From: Stafford, Virginia
Studying: Information Systems
An interview with Ashanti Martin, a second-year Impact Fellow from Stafford, Virginia studying information systems at George Mason University's School of Business.
What drew you to study at George Mason University?
For me, it was definitely how close I am to home, it’s only a 45 minute drive. If I need anything, then I can go back and forth. Also, I heard they had a really good business program. I was sure I wanted to go into business, but wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to concentrate on. I also really like the campus, I could see myself here.
What interested you in going into the business program at George Mason? How do you think a business degree is going to help you pursue a career with a non-profit?
I played a lot of sports when I was younger because I didn’t have a lot of other hobbies or interests, so I was mainly focused on athletics. I really didn’t know what I was going to get into as far as majors. I ended up taking some business law classes and marketing classes in high school and saw myself finding these materials interesting. Everything was clicking for me, I understood everything, I could see myself in business. I think business was a path I just knew I was going to do versus something to do with a stem major. I knew that wasn’t for me. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I could see myself in the business world. I think business, regardless of your concentration, has a big outlet for everyone to explore. I thought that if I had a business degree, I would have the basic foundational steps in knowledge regarding non-profits or corporations. It is kind of like a package deal, you can take your knowledge and run.
What made you apply to Impact Fellows and what type of social impact are you looking to be a part of? Are there any takeaways you have taken from the Impact Fellows
When I got the email about the Impact Fellows, I really didn’t know anything about it. I read up on it and it was a program that was still in the works. I felt it could be a good gateway for me to understand what I want to do in business. In the beginning, I had no idea about the information and was a little overwhelmed with all of it. I think towards the spring semester of my freshman year, I started to grasp the concepts more. Then, I did the Summer Impact Fellows program internship where we worked on projects with community partners aimed at helping to address social determinants of health in the neighborhood of Culmore from Bailey’s Crossroads. That’s where I really found my focus within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. I decided to focus on goal number two, zero hunger. I think joining this program has allowed me to expand my interest in what I want to be productive in. As for takeaways, I’ve made a lot of friends that I didn’t expect to, mainly due to us having different majors and concentrations. But we have found similar interests in the Sustainable Development Goals. Also, we were all in the same boat in the beginning and didn’t know what we were doing, but just hanging in there. Now we are more focused and I think our friendships are a good takeaway from joining this program.
What draws you into your research on hunger and poverty? Where do you want to take this and where are you going from here?
I am still trying to gain knowledge as far as food insecurity, understanding why people don’t have access to the resources or foods that should be basic necessities; the things everyone should have the ability to access. I don’t know why I gravitated towards focusing on no hunger and poverty. I think it was during the Summer Impact Fellows program internship. I found the research really interesting, to see all of the statistics around it. There are a lot of people that are food insecure and don’t have the access or ability to get the products they need. It’s really just trying to understand why food insecurity is the way it is, and doing the research to figure out what can be done about it, is what drew me towards it. I’m still not 100% set on it, but hopefully by the time I graduate I will be doing something related to an initiative to change it. It is still in the works, but at least I am able to be involved in an organization that is heavily focused on impact initiatives. I am looking to a lot of nonprofits for internships, I want to explore that and see if it works for me. I am not sure if I want to work for a corporation, but I think I am leaning more towards working for a non-profit because after seeing their research and mission, I can align myself with their vision. I also want to have a little bit of a creative side being in an impact initiative or nonprofit organization. I think being able to collaborate in my work environment is something I hope to try to intersect within my business degree or the field I choose, hopefully with the community in the future.
How do you think the Impact Fellows helped shape you for this degree? What are some of your best experiences?
One thing about the Impact Fellows is that the program focuses a lot on how business affects society and individuals as a whole. The Impact Fellows program has shown me a new perspective on how to think about businesses. Instead of looking at corporations or individuals only focused on making profit, I am able to see those looking at social needs and awareness. They actually care about their consumers and the planet. It is being more knowledgeable of how businesses affect society. I am currently working on a project in class with the Patriot Pantry. Right now, we are trying to create a gap analysis for the Patriot Pantry, as well as create a survey. We are also looking to other universities to see what their pantries are doing. Working with group projects, analyzing all of the statistics, trying to figure out what food insecurity is and how it is affecting university students is a core memory for me. Also, last semester, we were able to attend the Edge Program for team bonding. I was able to see other people’s sides, in and out of an academic setting. We’ve been together for two years, but we really didn’t know each other. We were comfortable, but I feel after that program we were able to get more acquainted with each other.
Besides the Impact Fellows, what other extracurriculars are you involved in?
I am currently a marketing committee member of “Be the Change” organization, which is kind of a sub part of the Impact Fellows. I currently work on making flyers about the organization’s information. We’ve also scheduled our first fundraising event with Women Giving Back, who “supports women and children in crisis on a first step to stability by providing quality clothing at no cost, assisted by a caring and committed community.” We just created our social media platform, it is still in the works. I am still trying to dip my toe in and try to figure out what I can do. I just applied to an internship opportunity focused on ending childhood hunger, as well as quality education, which would be similar to something we did over the summer. I am continuing to keep looking, hopefully to do something with a nonprofit organization over the summer.
What was your experience with the Summer Impact Fellows internship with Bailey’s Crossroads? How has what you’ve learned in the Impact Fellows helped you prepare for this?
For me, it was a similar application to the Impact Fellows Bailey’s Crossroads. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I signed up for the internship because I still didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to focus on. In the beginning there was a lot of information thrown at me and it was really overwhelming. I didn’t know where I belonged or what I could focus on. I think when we divided up into three groups for the stories and histories and data, I decided I could pick one of those topics and I picked food security. After researching that, it kind of just blossomed from there and now I am here today focusing on food insecurities. It gave me a clear indication of the two intersections of this program and the Impact Fellows. Taking that class material that we’ve learned and putting it into action with the internship. It was an awakening of what we’re actually doing and actually understanding everything. For me, both my impact initiative and college education has really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I felt if I didn’t join the Impact Fellows I would’ve just been cruising through my college experience, but now I feel by joining I have gained so much information and knowledge that I didn’t know beforehand. It has opened my eyes to the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals and businesses in society.
What would you tell prospective students about the Impact Fellows?
One thing I would say is don’t be afraid to at least apply and join. I would just say, go for it if you have a small interest in impact initiatives or want to learn about that. It is okay if you don’t get in, there are still a bunch of organizations you can be a part of. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable for a little bit, especially in the 100 courses, it is just new information getting thrown at you. Eventually it is going to stick. I didn’t think I would be here when I first applied.
What changes would you like to see on campus?
I would like to see changes to the Patriot Pantry. Because of the research I did with my summer internship till now, I want to be more involved and try to see how I can help there. I guess having more awareness for the pantry. Hopefully, upgrading their storage and where they are located. As far as resources, how they are getting their food and polishing it up. Basically so they don’t have to worry about having enough supplies. The individuals they are serving always know they can come to the Patriot Pantry, so I think just highlighting them and putting more in their resources. I currently have been in contact with the director located within Sub One. Patriot Pantry is student run. They have graduate assistants that work with them. It is just a small room which shows all of the products they have. Students fill out an order form and then they’d pack it up and leave at the pickup station. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, they will be able to provide fresh produce from the greenhouses, they are the ones who provide the dining hall with produce. They don’t have a refrigeration system yet, but maybe upgrading to a new spot would give healthier options, but they have been doing the best they can. Eventually, just providing more for their users.