Former Social Entrepreneur (Fall/Winter 2024-2025)

My experience at the Community Enrichment Fitness Network (CEFN) as the Social Entrepreneur has been truly life-changing, and much of that is thanks to the incredible mentorship of Sherry Hill. From the beginning, she saw my potential and pushed me to grow in ways I never imagined. Her unwavering support, patience, and constructive feedback helped me develop a stronger sense of professionalism, improve my communication skills, and gain confidence in my abilities. She challenged me to take on tasks outside my comfort zone—such as working on grant applications and managing our LinkedIn page—providing me with invaluable hands-on experience. Sherry’s leadership and dedication created an environment where I felt encouraged to learn and improve every day. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity that was granted to me, hope to use these valuable skills in the near future.

Former Social Entrepreneur (Spring/Summer 2023-2024)

During my time at CEFN, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in every aspect of business management, allowing me to gain a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to run a nonprofit organization. The hands-on experience I gained while working with CEFN was incredibly rewarding and has significantly enriched my professional development.

Collaborating closely with Sherry and the Board of Directors was particularly valuable. It provided me with deep insights into the strategic and operational elements that are essential for an organization’s success. In addition to working with the Board, I had the chance to step into the role of a grant writer, which was both challenging and enlightening. I was involved in setting up meetings with foundations that had previously rejected our proposals, allowing me to learn firsthand about the specific aspects of the application process that these foundations prioritize. This experience has greatly enhanced my ability to enhance existing proposals that align with funders’ expectations. It was a wonderful experience having worked with the rest of the co-op team to continue to push CEFN forward with Sherry.