WEEK 2

Chances for Children operates with more of an interdisciplinary approach. Every single person here has something different and unique to bring to the table and these traits must intertwine in order to be the most beneficial to the company. When it comes to organizing races, press releases and informational meetings, it is necessary that we collaborate as a team. As team members, individual creativity is essential. For example, just today my partner and I had to begin the early phases of planning an interactive and fun informational meeting coming up in couple of weeks which is promoting a marathon we are putting on. My partner is skilled when it comes to marketing on the computer and I am more of a people person. Together, we had to utilized our individual skills to the advantage of our overall goal which was to enhance the informational meeting. I was commended for my vested interest in reaching out the community in a creative fashion while I truly admired my partners skills with business and advertising techniques. My concentration area of Family Studies in conjunction with Transborder studies enabled me to utilize what I had learned in regards to diversity and childhood development so that is was geared for a specific audience. Similarly, the marathon coordinator, Susan, who specializes in physical therapy and fitness, along with my partner on this specific project are by far more knowledgeable on marathons then I am. Together and with an interdisciplinary approach we were able to implement our ideas for marketing proposes and have a good head start on this project, among others. But, by the end of the day, we take a look at all of the work that has been done and we don't; really know who did what. We just know that we used a very holistic notion to accomplish all that needed to get done. It is so near to realize that the veterans in the marketing staff contributed to these projects just as much as us rookie interns. That's the principle of an interdisciplinary job setting- working together and contributing all of our individual interests and talents to get a project done to the best of its ability.

At this organization, "disciplines" are defined and represented according to areas of expertise. But it's all blended together! Susan is an accomplished runner and is studying the linguistics of kinesiology. Denise, my partner is sharp when it comes to marketing for non-profit organizations. And I am well equipped in the disciplines of family studies and childhood development. Knowing this, our work is geared for our specific credentials and interest and out skills are distributed across the organization based on what we each can bring to the table. We have daily projects and our positions within those various projects are set up to enhance our organization through teamwork. There really is no "set in stone" organizational method structure based on hierarchical standards. My supervisor who has worked with the company for over five years has as much responsibility and work to get done as the interns who have been a part of the company for no more then two weeks. We are all equally responsible for promoting and recruiting the interest of racers and families across the state of Arizona. So there is a very holistic approach to what we do at the organization which sort of prevents any organization framework. We just get the job done.