January 16, 2025
This school year, Michigan Community Resources is partnering with the Wayne State University School of Social Work to host a graduate student intern.
Under the supervision of School of Social Work alumna Amber Umscheid, MCR's Director of Organizational Impact & Analysis, this internship supports our operations team and provides an opportunity for a master's-level student to observe the nonprofit sector in action.
In her work with MCR since summer 2024, our intern Riley Tyler (she/they) has supported the rollout and facilitation of our 2024 Needs Assessment by spearheading outreach, conducting interviews, and tracking progress toward goals. The Needs Assessment survey and interviews—which asked nonprofit organizations to share their experiences, successes, and challenges—wrapped up at the close of 2024. Needs Assessment results will be shared across the sector and inform MCR's work in 2025 and beyond.
Riley will serve with MCR through March, and is working now to compile results of the Needs Assessment survey and interviews. She took a moment to sit down and reflect on her experience so far.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?
I grew up in Southeast Michigan. My academic background in is social work, and I recently graduated with a bachelor's from the Wayne State University School of Social Work. Now, I'm in my last semester for my master's in the same subject, with a focus on Community, Policy and Leadership.
I am very interested in sustainable development, what that means in urban settings, and how humans can live and thrive alongside a healthy environment. My academic pursuit of social work is in recognition of the social determinants of health, and how environmental factors play a huge part in people's overall health. Professionally, I want to address environmental factors that impact health, and I think sustainable development plays a huge part in that.
I initially pursued social work thinking I wanted to be a therapist, but once I started, I realized how much needs to change at a higher level for people to truly be healthy. I want to be a part of that change, which is really why I decided to switch paths a bit. Ultimately, I still want to help people.
WHAT DREW YOU TO MCR?
I wanted to work with MCR because I am very interested in seeing all of the different nonprofits and their work. I want to make connections within the community and learn more about how nonprofits work and the best ways to support them.
Specifically, many community nonprofits and small organizations are working to address different aspects of health, including environmental factors, and I'm passionate about supporting that.
With my role at MCR, I wanted to get some hands-on research experience and learn more about how organizational impact analysis works. I think understanding how an organization is impacting the population they're working with is a key part of making sure they're moving in the right direction. I'm a big believer in research-informed practice.
IF MONEY WASN'T A CONCERN, WHAT WOULD YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?
If money wasn't a concern, I would spend all my time making pottery and I would probably have a lot more pets. I already have two cats, a rabbit, and a leopard gecko, so that's not saying nothing.
With pottery, I have been learning wheel throwing for about a year and a half now at Oakland Community College. I mostly throw mugs!
Pictured: Riley sips tea from a mug she created.
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To learn more about MCR's internship opportunities and other ways you can support our work, visit our Work with Us page.
