our headquarters office as a place for advice and guidance and not a funding source. We wish them all the best in that goal.

Now, enjoy some pictures of the show.