Pass It Forward program spotlight

Melanie Rossi is employed with Seeds of Health

I currently work in communications and development for Seeds of Health, a nonprofit public charter school system in Milwaukee.

My main role has been to help establish the school system’s first Alumni Network, through which past graduates from all five Seeds of Health schools will be able to make posts, network and stay connected with each other.

I’ve also been helping to create the schools’ promotional materials, including posters, flyers and videos, and organize and facilitate upcoming events.

My favorite part of the job has been working in development, specifically through writing grant proposals to the organization’s sponsors and partners.

Through these proposals, I write focused pieces requesting funding for specific programs within Seeds of Health.

My work with the organization has really allowed me to challenge myself, specifically through my writing.

With certain pieces geared toward students’ families and relying on the clear, direct conveyance of ideas and others intended to persuade grantors to provide the organization with funding, I’ve been required to practice and utilize a variety of tones and writing styles — creating a balance which has been so fun to perfect.

I remember when I first got an email from one of my English professors at St. Norbert College advertising the Pass It Forward internship.

I was home for Thanksgiving, sitting with my mom in the kitchen.

Immediately after reading the email, I told her what it said, and we both knew right away that it was an opportunity that directly aligned with my interests and was something I needed to take advantage of.

While participating in the internship required some big changes to my college life, including getting me a car, which I didn’t have before.

I never regretted it a second — doing the internship was one of the best parts of my college experience.

One of my favorite parts of the Pass it Forward internship included the perfect balance of guidance/direction and open-ended instructions.

At first, I was so intimidated and unsure of even where to begin.

After conducting my first interview, however, and successfully putting together my own piece, I was so proud of myself and immensely grateful for the opportunity to feel things out on my own.

Another excellent attribute of the internship was how it was immediately rewarding.

Yes, the internship was paid, but the real reward was seeing my name in the Green Bay Press Times.

The first time I saw a story of mine in print, I texted a picture back to my family right away.

Despite living in Waukesha, my parents decided to purchase a subscription to the Green Bay Press Times, and they still have all of the stories I wrote throughout the internship.

This sense of reward also came through community responses to the stories that were published.

I remember that for a story I wrote for the De Pere Women’s Club, I received such sincere feedback from the woman I interviewed thanking me for presenting her club so well.

I felt so grateful to have had the chance to support and promote them in any way I could, and their kind feedback meant so much, especially after all the work I put in trying to present the story in the best way possible.

Of course, the amazing people at the Green Bay Press Times made every part of the internship so comfortable, and I’m so incredibly grateful to Mike (Hollihsn) and Kris (Leonhardt) for their kindness and the opportunities they provided.

Even around three years after my internship ended, being part of the Pass It Forward program is still impacting my life, giving me opportunities to keep practicing the journalistic skills I developed in the program, even as my job lies in a different field.

I’ve kept in touch with Kris since the program ended, and being able to work with her on subsequent projects has been such a treat.

I’m always open to developing my writing and professional skills, and the opportunities provided through PIF have been instrumental in allowing me to grow my confidence as a writer.

I use the skills I cultivated through PIF every day in my current job, and I’m so grateful to everyone who made the internship possible.

The Pass It Forward internship program is sponsored by Nicolet National Bank and the Packers Give Back.