Partnering with Origami Works Foundation

Our amazing new partnership with Origami Works Foundation has given LINK the resources to invest in our collegiate Scholar community through internships and professional development. As a result of this partnership, we have two fantastic interns at LINK this summer, Charity Alfred and Areyana Smith.

Charity Alfred—Assistant, Data & Programs

Charity is a passionate, outspoken, driven leader and emerging Posse Scholar attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Majoring in marketing, with a humble background from Chicago’s West Side, Charity’s data, research, and leadership skills contribute to her dream of working in the beauty industry, dismantling the inequality gap for Black consumers. Awarded for her efforts as a great team member, highly engaging programming, and long-term sustainable paid peer mentorship opportunities for underserved residents within UW Housing, Charity continues to ground herself on her firm foundation of pouring into others as others poured into her.

As a class of 2022 LINK Scholar, Charity is excited to bring her past internship experiences and student experience  to generate and collect data and curate sustainable, engaging programming/solutions for LINK’s summer programming. She said, “Interning with LINK Unlimited Scholars encourages me to ensure I enhance my organizational skills, communication, and leadership capabilities that I can use in everyday life and amongst other students in the program.”

Areyana Smith—Assistant, Data & Programs

Areyana is a dedicated junior at Xavier University of Louisiana, majoring in neuroscience with concentrations in biology and chemistry. Originally from Chicago, she chose to attend an HBCU to find a supportive and empowering community. On campus, Areyana serves as an eBoard member of the Pre-Alumni Council, an eBoard member of Women of Xavier, a Peer Dean, and a Vanguard Ambassador. Passionate about leadership, service, and health equity, she plans to pursue a master’s in neuroscience and later attend medical school to become an anesthesiologist.

About her internship through Origami Works Foundation, Areyana said, “As a data analysis & programming intern with LINK Unlimited Scholars, I’m excited to grow my technical skills while contributing to meaningful, equity-focused work. I hope to gain a deeper understanding of how data can drive impact in education and community development—and how I can use those insights to create lasting change.”

Origami Works Foundation connects Chicago-area nonprofit organizations with first-generation college students by covering the payroll costs for a 10-week summer internship—providing college students with the opportunity to contribute to and gain experience working in the nonprofit space at no additional cost to the organization. Additionally, in partnership with The Cleveland Foundation for Education (The CAFE), Origami Works Foundation provides professional development programming, networking opportunities, and social events for the summer interns.

Area employers interested in workforce development may enjoy Origami’s latest endeavor, the new book Talent Connections: Your Guide to Leveraging Chicago’s Workforce Investments by Dani Houchin, Executive Director and Trustee of Origami Works Foundation, along with Tami Hillberry and Ellen Johnson. Origami also offers a Talent Connections website where employers will find free resources and expert advice to help them learn more about all the workforce development assistance available in Chicagoland.