By Rebecca Grossman, Host Relations Account Manager, Greenheart Exchange.
My Introduction to the Need for a Community Support Group
As a new Greenheart employee, I joined with a good background and knowledge of the Work and Travel Program. That knowledge was due to having spent the last three years as the point of contact at a Host Organization. I had previously been the person who did everything entailed with the participants’ experience. I looked after the onboarding process, scheduling, assisting with social security appointments, creating cultural events and answering their support inquiries. I also had a basic understanding of SEVIS and Department of State regulations. Therefore, I felt relatively confident about understanding all the administrative pieces when “switching over” to the sponsor perspective. What I was not prepared for was the level of support needed. That was how I was introduced to the idea of a Community Support Group.
Understanding the Role of Community Support Groups
When I learned the phrase “Community Support Group” during a training, it was my first time to hear of it. I learned about the idea of coming together to support the Work and Travel Program through various stakeholders. However, I later attended my first virtual meeting and spent most of the time listening and observing. I started to realize how positive and influential a Community Support Group can be in communities. I better understood the potential difference it can make. My internal reaction? “Oh. This is COOL.”
Attending my First Community Support Group Meeting
I travelled to Virginia Beach within one month of starting at Greenheart for my first in-person Community Support Group meeting. I loved the experience. It started as a relatively simple discussion of coming together. It turned into an entire community forum. That gave me the opportunity to network with other sponsors and hosts. It also helped me see how much everyone genuinely cares about the overall participant experience. Additionally, I learned that this forum was the first in-person event of everyone in the area since before COVID. Virgina Beach is not currently one of the top 10 states for Work and Travel participants. However, there was discussion of the efforts to improve this and strategize how to bring it back to the forefront. With so much care, awareness, and excitement for the program in one place, I left feeling even more inspired.
Community Support Groups and Passion for Cultural Exchange
As a prior host organization representative, I often faced challenges. I felt that the importance of the Work and Travel Program needed to be highlighted on a larger scale. This was one of the reasons I applied to Greenheart. I wanted to be among colleagues with whom I had a shared passion for cultural exchange. Attending the VA Beach Community Support Group gave me the pleasure to see this directly played out. This event was a fulfilling, excellent way to kick off my Greenheart career. I can’t wait to see where else this takes me.
Interested in joining a Community Support Group in your community?
Check the U.S. Department of State’s directory. If you don’t see one listed, then perhaps it’s time to start one! Remember! You can always Contact Greenheart for help. Existing Community Support Groups are also very happy to share their knowledge. They’re happy to coordinate conversations among groups in each community, such as law enforcement or public transit.